200 Skilled Workers to Build a House is about how many capable and experienced tradespeople it takes to build most houses these days.
About 1/3 of the possible clients contacting HOME ARCHITECTS ® these days has the belief that they are going to build it themselves with the help of their Uncle Bob, on weekends during a brief 3 months. Nothing could be further from the truth and reality.
In what way, you may ask?
Well, for instance, in the number of people required to actually build a home, the number of skilled trades involved, and the arrogance and dangers of people untrained in all of those trades or have the physical and psychological strengths to perform that work, and the amount of time required to accomplish and complete the construction.
This Architect’s office says that typically about 50 subcontractors are involved, with about 4 people per crew. 50 x 4 = 200 people. And they can prove it by listing the typical trades involved. Here they are:
A. ARCHITECT (should not only design, but also be involved in helping manage the construction)
1. SURVEYOR
2. LAND CLEARING SUBCONTRACTOR
3. GENERAL CONTRACTOR
4. EXCAVATION SUBCONTRACTOR
5. CONCRETE FOOTING AND WALL SUBCONTRACTOR
6. CONCRETE FINISHING SUBCONTRACTOR
7. HOUSE PERIMETER/ SITE DRAINAGE SUBCONTRACTOR
8. SITE ROAD/WORK GRAVEL DRIVEWAY SUBCONTRACTOR
9. ELECTRIC UTILITY SITEWORK SUBCONTRACTOR/ ELECTRICAL PROVIDER
10.MASONRY SUBCONTRACTOR
11.GRAVEL TRUCKING AND DELIVERY SUBCONTRACTOR
12.FRAMING MATERIAL COMPANY SOURCE PROVIDER
13.FRAMING FLOOR AND ROOF TRUSS ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING AND DELIVERY SOURCE
14.UNDERGROUND WATERPROOFING PROVIDER/INSTALLATION CREW
15.ROUGH FRAMING CARPENTRY SUBCONTRACTOR
16.FLASHING CREW
17.HEAVY LIFT CRANE PROVIDER
18.CONCRETE PUMPING PROVIDER
19. TERMITICIDE CHEMICAL TREATMENT COMPANY
20.SPECIALTY FEATURE CREW
21. INSULATION SUBCONTRACTOR
22. EXTERIOR DOOR & WINDOW PROVIDER AND INSTALLER
23. TRIM CARPENTER SUBCONTRACTOR
24. PAINTING & STAINING SUBCONTRACTOR
25. FINISH EARTH MOVING SUBCONTRACTOR
26. SITE UTILITIES SUBCONTRACTORS (MAY BE SEVERAL) SEWER, POTABLE WATER
27. ROOFING SUBCONTRACTOR
28. SPECIALTY SUBCONTRACTORS (MAY BE MORE THAN ONE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE)
29. HVAC SUBCONTRACTOR
30. ELECTRICAL SUBCONTRACTOR
31. PLUMBING SUBCONTRACTOR
32. FIREPLACE SUBCONTRACTOR
33. GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT SUBCONTRACTOR
34. SPECIAL FRONT ENTRANCE SUBCONTRACTOR
35. GAS (LP OR NATURAL) SUBCONTRACTOR
36. HEAVY TIMBER SUBCONTRACTOR
37. DRYWALL (GYPSUM BOARD) SUBCONTRACTOR
38. FINISH EARTHWORKS MOVING SUBCONTRACTOR
39. CABINET SUBCONTRACTOR
40. TILE SETTER SUBCONTRACTOR (ALSO DOES SHOWER WATERPROOFING)
41. BATHROOM TEMPERED GLASS & SHOWER DOOR SUBCONTRACTOR
42. GARAGE DOOR PROVIDER AND INSTALLER SUBCONTRACTOR
43. FINISH WOOD FLOORING SUBCONTRACTOR
44. APPLIANCE SUBCONTRACTOR DELIVERY, INSTALLATION
45. CRAWLSPACE ENCAPSULATION SUBCONTRACTOR
46. SPECIALTY DETAIL STAIRWAY FEATURE SUBCONTRACTOR
47. GRANITE COUNTER SUBCONTRACTOR (MAY BE THROUGH CABINET SUB)
48. SEPTIC SUBCONTRACTOR
49. WELL SUBCONTRACTOR
50. INTERNET SUBCONTRACTOR (FIBER OPTIC, CAT6 OR SATELLITE)
51. ALARM-SECURITY SYSTEM SUBCONTRACTOR
52. FINISH DRIVEWAY SUBCONTRACTOR
53. WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM SUBCONTRACTOR (MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PLUMBER)
54. SOFFIT SUBCONTRACTOR
55. GATE SUBCONTRACTOR (IF YOU HAVE GATES)
56. FENCING SUBCONTRACTOR (IF YOU HAVE FENCING)
57. LARGE BOULDER AND ROCK SUBCONTRACTOR (IF YOU HAVE ANY)
58. LANDSCAPE SUBCONTRACTOR
59. RADON REMOVAL SYSTEM SUBCONTRACTOR
60. GENERATOR SUBCONTRACTOR (IF YOU HAVE BACKUP EMERGENCY POWER)
61. SPECIALTY SITEWORK SUBCONTRACTORS (FOR FIREPITS, PATIOS & OTHER SPECIALTY ITEMS)
62. FURNISHING SUBCONTRACTOR(S)
63. SPECIALTY INTERIOR WOOD FINISH CARPENTRY SUBCONTRACTOR(S)
64. SPECIALTY CLOSET CASEWORK SUBCONTRACTOR
65. TRASH COMPANY DUMPSTER SUBCONTRACTOR
So that’s a possible 65 subcontractors and there could be more if features like swimming pools and special A-V equipment are involved. But let’s say most houses have only around 50 subcontractors. Once again, let’s do the math: 4 people average per crew x 50 subs = 200 people to build most homes.
This can take 18 months, 5 to 6 days (or even 7 days) a week (not 3 months with your Uncle Bob on weekends). And from 7AM to 6PM everyday. This is a full-time job.
So, mythbusters unravels another common myth: that 3 or 4 total people can DIY their house and in lightspeed time. MYTH BUSTED.
Not to mention that some of the most common dangerous occupations in the world and in the USA involving construction activities. For instance: falls off ladders. Inhaling paint fumes, and using electrically driven saws. It is easy to be injured or wind up dead. It is nothing to be taken lightly. Very dangerous. And psychologically hazardous to your mental health. Because it takes months and months, even with skilled tradespeople. Someone trying to build a conventional house could end up still not done after 10 years.
Ask yourself the questions:
Do I have all the skills, knowledge, strength and other abilities to drive heavy machinery?
Can I lift over 100 pounds and hold it up in the air?
Do I understand how to protect myself and others with proper breathing gear, footwear and other construction hazards?
Can I afford to leave my main money-making profession to work on my house nearly exclusively for anywhere for 18 months to over 10 years?
Would it make more sense to earn my maximum capacity at my main occupation and use those fund to pay a General Contractor to build my house?
What happens to myself and my loved ones if I end up dead or maimed for life while building my house myself?
Is building a house actually an enjoyable activity? Unfortunately, no. It is hard, grueling, dangerous, dirty and difficult work that goes on and on for months and months, often well over a year. It beats you up physically and psychologically.
Be honest with yourself. Do you have the skills, abilities and strength of 200 hardened skilled tradespeople?
What makes you think you can do this by yourself? Just spontaneous positive thinking? That’s not going to carry the day, or the year and a half (to over 10 years) and could well end your life, at the least, as you’ve known it up to now.
ARCHITECT’S BEST ADVICE: DO NOT TRY TO BUILD YOUR HOUSE YOURSELF.
So many bad things are going to happen, please don’t do this to yourself or your family. Do what you know how to do best: be an Engineer, Attorney, Nurse, Doctor, Dentist, Accountant, or other professional. Let the builders build.
Blessings upon you. Be safe.