
Guide · Building Basics
How a Custom Home Gets Built, Step by Step
A custom home looks like a mystery from the outside. It is really a sequence, and knowing the order makes every decision easier.
Call us today615-431-3789A custom home looks like a mystery from the outside. It is really a sequence, and knowing the order makes every decision easier.
Planning Comes First
Every build starts with the lot and the family. We walk the site, talk through how you live and sketch a plan, then refine it until the floor plan, the exterior and the schedule make sense together.
Permits and engineering follow the plan, and they take time, so early decisions pay off.
From Dirt to Dry-In
Site work and the foundation come first, then framing, the roof and the windows. Once the house is closed in from the weather, it is called dried-in, and the interior work can begin without rain getting in the way.
Inspections happen at key points, and we schedule the next trade only after the last one passes.
Systems, Finishes and Walkthrough
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC go in before insulation and drywall. Then come paint, trim, cabinets, flooring and fixtures, in an order that protects the finished surfaces.
We finish with a careful walkthrough and a punch list, so small details get fixed before you move in.
In This Guide
Styles Mentioned
Narrow and Infill LotsCozy and Character Homes
Craftsman Homes
Low gables, tapered porch columns and honest materials: the handcrafted look that Nashville neighborhoods love.
Subdivisions and HOAsModern and Open Homes
Modern Farmhouse Homes
White board-and-batten, black windows and an open plan: the modern farmhouse is the most-asked-for look in new neighborhoods.
Subdivisions and HOAsClassic and Traditional
Colonial Homes
Symmetry, brick and shutters: the colonial is the backbone of established Middle Tennessee neighborhoods.
More Guides
Keep Reading
Building BasicsDesign-Build or General Contractor: Which Fits Your Project?
Two common ways to build are design-build and the traditional route with an architect and a general contractor. Each has strengths.
Read the guide
Building BasicsHow to Read a Set of House Plans
House plans can look like a foreign language. A few basics make them much easier to read.
Read the guide
Building BasicsWhat a Foundation Does, and Which Type Fits Your Lot
The foundation carries the weight of the house and keeps it level for the long term. The right type depends on the lot.
Read the guideTalk to a real person
Ready to start building? Call us.
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Tell Us About Your Project
Tell us the address, what you want to build or change and when you would like to start, and we will get back to you quickly. Prefer to talk? Call 615-431-3789.
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Nashville Building Company designs and builds custom homes, additions and remodels for homes and businesses in Nashville and Middle Tennessee: new construction, kitchens and baths, structure and site work, systems, finishes and outdoor living.
- 615-431-3789
- New homes, remodels and additions
- Serving Nashville and Middle Tennessee
