Framing is the Summer Romance of Home Building and Construction, but don't be Fooled!!!

All the months and months of planning your new home and you finally break ground on your site!  Bamm!!!  Just like that, you've got a house.  Framing usually takes only a weeks time for the average house to go from zero to sixty!  If you miss a day, you miss a lot.

The first floor decking goes up, the walls and suddenly, it's happening.  All you having been dreaming of for your new home begins to take shape.  You can see where the lines drawn on the endless scraps of paper now have meaning.  They are your doors, windows and walls! You are at peace.  This is really happening and soooo quickly!

But this is no time to sit back and smell the roses.  Your last chance for inexpensive changes is here!!!

Before a single wall is lifted into place, NOW is the time to walk the deck with a tape measure.  See if the plans line up with the site.  Contractors hate it, bit tough beans!  This is your chance, so be ready!  Plan on being present for every day of framing.  Yes, EVERY DAY!!!  As soon as the first floor deck is up, it's time to check those plans. 

Get a tape measure, a piece of chalk, a camera and the plans and walk every inch of it!  Climb up there and draw out where those windows and doors will fall on each wall.  Check the views.  Is there anything that seems off, too tight, just slightly the wrong way???  Check the view from different angles, not just straight in front of it.

Before they come back tomorrow to lift the wall up into place, confirm the location of all openings and the heights of those openings for windows.  Will your countertops fit underneath?  Is this window too low for the sofa to sit it front (that's one you should have caught ages ago)  Is it correct???  There were 3 errors on my first floor alone for the height of windows off the finished floor (AFF -above finished floor)  Contractors are not infallible and they don't have all the info you do.  They don't know that the countertop will be higher here or that we need 4' between the windows for Granny's armoire.  Check their work and check it again! 

Once you have checked the first floor, you'll be an expert at it for any other floors above!  Do not be afraid to get on a ladder, climb that scaffold. You have one shot at this, take it!  Get on up there and see what you will see!  Again, mark openings and check how it lays out with your views.

The results are worth it! 

You can catch mistakes, make changes for little to no money and begin to enjoy the views!  Do not miss this opportunity to put on your cutest boots, get on a ladder and make all your home dreams a reality!

Good luck wherever you are in the process of building and drop me a line if I can help!

Best,

Liz

p.s. Download my Free Checklist, HIRING A CONTRACTOR  It's got tips and tricks to find the right one!