What to do after deciding to build a house
The first steps after deciding to build: budget, design, contractors, schedule and documents in one organized plan.
Owner builder guide
Home Building Guides for Owner-Builders
Practical guides on construction choices, costs, schedules, documents and full home build control.Start with BuildIQ35 of 35 articles
Read guide
What comes after the shell stage of a house build?
What to plan after the shell stage: checks, services, plastering, screeds, insulation, facade and preparation for finishes.
Checklist before construction starts
What to prepare before the first contractor arrives: documents, budget, decisions and schedule so the build starts cleanly.
Checklist before the electrician starts on site
What to prepare before electrical rough-in: sockets, lighting, consumer unit, internet, alarm, smart home, photos and sign-off.
Checklist before the closed shell stage: windows, roof and airtightness
What to check before closing the building: windows, doors, garage door, roof, flashings, sills, airtightness, moisture and installation readiness.
Checklist before technical finishing: plaster, screeds, drywall and painting
A professional checklist before technical finishing: service acceptance, moisture, plaster, screeds, drywall, skim coats, painting and work sequence.
Home finishing checklist: stage acceptance before handover
A full home-finishing checklist covering substrates, moisture, wet areas, flooring, cabinetry, final fit-off, protection, punch lists and acceptance.
Checklist before home installations: electrical, plumbing, ventilation and heating
What to prepare before home services: point layouts, bathroom and kitchen decisions, cable and pipe routes, distribution boards, ventilation and pre-cover acceptance.
Checklist before the open shell stage: walls, floors and roof
What to verify before the open shell stage: materials, masonry, lintels, floors, roof structure, tolerances and structural acceptance.
Checklist before plaster and screed: what to check after installations
What to check before plastering and screeds: electrical, plumbing, underfloor heating, ventilation, pressure tests and photos of covered work.
Checklist before starting home construction: readiness to break ground
A homeowner checklist for starting construction: plans, approvals, budget, contractor scope, site readiness, schedule and a practical go/no-go decision.
Checklist before the zero stage: what to verify before foundations
A practical checklist before the zero stage: documents, surveyor, ground, excavation, foundations, waterproofing, sleeves and stage acceptance.
What roof covering should you choose: tiles, metal tiles or standing seam?
A practical comparison of common roof coverings: tiles, metal tiles and standing seam metal. Cost, durability, installation risks and control in BuildIQ.
How to manage invoices and documents during a home build
Learn how to organize construction invoices, receipts, contracts, quotes, warranties, photos and budget records during a home build with BuildIQ.
Construction work acceptance protocol: what to record before payment
A practical guide for owner-builders: what to check, photograph and record before accepting a construction stage.
Home build checklist: what to track before handover
A practical checklist for owner-builders: permits, budget, contractors, deadlines, photos and stage sign-offs in one place.
Home build schedule: stages from plot to handover
A practical home construction schedule: permits, foundations, shell, services, wet works, finishes and handover.
How to track a home construction budget
How to track a home construction budget by stage, invoice, contractor and decision, with a simple system for owner-builders.
Which foundation should you choose: slab or strip footings?
A practical comparison of slab foundations and strip footings: when each option makes sense, what affects cost and how BuildIQ helps control the decision.
How to manage a home build in an app
A practical guide for owner-builders: how to track budget, invoices, documents, photos, contractors and progress in one home construction app.
Common mistakes to avoid before building a house
Avoid budget, site, contractor-scope, allowance, long-lead and scheduling mistakes before your house build begins.
Common foundation mistakes when building a house
What owner-builders should check around soil, levels, waterproofing, penetrations, concrete, compaction and foundation sign-off.
Common MEP mistakes when building a house
Avoid electrical, plumbing, HVAC and ventilation coordination mistakes before rough-ins are covered by drywall or finishes.
Common framing and structural shell mistakes
Avoid framing and structural shell mistakes involving dimensions, rough openings, load-bearing work, roof framing and inspections.
Common building envelope mistakes
Avoid dry-in, window, roofing, flashing, moisture and air-sealing mistakes before interior work begins.
Common home finishing mistakes
Avoid sequencing, moisture, substrate, material, punch-list and payment mistakes during a home finishing project.
Brick, ceramic block, aerated concrete or silicate: what should you build walls from?
A practical comparison of wall materials for a house: ceramic blocks, aerated concrete, silicate and masonry units. Cost, labor, acoustics, insulation and build control.
Understanding the building envelope: when a home is weather-tight
An owner’s guide to the building envelope: roof, windows, exterior doors, weather barrier, air sealing, moisture control and handoff to rough-ins.
Understanding the home-finishing sequence: dependencies before handover
An owner’s guide to home finishing: wet work, drying, waterproofing, tile, flooring, paint, cabinetry, punch lists and final handoffs.
Understanding home systems: electrical, plumbing, HVAC and rough-ins
An owner’s guide to residential MEP: electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, coordination, equipment space, testing and records before walls close.
Understanding a home’s structural shell: what an owner needs to know
An owner’s guide to the structural shell: load-bearing walls, floors, openings, roof framing, layout and decisions that affect later work.
When should the plumber start on a house build?
A practical guide to scheduling plumbing rough-in, avoiding rework and keeping plastering, screeds and heating on track.
When should you order windows for a house build?
A practical timeline for ordering windows, avoiding delays, preparing final measurement and keeping delivery aligned with the build schedule.
Home construction sequence: what should happen first?
The key order of works in a house build and the points where owners most often lose time, money, momentum and budget control.
The biggest mistakes that delay a house build by months
A practical guide for owner-builders: windows, schedules, budget control, documents, contractors, material lead times and finishing decisions that delay a home build.