What Your Builder Wishes You Knew About Building a Home in Oklahoma
After almost 20 years of building homes in Oklahoma, I’ve learned that building a home here comes with its own set of challenges.
Oklahoma weather can be unpredictable. Our soil can be difficult. We have hot summers, strong winds, severe storms, and plenty of temperature swings throughout the year.
And then there are the things that homeowners simply don't think about until they're building a house.
That's why I thought I'd share a few things I wish every homeowner knew before starting a new construction home in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Soil Is Something You Should Take Seriously
If you've lived in Oklahoma for very long, you've probably heard someone talk about foundation problems.
That's because our soil can move.
Depending on where you're building, the soil conditions can create challenges for foundations. That's one reason we take the foundation of a home so seriously.
At Two Structures Homes, we use post-tension foundations because they are designed with the conditions of our region in mind.
Your foundation isn't the part of the house where you want to cut corners.
You can change countertops.
You can replace flooring.
You can paint the walls.
You can't casually change the foundation after the house is built.
It's one of those things you may never think about once you move in, and that's exactly how it should be.
The Oklahoma Heat Changes How a Home Should Be Built
We all know Oklahoma summers can be hot.
Really hot.
That means energy efficiency isn't just a trendy feature to talk about when you're building a home here. It can have a real impact on how comfortable your home feels and how hard your HVAC system has to work.
This is why the materials and techniques used behind the walls matter so much.
Even the way the home is framed can affect how efficiently it performs.
A beautiful kitchen doesn't do much for you if your home is difficult to keep comfortable.
The Materials You Don't See Matter
One of my favorite things about building homes is also one of the hardest things to explain to buyers.
Some of the most important parts of your home are the things you'll never see.
Once the drywall goes up, you don't see the framing anymore.
You don't see the house wrap.
You don't see the electrical wiring and plumbing.
And you don't see the foundation.
But all of those things are doing their jobs every day.
When you're comparing builders, don't just compare the pretty things.
Ask what's behind the walls.
Ask what materials are being used.
Ask why they're being used.
And ask what the builder believes is important enough to spend money on even though the homeowner will never see it.
Those answers can tell you a lot.
Oklahoma Weather Should Influence Your Decisions
When you're building a home, it's easy to think about today's weather.
But you really need to think about the weather your home will experience over the next 20 or 30 years.
Strong storms.
High winds.
Heavy rain.
Extreme heat.
Occasional freezing temperatures.
All of these are part of living in Oklahoma.
That's why construction details matter.
It's also why I encourage homeowners to think about durability instead of simply choosing whatever is the cheapest option available.
Your home isn't a short-term purchase.
The decisions made during construction can affect how that home performs for decades.
Don't Let the Finishes Distract You From the Construction
This one is probably my biggest piece of advice.
I love helping homeowners choose finishes.
It's fun.
There's nothing like seeing a homeowner get excited about their kitchen cabinets, countertops, flooring or fireplace.
But don't let those decisions become the entire focus of the building process.
A $10,000 countertop doesn't make up for poor construction.
A beautiful light fixture doesn't fix a foundation problem.
And the prettiest paint color in the world won't make a home energy efficient.
The finishes are what make the home yours.
The construction is what makes it a home.
Both matter.
Think About How Oklahoma Families Actually Live
One of the best things about building a home from the ground up is that you don't have to settle for someone else's idea of how a family should live.
Think about your everyday life.
Where do you drop your keys?
Where do backpacks end up?
Where do you take off muddy shoes?
Where does everyone gather?
Do you entertain?
Do you spend evenings outside?
Do you need a home office?
Do you need extra storage?
Do you have pets?
These may sound like small things, but they're the things that make the difference between a house that looks good and a house that actually works for your family.
Build for the Oklahoma You Know You're Going to Get
Every state has its own quirks when it comes to building.
Oklahoma is no different.
The heat is real.
The wind is real.
The soil is real.
And the storms are real.
That doesn't mean you should be afraid to build a home here.
Quite the opposite.
It means you should build with Oklahoma in mind.
That's one of the things I appreciate about being a local builder. We aren't building homes in Oklahoma as if we were building somewhere else.
We live here.
We work here.
We understand the environment our homes are going to live in.
And we want to build homes that are ready for it.
After Almost 20 Years, These Are the Things I Pay Attention To
When you've been building homes for a long time, you start to notice the little things.
You notice what holds up.
You notice what homeowners appreciate five or ten years later.
You notice which construction decisions matter.
And you learn that sometimes the best building decisions aren't the ones that make the biggest impression on the day you move in.
They're the ones that quietly make your home more comfortable, more durable and easier to live in year after year.
That's what we're trying to accomplish at Two Structures Homes.
We're not interested in simply building something that looks good on closing day.
We want to build homes that continue to make sense long after the moving truck pulls away.
Because that's really what "Built For A Lifetime" means to us.
If you're considering building a new home in Edmond, Deer Creek, Oklahoma City, Mustang, Moore or the surrounding Oklahoma City area, we'd love to talk with you about what goes into building a home that is designed specifically for Oklahoma.
You don't have to know all the answers before you start.
That's our job.
We'll help you figure out the rest.
Thinking About Building a Home in Oklahoma?
Whether you already own land, have a house plan in mind, or are just beginning to explore your options, we'll help you understand what it takes to build a home designed for Oklahoma.
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