With a dry, framed structure, the rough-in of interior components may begin. The steps in this stage are relatively serial but, depending on the size of your home, some steps by be done in parallel.

Key Steps Explained:

We like to term the mechanical and high-voltage rough-ins as installing the “guts” of your home. For the HVAC system, this involves installing the duct work for cold air returns and for air supplies. For electrical, the outlet and switch boxes, can lighting, boxes for ceiling fans and light fixtures, all electrical wiring behind walls, circuits, electrical panels, circuit breakers and more will be installed during this stage, including connecting the permanent power service to your home. And for plumbing, this step includes installing hot and cold water lines, drain/waste lines and natural gas lines in addition to the hot water heaters and recirculation lines.

Next we move on to communications rough-ins. Communications systems are also referred to as low-voltage systems since all the wiring for these systems —audio/video (A/V), telephone and cable, controlled lighting, security, central vacuum, etc.—is low-voltage.

Rough-in for A/V and telephone and cable includes installing boxes for phone, cable, network jacks, boxes for speaker controls and control pads, centralized control panels and the wiring and cabling behind the walls. This step would also involve installing centralized control panels and wiring for your controlled lighting & home automation, as well as installing security system components — boxes for motion detectors, glass break sensors, cameras, sirens, door contacts on exterior doors, centralized control panels and wiring. For central vacuum, this step included installing PVC piping in the walls (debris is sucked through this piping to the central vacuum canister), outlets for connecting vacuum accessories and low-voltage wiring that activates and deactivates the central vacuum canister when accessories are attached to the outlets.

Insulating your home with spray-foam, cellulose, fiberglass, etc. in the walls & ceilings, including using insulation for soundproofing rooms like your master bedroom or theater room occurs next. Finally, installing, mudding & taping, and finish-sanding your drywall are the steps that round out this stage.

Next comes the “pretty” stuff – interior finishes.