The anatomy of your home
Do you ever wonder about the inner workings of your house?
From the windows to the roof, your home is composed of elements that operate as one system. Similar to the human body, it relies on different parts working in harmony. If one system fails, the rest are affected.
To help you understand how each system works, here’s a quick guide to the anatomy of your home.
Roofing
Forming the top layer of your home, the roof serves as your immediate protection from sun and rain. More than just a roofing sheet or Tegula tile, this system also includes the purlins, rafters, and other components that secure your roof.
It is essential that during house construction, your contract ensures that the roof is properly anchored to the columns and beams. Do not skimp on fasteners or roofing sheets, as this system is your first layer of defense against the weather.
Structural
Your home’s structural system is primarily composed of columns, beams, and foundations. Your house slab is also part of this system as it carries all the load inside your home. During construction, this system will most likely take up most of your expenses.
Despite this, do not settle for substandard materials or results. This system will basically keep your home standing. Prioritize getting a structural engineer to design your structural system to ensure that your home will last beyond your lifetime.
Electrical
Composed of your outlets, wiring, lights, and panelboard, the electrical system ensures that power is delivered to your home. It also ensures that your appliances run. This system is not something you can DIY unless you have electrical training, as faulty wiring can cause fatal fires and other accidents.
If you want to save on electrical consumption in the long run, consider using a solar-powered electrical system. While the initial costs may be high if you opt for this eco-friendly alternative, you’ll end up with significant savings every month.
Plumbing
The plumbing system of your home includes the water supply, drainage, and sewage elements. These ensure the sanitary conditions of your home, as they are responsible for keeping your toilets working, your faucets running, and your roof drains in proper condition.
Before accepting your completed home from a contractor, turn on all the faucets to check for leaks or any other problems with your plumbing system. While it may look simple, the plumbing system is one of the most difficult to repair, as it often involves demolishing finishes, flooring, and walls if the pipes are already embedded.
Mechanical
The mechanical system includes the exhaust fans and airconditioning units inside your home. These ensure that air circulates properly. You can also opt for natural ventilation by designing your home so that all rooms have windows that open to the outdoors.
If you have no choice but to resort to artificial ventilation, consult a mechanical engineer to ensure that the system is well-designed to avoid leaks and malfunctions.
Doors and windows
The openings of your home are the doors and windows. These elements determine the accessibility of your home to other people and to natural elements. While having easy access to natural air and light is beneficial, you need to ensure that your openings do not compromise your security against thieves and prying eyes.
Walls and cladding
These are basically the skin of your home. They tie in all the other systems and ensure that your home is well-insulated. Nowadays, you can opt for drywalls, CHB walls, solid concrete walls, and even pre-cast walls to enclose your home. Do your research to determine which fits your budget and timeline. Each offers benefits that can help you meet your goals.
Flooring system
Lastly, your flooring system supports your weight inside the home. This includes the finishes, floor joists and other parts that make up your ground levels. You can choose to finish your home in a variety of products such as tiles, SPC flooring, vinyl, wood planks and engineered wood.
Overall, it is essential that you take care of each system of your home.
As a tip, you can choose to save on finishes, but never skimp on the essentials such as the structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical works of your home. It is best that you consult a professional on each of these systems to ensure that your home is built to last for a long time.
