Note that any services (e.g., water, gas, electricity, and drainage) should be installed in advance of laying the foundation so that you will have direct connections to them all through the concrete base.
Get your snaplines right – Once your concrete foundations have dried, you need to mark out where the frame will sit. You can establish the precise location based on the position of all the connections to the utilities, as you will know exactly, based on the plans, where in the dwelling each of these will be connected.
The next step is to create snaplines on the concrete. These require two people to run a length of heavily chalked string along the concrete base where the outside of the wall frame will be. You tighten the string, lift it up, and allow it to snap back into place, leaving a clear, straight chalk line on the concrete. This needs to be done for all external wall frames, and it is important to ensure that all lines meet at a right angle (90 degrees) to each other.
Taking delivery of the steel frame – All the wall frames, beams, trusses, and joists will arrive on a truck and trailer. As you unload them, place them in the right order on your foundation. In simple terms, you want all the pieces placed in order of installation.
Get on the phone and invite a load of capable friends to a frame construction party. Four or five will be enough, depending on the overall size of the frame, and this is a great way to make building your new home even more memorable and enjoyable.
Installing wall panels – If you’ve got your snaplines right, installing and connecting all the wall panels could not be easier or more straightforward.
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