Custom New Home Construction in Cumberland, MD

• Site Prep: The site is cleared of any trees, rocks, and debris. The site is leveled if necessary and the ground is dug where the foundation is to be built
• Form Construction: The forms are built into which the concrete is poured to form the footers for the foundation of your house
• Foundation: The block for the walls is stocked at the jobsite, and the masons lay the block to form the walls of the basement
• Backfill: Basement waterproofing is applied. Gravel is installed around the outside perimeter of house, and the dirt is pushed up around the block. The steel package (I-beam and posts) are ordered. A temporary driveway is put in. The lumber package to frame the house is ordered, and a framer is scheduled to frame the house

Construction hazards associated with this stage of construction:

• Open trenches
• Loose and/or piled dirt and rock

Framing is one of the most exciting phases of the construction process, but it is very important that everything and everybody be properly coordinated.

The frame is the skeleton of your home. All exterior and interior walls are set in place along with the roof trusses. Windows and fireplaces are placed in the frame. The stairs are set, and the shingles are scheduled for installation.

Construction hazards associated with this stage of construction:

• Temporary wall bracings are a bumping and tripping hazard
• Exposed nails in lumber are both a puncture and cutting hazard
• Stacked or unbanded lumber can be a fall or crushed under hazard

This is the phase where all of the internal construction begins. During this phase, air conditioning, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and electrical wiring are introduced to the structure.

• Rough Plumbing: Underground drains are installed for sewage and water. The installation of water supply lines on the first and second floors is completed
• Rough HVAC: The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct work and air returns are installed, as is the thermostat wire. The furnace is ordered
• Rough Electric: Electrical wire is run, and the installation of the outlets, switch boxes, and breaker box is completed. The installation of the phone wire, cable, and security lines (if you selected a security system option) is ordered. During this stage you will see the installation of any options you ordered that go in the walls (i.e., a central vacuum system, extra computer cabling, extra phone lines, speakers, or any number of options that require work behind the drywall)

Construction hazards associated with this stage of construction:

• Lots of loose and hanging material for all the different trades that are working in your home at this time. Required PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) during this stage includes eye protection, hearing protection, and head protection
• Tripping hazards from excess material that may not yet be removed
• Puncture hazards may exist from boards with exposed nails or rough wiring not yet secured

The finish is the skin of your home, including drywall, stucco, roofing, siding, and all the major exterior and interior surfaces. All of these finishing touches really help your house start to look like a home. These steps are heavily controlled by the weather, and can be performed at other times during the construction of your home. Exterior finishes will often carry into Phase 5.

Countertops and cabinets are installed. The house is painted and stained. Tile/linoleum is laid in the kitchen and bath, and any additional plumbing and electrical projects come to completion.

• Interior painting is applied
• All cabinets are installed
• All countertops are installed
• Mirrors and shower enclosures are installed
• Once the cabinets are in, the interior doors are installed, and the molding around the doors, windows, and baseboards goes in
• Once the molding is installed, the interior of the house is painted
• Once the painting is done, the carpet is installed

Construction hazards associated with this stage of construction:

• Loose trim material on the floor (slip and trip hazards)
• Sawdust in the air from all the enclosed carpentry work
• Safety rails are removed from stair casings, creating potential fall hazards

Any minor adjustments take place now, such as window screens, drywall, and paint touchups.

• Preliminary walk-thru with your Project Manager
• Final building code inspections
• Final orientation
• Obtain occupancy permit
• Final payment

Moving in is permitted once all above steps have been completed!

It’s exciting to see a new home take shape. We understand that our customers generally like to visit the site and we don’t discourage you from doing so. However, since the workers on site may not understand the full scope of the project, it is important that you direct questions and concerns to your Project Manager. Your Project Manager is responsible for your project; therefore, he or she needs to direct the on-site personnel. You will be provided with all the necessary phone numbers to stay in touch with us throughout the process.

• Keep older children within view and younger children within reach or make arrangements to leave them elsewhere when visiting the site
• Do not walk backward, not even one step. Look in the direction you are moving at all times
• Watch for boards, cords, tools, nails, or construction materials that might cause tripping, puncture wounds, or other injury
• Do not enter any level of the house that is not equipped with stairs and rails
• Give large, noisy grading equipment or delivery vehicles plenty of room. Assume that the driver can neither see nor hear you
• Do not walk under workers (i.e. roofers); tools or materials will sometimes be accidentally dropped