Avoid Taking Shortcuts When Building a Custom Home in Pennsylvania

If you’re working with a custom home builder and are creating your own dream home, then it’s important to make sure that the contractor does not cut any corners during the building process. After all, if you’re making such a significant investment in your future, then it only makes sense that you do the job right.

Here are just a few examples of some of the areas where you shouldn’t try to cut costs by taking shortcuts when working with a custom home builder in Pennsylvania:

• Framing: When it comes to the actual structural elements of your new construction project, you should really avoid cutting corners, because the last thing you want to have happen is for the structural integrity of your building to be compromised. There are some builders that may propose a simplified truss and framing system, which isn’t always an instant “no,” but is still something you need to think about carefully. Be extremely careful about giving the go-ahead for anything with the words “simplified” or “cheaper” when it comes to structural elements of your building—this is literally what’s holding up your home, so quality and reliability are of the utmost importance.
• Plumbing: There are actually some aspects of your plumbing that you can cut costs with. For example, you could place bathrooms in similar locations on each floor to save costs on the total materials you need for plumbing lines. But the rule should always be that if you’re going to do a job, do it right. Don’t cheap out on materials or fixtures.
• Electrical: In some cases, a developer will wire a new home as minimally as possible, with some electrical outlets and maybe a ceiling fixture here and there. Sure, this saves you some money, but really cuts down on the functionality of your home. Considering how many appliances and devices we use today, it’s important you put plenty of focus on the electrical infrastructure of your home and ensure that it’s fully outfitted to meet your needs.
• Flooring: There are some circumstances in which builders may attempt to cut corners with their flooring work, which could result in the use of low-quality materials or floors not being laid down properly. In either scenario, there’s a greater likelihood of floors warping or buckling as they expand and contract with the changing of the seasons. Always make sure you’re using high-quality materials and that the developers take their time and use the correct installation processes so you don’t have major issues with warped flooring in a few years after your move-in.
• Insulation: Never cut corners with insulation—doing so will result in much greater costs over time on your energy bills. This means insulating places in your home that might not even be part of your main living areas, including attached garages, crawl spaces and attics. Doing so will help you to better retain hot and cold air in your home, meaning your HVAC won’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire in your space. This cuts down on the amount of money you’ll have to pay on monthly energy bills.

For more information about the areas in which you should never cheap out when working with a custom home builder in Pennsylvania, contact WSL Incorporated today.