We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Design to take you through the planning phase prior to construction. We'll give you a basic understanding of the types of homes and building terminology. We'll cover fundamental CODE’s and design criteria required. This is the first of eight courses that will take you through the construction of your dream home and to know more about what you should expect from your builder or contractor.
Planning For The Build
TYPES OF HOMES & BUILDING TERMINOLOGY
Basic CODE
Design Criteria
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/lq4dtr/new
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Designed to establish a foundation before starting construction
Provides a comprehensive understanding of home types and building terminology
Covers fundamental building codes and design criteria
Intended for those planning to build their own home
Save this course
Create your own learning path.
Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save
Save
Reviews summary
Foundational home construction planning
According to learners, this course is a highly effective and foundational introduction to new home construction, particularly praised for its clear explanations of building terminology and basic CODEs. Many find it empowering for first-time builders, providing the necessary understanding to engage confidently with contractors. While some felt it was too basic or desired more depth on specific topics like cost estimations or material insights, the consensus is that it offers a strong overview of the planning phase and design criteria, preparing students well for the subsequent parts of the series. It's especially useful for those seeking a homeowner's perspective.
Equips students to confidently interact with builders and contractors.
"I feel much more prepared to talk to my builder now after taking this course."
"It helped me understand what questions to ask my contractor more effectively."
"It simplifies complex ideas and focuses on the homeowner's perspective, which is exactly what I needed."
Provides a strong, accessible introduction ideal for beginners.
"Excellent introduction to the home building process."
"A solid start to understanding new home construction... great for absolute beginners."
"This course delivered exactly what it promised: a thorough dive into the planning phase."
"I found it to be a good foundational course that provides a useful overview."
Offers excellent explanations of building jargon and fundamental codes.
"The explanations of terminology and CODEs were very clear, making complex topics easy to grasp."
"The coverage of basic codes was incredibly helpful, demystifying a lot of the jargon."
"It covers basic terminology well, providing a strong foundation that I found very useful."
Some learners desired more in-depth content beyond the basics.
"I hoped for more detailed insights into specific building materials or cost estimations."
"I found this course to be too superficial... it doesn't go deep enough for true understanding."
"Some parts felt a bit basic if I had already done some preliminary research on the topic."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in New Home Construction - 1 of 8 with these
activities:
Review basic construction terminology
Show steps
Knowing all the terms in construction will help you more clearly understand and follow your plan.
Show steps
-
Define words in the glossary
-
Look up construction terminology online
Review basic building codes
Show steps
This will help you avoid costly mistakes down the road, and keep your family safe.
Browse courses on
Building Codes
Show steps
-
Read through local building codes
-
Identify any specific codes that apply to your project
-
Contact your local building department if you have any questions
Watch videos on home construction techniques
Show steps
This will help you learn from the experts, and avoid common mistakes.
Show steps
-
Search for videos on specific construction techniques
-
Watch the videos and take notes
-
Practice the techniques you learn
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Join a home building forum or online community
Show steps
This will give you a chance to connect with other people who are building homes, and learn from their experiences.
Show steps
-
Search for online communities or forums dedicated to home building
-
Join the community and introduce yourself
-
Participate in discussions and ask questions
Draw a floor plan of your dream home
Show steps
This will help you visualize your space, and make sure that everything fits the way you want it to.
Show steps
-
Measure the dimensions of your lot
-
Sketch out a rough floor plan
-
Add details like walls, windows, and doors
-
Make sure your floor plan meets local building codes
Create a budget for your construction project
Show steps
This will help you stay on track and avoid any financial surprises.
Show steps
-
Estimate the cost of materials
-
Estimate the cost of labor
-
Add in a contingency fund for unexpected expenses
-
Get multiple bids from contractors
Contribute to an open source project
Show steps
This will give you hands-on experience with real-world construction projects.
Browse courses on
Software Development
Show steps
-
Find an open source project that interests you
-
Contribute to the project by fixing bugs or adding new features
-
Get feedback from the community on your contributions
Review basic construction terminology
Show steps
Knowing all the terms in construction will help you more clearly understand and follow your plan.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Define words in the glossary
- Look up construction terminology online
Review basic building codes
Show steps
This will help you avoid costly mistakes down the road, and keep your family safe.
Browse courses on
Building Codes
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read through local building codes
- Identify any specific codes that apply to your project
- Contact your local building department if you have any questions
Watch videos on home construction techniques
Show steps
This will help you learn from the experts, and avoid common mistakes.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for videos on specific construction techniques
- Watch the videos and take notes
- Practice the techniques you learn
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Join a home building forum or online community
Show steps
This will give you a chance to connect with other people who are building homes, and learn from their experiences.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for online communities or forums dedicated to home building
- Join the community and introduce yourself
- Participate in discussions and ask questions
Draw a floor plan of your dream home
Show steps
This will help you visualize your space, and make sure that everything fits the way you want it to.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Measure the dimensions of your lot
- Sketch out a rough floor plan
- Add details like walls, windows, and doors
- Make sure your floor plan meets local building codes
Create a budget for your construction project
Show steps
This will help you stay on track and avoid any financial surprises.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Estimate the cost of materials
- Estimate the cost of labor
- Add in a contingency fund for unexpected expenses
- Get multiple bids from contractors
Contribute to an open source project
Show steps
This will give you hands-on experience with real-world construction projects.
Browse courses on
Software Development
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find an open source project that interests you
- Contribute to the project by fixing bugs or adding new features
- Get feedback from the community on your contributions
Career center
Learners who complete New Home Construction - 1 of 8 will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/lq4dtr/new
Reading list
We've selected seven books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
New Home Construction - 1 of 8.
Is a comprehensive and widely used reference for architectural graphic symbols, details, and standards, providing valuable guidance for accurate and consistent documentation.
Offers a comprehensive overview of residential construction, encompassing various aspects from planning and design to building systems and materials.
Serves as a comprehensive visual guide to the entire construction process, providing in-depth explanations and clear illustrations of building components, materials, and techniques.
Presents a comprehensive approach to sustainable construction, covering green building design principles, environmental assessment methods, and strategies for achieving high-performance buildings.
Provides a user-friendly and visually appealing guide to the 2021 International Building Code, clarifying complex requirements and ensuring adherence to building regulations.
Presents a comprehensive overview of construction planning, equipment, and methods, covering various aspects of project management, equipment selection, and construction techniques.
Specifically focuses on residential design using AutoCAD, offering practical guidance and step-by-step instructions for creating accurate and detailed home plans.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/lq4dtr/new
Share
Similar courses
Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission
OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.
Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.
Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.
Affiliate disclosure
We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.
Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.
Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.
© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser