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A building begins as a concept of need in someone’s mind. If the need is a simple one and the person dexterous and ambitious, the steps needed to realize the concept are simple and direct. In some primitive societies, one or more members of the family or tribe scratch a floor-plan circle r rectangle of suitable size on the bare ground and assemble locally gathered materials—mud, stone, reeds, snow, logs, or poles—into a building on the spot. The design and details of the building require little thought because they are traditional to the society. The suburban American do-it-yourselfer, whether needing a tool shed or an entire house, generally takes somewhat more elaborate steps. He or she spends time developing plans on paper or spends money purchasing ready-made plans in order to resolve as many functional problems as possible before starting construction. The paper plans also allow accurate estimating of the necessary quantities of building materials and labor and facilitate negotiations with the local building inspector for a permit to build. Once everything is in order, materials are bought and delivered, tools are prepared, and construction can begin. Residential-scale buildings are sometimes built by the owner but usually by a builder, a small construction company that often consists of only three or four workers and builds only one project at a time. A custom building is one that is planned by an architect or residential designer for a specific owner and built under a simple contract or agreement to build. Some builders specialize in speculative building, erecting buildings that will be sold to a buyer who is not known at the time construction commences. Speculative builders may work on a one-at-a-time basis, or they may build dozens or hundreds of houses at a time on large tracts of land. Builders often work from stock plans, ones that are purchased from residential designers for a small fee. The builder, who often works physically on the project, usually builds the frame of the building and applies the exterior finish materials to the walls. The builder hires specialist subcontractors to excavate and construct the foundation, apply the roofing material, install plumbing, heating, and electrical services, install thermal insulation, apply interior wall and floor finishes, install cabinetry, and do site and landscaping work. The builder comes back to apply interior baseboards and trim, after which a painting subcontractor finishes the building.
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