Building Our Home From the Ground Up - Roof Dry-in, MEP’s and Window Install

Hello, it’s Kevin this time! Alright. you may have caught on social media that we are a little behind on blogging, so I guess we won't be considered pro bloggers lol! Life has been crazy with a few trips mixed in with a full construction schedule of homes being finished and new homes and projects starting.

Every phase of the building process brings our dream home one step closer to reality. We’re excited to share an update and a lot has happened!

Our framing crew/decking crew has completed the roof sheathing where we have used 19/32 OSB as the roof sheathing. The goal in home building is to get the home “dried in” as soon as possible. Yes, the framing can be rained on, but we try to let this happen as little as possible. Side note: it was basically a desert in Clermont for a few months and right when we started framing it rained almost every day! Funny how things work out!

What Is “Roof Dry-In”?

The roof dry-in phase means that the roof structure is complete and has been covered with protective materials called underlayment to keep out the elements. If we are installing shingles it is required to have 2 layers of underlayment installed per FL building code. If we are installing metal or tiles there is a different product used that we call “peel and stick”. This is a major step in the build because it safeguards the interior of the home from weather while work continues inside. With the home now “dried in,” it provides the protection needed to start installing the critical systems that go behind the walls and in the ceiling. Note: we may be dried in, but that doesn’t mean all of the water stays out. We will still have some water come in where plumbing or HVAC vents are installed. For the most part, the water stays out.

Let’s face it, roof dry-in is BORING but it allows us to move to the fun stuff. MEP’s here we come!

Rough MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) Phase Begins

Simultaneously, we’re moving into the rough-in phase for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. This is where things really start to take shape behind the scenes:

• Mechanical:

  
  

  HVAC ductwork is being installed to ensure proper heating, cooling, and ventilation throughout the home. During the permitting phases we have to complete energy calculations that give the HVAC contractor important information about equipment, duct sizing and placement. The HVAC contractor will follow the duct layout as closely as possible, but adjustments may be necessary in the field, resulting in some variations due to real-world conditions. The most important part of the energy calcs is the amount of ducts each room requires and the direction the ducts should blow. During our walk-thru with the subcontractor we talk through placement of the thermostats and anything they feel may need to be adjusted based on their walk-thru of the home. Our home has a 1 unit for the main house with 3 Zones and 1 unit for MIL suite with one zone.

  
  

• See the duct layout below:
  

Main House Duct Layout

MIL Duct Layout

• Electrical Work Begins:

  
  

  Our electricians are now installing the wiring for outlets, lighting, switches, appliances, and any custom smart home features. This marks a major milestone in our build! At this stage, we hold a group walkthrough with our electrician and team—just like we do with our clients. This walkthrough is incredibly important because it gives us the opportunity to review and finalize all switch and lighting locations before any wires are run. It’s the perfect time to make adjustments without incurring any additional costs. By walking through each room, we can confirm outlet placement, lighting fixtures, cabinet layouts, and more—ensuring everything is just right before moving forward. It’s much easier to understand the electrical layout when walking through the home in person. This allows us to discuss practical details like door swings and how they impact switch placement and other features. Seeing the interior firsthand also gives customers a chance to visualize the space and explore any additional features they may want to include. Kaitlyn and I added some features :D -- and YES, I had to tell Kaitlyn no to a few things as well. Just like our customers, we have a budget too!

• Plumbing:

  
  

  We call this "tub set" or 2nd rough plumbing. Previously, before we formed up our slab we installed the PVC drain pipes and CPVC water lines in the slab. The second phase is where our plumber will literally set any tubs, extend the water lines to the appropriate locations in the walls, and plumb for shower valves, tub valves, and shower heads. This is also where they would plumb shower systems with shower jets or any special plumbing features the home might have. We are pretty standard in our home but we will have 2 rain shower heads in our master shower along with a standard shower head. One very important discussion we had with the plumber is our master bathroom free standing bath tub. We need to have the specifications printed out for the tub and filler so we set it in the proper location and distance from the wall for the tub filler.

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These systems are the backbone of your home’s comfort and functionality. At this stage, our team works closely with our superintendents to make sure everything is installed properly and to code.

Why This Phase Matters

Though it’s mostly hidden once the home is finished, the rough MEP stage is one of the most critical parts of custom home building. Every detail must be thoughtfully planned and executed — from the placement of light switches to making sure the HVAC system will keep your home comfortable year-round. Window install here we come!

Window Install

We've made it to window install! This is where the customers can really see the outside vision of their home come to life. This is one of the first "finish" items to be installed and it really brings the home to life. (We were so excited to see them installed). Ok, so let's think back to the block phase. Before we started block we had our entire window package ordered so we could block the windows and sliding glass doors to the proper sizes. This is critical for a successful window install - and great news, the windows and sliders were installed without any issues. Before any windows get installed, the window company installs the wood "bucking" material inside all the window openings and they also put a blue water proofing over the block at the bottom of the windows where water is more likely to sit or seep into the block. Once the window install is complete they also use an exterior caulk to seal the windows around the entire perimeter.

Stay tuned as we move into the next exciting stages of construction. We’re proud to bring your vision to life, one carefully constructed phase at a time.

Thinking about building your own custom home?

Contact us today to learn more about our process and how we can make your dream home a reality. Hit the sign-up button in the top right corner if you’d like to stay up to date on our build.