After structural designs are ready, a building must be built up to its standards. At first, I assumed all that builders had to do was build the building in any way necessary as long as it follows the plans. However, after doing more research on the construction of buildings, I learned that not only do they have to follow plans, but the building has to be built in certain construction sequence to prevent collapse.

Buildings have to be built in a correct order to prevent collapse. First, the ground must be excavated to make room for the supports and foundation of the building. A thin layer of gravel is laid sometimes to make a smooth base for the foundation. Next, the foundation is created. The form is laid out, steel reinforcement bars are placed, and finally, the concrete is poured and left to set. Foundation walls are sealed and drainage pipes are installed to prevent water from accumulating and damage from occurring. Next, the skeletal frame of the building is made using wood, structural steel, or sometimes concrete. Elevated concrete slabs are created for upper floors as well. The interior walls, sheathing and the exterior façade is installed next. Contractors then start work on the roofing of the building. Depending on the structure, the roof has underlayment, insulation, and varying roofing materials like shingles, metal, or built-up roofing. Then, components such as the windows and doors are added and fit into the premade gaps in the walls. After the structure is solid and tight, the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing lines are next. They are usually run through floor joists and wall studs and outlets, switches, and other electrical components are installed. Finally, the finishes are added. Drywall in the interior of the building, fixtures, and final inspections are performed before the structure is ready for use.

The Construction Sequence is very important when building. Since parts of the house rely on other parts to be ready, they have to be installed later. For example, the entire building depends on the structure being sound, so if it isn’t a collapse is likely to occur. The order of construction helps to keep buildings standing while they are still being built.