Do You Know These Home-Building Fundamentals?

Without protection, the walls above your kitchen countertops would be subject to spills and splashes from water, food and even cooking grease. Backsplashes, which are made from stone or tile, cover a portion on the entirety of this area to protect it from damage and stains.

Installing wooden 2x4's known as studs every 16 to 24 inches is the most common technique for constructing the walls inside of a home. Once the studs are up, the walls can be insulated, and drywall is added to create a smooth, finished surface.

Drain line slopes are established by the National Plumbing Code. This line must slope at least 1/4 inch per foot to keep things moving and prevent clogs, but can't slope more than 3 inches per foot, because that would allow liquid to slide away while solid waste stayed behind.

Want to avoid those surprise cold showers? Choose a water heater with a high first-hour rating when building your home. The higher this rating, the more hot water your unit will be able to provide in peak periods.

Sure it's your house, but you're still required to comply with local codes if you want to pass your final inspection. The National Plumbing Code in the U.S. requires you to leave at least 15 inches between the center of the toilet and any sidewalls or obstructions. You must also leave 24 inches clear in front of the fixture, so there's room to sit.

Adding vinyl or aluminum siding right on top of wood sheathing is a great way to encourage moisture problems in your home. Before installing siding, take the time to cover the sheathing with building wrap, a synthetic paper-like material that keeps moisture at bay.

Older homes use balloon framing, which consists of studs running continuously from the floor to the floor. Because of how quickly fires can spread in a balloon-framed home, modern builders rely on platform framing, which separates each floor of the house to an individual platform.

When mounting smoke alarms, always remember that smoke rises. The National Fire Protection code states that smoke alarms must be mounted within 12 inches of the ceiling when measured from the top of the device.

Flexible ductwork is simply wireframing wrapped in plastic. It's cheap and can be squeezed into tight spaces, but also comes with some drawbacks compared to rigid ducts. These drawbacks include reduced durability, loss of airflow and the inability to use some whole-house humidifiers.

Laminate comes in a huge variety of finishes and can be installed quickly for between $10 and $40 per square foot, according to Consumer Reports. Despite its low price point, many buyers pass over laminate in favor of granite or stone because it is much less vulnerable to the cracks and chips that can mar the surface of laminate countertops.

Building stairs can be tricky because it requires balancing a variety of measurements. The risers, those vertical portions between each step, can't be taller than 7-3/4 inches. Treads must be 10 inches deep or more, and you must leave 80 inches of headroom between each tread and the ceiling.

Grout is a flowing mixture of cement, sand, water and additives. It's used between tiles on the floor and walls to create a level, water-resistant and durable finish.

Ground-fault circuit interrupters or GFCI receptacles are special electrical outlets that help reduce the risk of injury or shock. By code, they must be installed at outlets in the bathroom, garage, outbuildings and near the sink or countertops in the kitchen.

Don't be swayed by upfront costs on different furnaces when building a home. Instead, think about how much the system will cost to operate over the years. For the winter of 2018 to 2019, the U.S. Energy Information Administration names a gas furnace as the cheapest of these four options, with a total winter heating cost of $644 as a U.S. average. Electric, propane and oil cost about twice that to run.

Joining a pair of wires randomly within a wall cavity is a great way to set yourself up for problems. Play it safe by using a junction box to protect these connections. These simple metal or plastic devices protect the wires from damage and help to contain sparks or heat.

Installing plywood on OSB sheathing over wood studs is a relatively simple task, but don't forget that wood expands and contracts over time. Leave 1/8 inch between panels to prevent walls from bowing or cupping.

Doors installed in the home must be large enough to pass through without having to stoop or turn sideways. The National Residential Code sets a minimum size of 32 inches wide by 80 inches tall.

All basement bedrooms require an egress window so that you can escape quickly if there is a fire. The window must have a total area of 5.7 square feet, with a minimum width of 20 inches and a minimum height of 24 inches.

Anchor bolts are used to secure the wooden framing of a home to the concrete foundation. They must be placed no more than 6 feet apart, and there must be at least one bolt placed between 4 and 12 inches from the end of each section. Since J-bolts are placed in wet concrete, this step requires cooperation between carpenters and masons.

There are a lot of reasons vinyl siding is the most popular exterior finish used in the U.S. Not only is it cheap and easy to install, but it's also resistant to rot, pests, dents and rust.

While fire-codes can vary by city, all garages with a bedroom or living area located upstairs require the use of fire-rated drywall on the ceiling. It's also a good idea to use fire-rated gypsum around furnace or utility rooms.

In areas where the ground doesn't freeze, a slab-on-grade foundation is cheap and quick to construct. It's low to the ground, so it requires fewer steps up to reach the house than a home with a basement. One major drawback to a slab is that it limits future expansion. With no basement space to finish out, any future expansion needs will require you to build up or out, which can be tricky.

Since the 2008 National Electric Code was written, tamper-resistant outlets have been required in all new and renovated homes. These outlets only work if you use equal pressure to insert a plug, and won't let a child stick a knife or fork inside.

The frost line marks how deep the ground in your area freezes each winter. When digging footings, always dig down at least one foot below the frost line. This means footers could be 6 feet deep in some regions and just 1 or 2 feet deep in other parts of the country.

One very common home building error involves exhausting the bathroom vent fan into the attic. This practice dumps stinky, moist air into your attic, which is never a good idea. Instead, take the time to exhaust the fan to the outdoors to prevent future damage.

Missing a required inspection can result in having to pay fines, or even worse, tear down what you have built. Many jurisdictions require you to call for an inspection once foundations are complete, then again after framing, mechanical and plumbing rough-ins, and a final inspection when the home is complete.

No plumbing code in the U.S. allows you to use PVC piping for hot water, or even to use it inside the home. It can only be used for cold water or drain lines, and is only permitted as service piping, and not for indoor distribution.

While metal studs have long been used to frame commercial structures, wooden studs remain the standard for homes. Though metal studs offer superior fire-resistance and durability compared to wood studs, they also cost more and only make sense in specific residential applications.

Sloping the ground away from your home will prevent rain and other moisture from damaging your foundation over time. Most building codes require a minimum slope of 5 percent or 6 inches over 10 feet.

The National Electrical Code requires outlets to be placed at least every 12 feet along the walls within a room, and any wall wider than 2 feet needs to have one. You must also install an outlet on any hallway that's 10 feet long on more.

Kitchens are power hogs, consuming more electricity than any other room. That means you should plan for plenty of power going to this room when building your home. Not only do you need standard receptacles and power for lighting, but appliances like the oven, garbage disposal, microwave, and refrigerator all require their own dedicated circuits.

Passive solar homes use materials that absorb energy from the sun and slowly release it over the hours. If you want to take advantage of this free heat energy, plan to include materials like brick, stone, concrete and tile in your design.

A typical home in the U.S. should have between 10 and 14 inches of attic insulation, which translates to an R-value of R-38, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. As a rule of thumb, if you can see the joists in the floor of your attic, you're missing some insulation and should add more to cut energy costs.

Building a home means shelling out big bucks, but frugal choices like asphalt roof shingles can help you keep your budget in check. These shingles are long-lasting, durable and cost much less than fancier roof finishes like metal or slate.

Even as families have shrunk over the years, the average American home has grown. In 1973, the average family lived in 1,660 square feet. By 2018, the typical U.S. home had grown to 2,392 square feet. When sizing your home, take the time to balance space needs with maintenance costs over time.