The First Steps
Since location and dimension of your building site will dictate many decisions concerning your future home, the first step of the construction process is a consideration of the desired building lot. Side yard restrictions, grade elevations, wooded and water sites are only a few of the elements that come into play before you start designing your dream home, many of which will affect the overall budget of your project. Over the last 50 years, from crowded lake settings to 80-acre bean fields, we have seen them all. Star Homes has the experience to help you with all of these decisions and we consider no site as too difficult to manage. We are also a charter builder in many subdivisions sprinkled around the Fort Wayne area.
The next step, while keeping budget concerns in mind, is designing your new home. Covenant restrictions, style, width, and depth of the home are just a few details that are discussed during preliminary meetings with Star Homes. During initial meetings; we listen to your desires, answer questions you have, discuss with you a myriad of items such as masonry, trim, cabinetry, window sizes, and begin the in-house design process by providing rough floor plans to make sure we are all on the correct path. Star Homes will advise and work with you in making plan revisions until you are completely satisfied with not only the design but also the total cost of the project.. A major reason in why clients come back to Star Homes repeatedly is our 50 years of helping them make satisfactory decisions.
Upon completion of a satisfactory set of plans, agreement on price and approval of financing , the actual process of building will commence. The phases below are to assist you in the general knowledge of the construction process for a “wood frame” style home and may vary because of size of home and difficulty of building site.
Building Site Prep Work (1 week)
If wooded, Star and a tree expert will meet with you to discuss the removal of any trees, which can stay and which must go. Clearing of any remaining debris on lot is and a certified surveyor will stake the home. A non-wooded lot may need to be graded before staking if the location for the future house is not level. These decisions are made subject to each lot’s unique characteristics.
Foundation Stage (3 weeks)
After staking, the installation of the concrete slab or basement follows. According to foundation size and type, the above mentioned time period may vary slightly. All mechanicals that need to be in the foundation will be installed and inspected.
Framing (3 weeks)
During this stage, walls will be constructed and raised, rafters put up and the entire home will be enclosed (shingles, windows, overhead garage doors, etc.). This is when our clients tend to get excited because they can actually see the form of their home taking shape. Star Homes framers have been with us many years and we consider them to be the best craftsmen around.
Mechanical Rough In and Insulation (3 weeks)
Plumbing, electrical and heating rough ins are installed in your new home before the drywall phase. Upon completion of these rough ins, our insulation contractor takes over so we can proceed to the next step. Exterior siding along with your stone/brick facade will be installed.
Drywall and Painting ( 4 weeks)
During this stage of construction, much more will be going on other than just hanging , mudding, taping, sanding and painting drywall for your walls and ceilings. Once the ceilings are hung, insulation will be blown into attic areas that couldn’t be accessed . At this time our expert crews will be measuring for future trim work. Cabinets will be ordered to custom fit your own special designed kitchen and baths. Flooring and lighting requirements will be verified for future installation.
Trim and Finish Work (4 weeks)
This is where we customize your new home that makes it so special - a Star Homes home . Oversized baseboard, casing, crown molding, plant shelving, custom mantel work - all the trim selected by you and our interior designer will be installed by our expert crew that’s deemed to be the best artisans in the Greater Fort Wayne area. Tour our models to prove it to yourself . Our painting crews will return and finalize the colors you selected with our interior designer . Your custom cabinets will be installed helping to make your new home unique and one of a kind. Lighting and flooring will be completed along with final plumbing fixtures and installation of appliances. There are numerous other items ranging from floor vents to garage door openers that will be dealt with also at this stage of construction.
Final (2 weeks)
Concrete drives, patios, and walks will be installed subject to in climate weather. Final grading and landscaping will be completed. Touch ups and cleaning are included in this phase .
Once your new home is deemed fully completed to Star Homes high standards, we’ll walk through the home together answering any questions you may have as well as making sure everything is to your liking.