What You Might Need When You Are Going to Build to Stay
The building process isn’t a child’s play project. It’s a serious business, especially when you are going to build to stay. However, just like any other construction project, there are essentials that you’ll need for a successful building project. If you’re wondering what’s necessary for your building project, you’ve hit a jackpot of critical building information. Keep reading for tips on how to complete a successful building project.
Setting up Plumbing
If you decide to build to stay, you must set up plumbing. Firstly, plumbing contributes significantly to water conservation. In fact, according to Energy Star, houses with high-efficiency appliances and plumbing fixtures save nearly 30% of indoor water use, yielding significant savings on sewer, water, and energy bills. However, the hack to succeed in conserving water is implementing water-efficient plumbing practices by installing showerheads, toilets, and low-flow faucets that use less water without compromising your comfort.
Setting up plumbing isn’t a walk in the park. For this reason, you’ll need to work with a professional to develop a plan to meet your needs and comply with the building codes and regulations. Also, you’ll need to work with water drillers to identify the ideal location for drilling a well and a plumber to determine the perfect location for the primary water supply line and fixtures like toilets, water heaters, sinks, and wastewater pipes. Hiring licensed professionals with positive reviews who adhere to the building codes standards and work to avoid errors that can become costly over time is also helpful.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, an average home leak can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water yearly. For this reason, if you intend to build to stay, it means avoiding leaks by setting up plumbing with high-quality materials like PVC, copper, or PEX piping. Also, it’s best to hire a professional to help you with your plumbing to avoid costly blunders that may lead to leaks and to ensure the system’s installation is according to the approved design and local building codes. Additionally, ensure your stay has adequate ventilation to avoid building up gases, odors, and pressure.
Building the Base
If you plan to build to stay, you need a solid base to support your structure’s entire weight and transfer it to the ground. Therefore, whether you opt for the timber framing technique or the post frame building style, you must hire experts in mechanical contracting. Firstly, they’ll ensure the structural integrity of your stay and see that your structure meets the recommended codes and standards of building. Professionals will also ensure that the lowest part of your stay will be stable and strong to protect against wind, gravity, and seismic activities.
The first critical step in building the base is clearing your construction site from vegetation, debris, or other obstacles to make excavation easier. Then, the professional will pour concrete at the foot of the excavation walls, distributing the weight of your stay and preventing settling. Typically, footings are wide at the base and reinforced with steel rebar to heighten strength. Next, your contractor will construct foundation walls on the footings using masonry, concrete, or other materials. Also, apply a waterproofing membrane to the exterior of your stay’s foundation to protect it from moisture and water damage.
The next step is to backfill with compacted soil around your stay’s foundation to enhance drainage from your structure and offer additional support. What’s more, depending on the design of your structure, you may find it helpful to pour a concrete slab on top of your foundation walls for slab-on-grade construction. Or, you could construct a basement below the main level of your stay. You must also install termite barriers to protect the foundation from termite damage. Also, schedule an inspection with your local building department to check whether your foundation meets all structural and safety requirements before proceeding with your building.
Storing Trash Properly
Did you know that, according to Gitnux, nearly 15% of building materials in a construction site become waste in the US? That’s a significant pile of trash! For this reason, when you decide to build to stay, you must devise a strategy for handling waste. For instance, you may opt for a dumpster rental service or provide designated containers or trash bins at your construction site where workers will dispose of the trash. Even so, your overall goal should be to minimize waste or store it properly.
As a waste management hack, consider separating the different kinds of trash. For instance, you must put trash into separate containers, such as general waste and hazardous materials. Also, as an environmentalist champion, separate recyclable trash, such as metal, so that metal recyclers can easily access it for recycling. Separating construction garbage makes disposal easy and ensures your construction site stays clean and tidy. Also, ensure that the waste bins have lids and are sturdy to prevent spillage of garbage.
While trash is unavoidable, keeping your construction site tidy is necessary. To do this, always ensure you’re emptying the trash bins regularly and cleaning them to prevent odors and pest infestations. Also, it would be best to advise workers always to dispose of trash in the selected areas to avoid littering the site. Also, it is essential to secure the trash storage space and prevent unauthorized access to keep the site clean and organized. Consider fencing or using barriers to enclose the area.
Turning on the Internet
In this digital error, access to the internet is necessary if you plan to build to stay. In fact, according to Forbes, in 2024, 94.6% of Americans have access to the internet. For this reason, you’ll find it necessary to install the internet in your structure, and if you can, consider fiber optic feedthroughs, mainly because of their design, which works to protect optical fibers from dust, mechanical stress, and moisture. Typically, the internet will allow you to stay connected with your friends and family through social media, email, messaging apps, and video calls.
What’s more, the internet will help you stay informed on current affairs and help you to get any information at the touch of a button. Also, streaming movies, videos, music, and TV shows is possible with the internet. Also, you can entertain yourself with online games and quick access to various forms of entertainment. Besides entertainment, the Internet is also a valuable tool for students of all ages. So, if you plan to attend an online course or perhaps be a student, installing the internet ensures unlimited access to educational videos, research materials, and interactive learning platforms.
Access to the internet can also improve your work and productivity significantly. Wonder how? Most jobs require internet access for essential tasks such as research, communication, and online meetings when away from your physical office. What’s more, remote jobs are increasingly becoming popular. In fact, according to USA Today, nearly 22 million adults in the USA work from home on a full-time basis. For this reason, when planning to build to stay, ensure you have a reliable internet connection to your building. It may help you get a salary.
Ensuring You’re Dry
Undoubtedly. Your roof is the only protection between the interior of your stay and the exterior world. When it’s in perfect shape, it will protect you from the elements, such as snow, hail, branches, rain, ice, and debris. Even so, roofing is a significant investment. For instance, according to Forbes, installing a new roof costs $400 to $4,000 per square roof. As a result, before settling on a roofer, visit a few residential roofing companies in your area to compare prices and ensure you’re getting value for your money.
Did you know that a roof significantly enhances your overall curb appeal? In most cases, it’s the first sight your visitors may see while on your driveway. So, when you desire to build to stay, ensure you’ll enhance your overall curb appeal with an aesthetically pleasing roof. What’s more, an aesthetically pleasing roof will increase the value of your stay if you may need to sell it in the future.
A structurally sound roof with proper ventilation and ample attic insulation will lower your home’s air leaks. Therefore, it will significantly enhance energy efficiency by helping you save on energy bills. For instance, you won’t have to overwork your HVAC in extreme temperatures, considerably lowering your heating and cooling bills. So, you’ll need to know that before you build to stay, you must understand that a good roof is a hack to a comfy life, protect your home, and keep money in your pocket.
Keeping it Clean
There’s no getting around it. It would be best if you kept your stay clean. But first, do you know the most unclean space in any home? According to Intermountain Health, the kitchen is the undefeated champion of the germiest place in your stay. For this reason, it’s always essential to keep it clean. However, keeping your kitchen clean isn’t difficult. Always ensure to cook as you clean, wipe down surfaces daily, clean the sink and drain, wash dishes immediately after use, empty trash promptly, sweep and mop floors regularly, and organize your pantry and cabinets.
Although often overlooked, keeping your septic tank clean is essential to function optimally and last longer. The best way to do this is to invest in quality septic services. Typically, it’s critical to ensure you schedule regular septic tank pumping, preferably between 3 and 5 years, depending on the size of your tank, to remove accumulated solid waste and avoid clogging and backups. Also, avoid using harsh chemicals that may disrupt natural bacteria in the tank from breaking down waste, maintain the drain field, and add bacteria additives to aid the breakdown of waste.
The bathroom is probably the second germiest area in any home. For this reason, when you build to stay, you must ensure your bathroom is clean and hygienic. It would help to invest in disposable disinfecting wipes for regular cleaning to keep germs off your bath space. While cleaning, ensure to focus majorly on door knobs, faucet handles, and light switches to put coliform bacteria under control. Also, clean toothbrush cups and holders weekly, change hand towels regularly, and wipe down walls near toilets when cleaning your bathroom.
Ensuring Your Safety
Safe Home says burglary accounts for nearly 20% of all property crimes. Therefore, before kicking off your build-to-stay project, it’s essential to consider your safety during your stay. Firstly, you must consider installing a security system with alarms, cameras, and monitoring services to alert you of suspicious activity and deter intruders. Also, invest in a keyless entry door lock installation for faster home entry in case a burglar chases you within your compound or neighborhood.
Also, consider securing all entry points with deadbolts or sturdy locks, such as windows and doors. It will also help to reinforce your sliding doors and glass windows with additional security measures. Ensure that outdoor lighting is installed around your stay to deter intruders by improving night visibility. Opt for motion sensor lights that detect movement around your property. While such lights are good at deterring intruders, keeping your valuables, such as electronics, important documents, and jewelry, in a secure safe is essential.
Enhancing fire safety is critical to protecting you and your family from sudden fire accidents. For this reason, installing and testing smoke detectors around your stay is necessary. Moreover, you must have a fire escape plan and often conduct fire drills with your loved ones. Moreover, ensure that fire extinguishers are in easily accessible locations in case of an emergency.
If you plan to build to stay, build right the first time. For instance, you must work with professionals when building the foundation of your building to ensure that it’s at par with all the building codes and standards. Also, work with a plumber for professional plumbing services to enhance water conservation and save you money in the long run. Consider installing internet service in your stay to connect with the world and heighten cleanliness and safety measures. Or better yet, check our website for more insightful building information.
