Building a new home involves many interconnected decisions and stages, but in a well-managed process the client does not need to coordinate all of them personally. At Happy Home, the process moves step by step from understanding the plot and the family’s needs, through design and the building permit process, to construction and the finished home.

From the start of the design process to receiving the building permit generally takes around 3–6 months, while the construction phase usually takes approximately 22 weeks, or about 5 months.

Broadly, the process can be divided into nine stages:

1. assessing the plot, initial information, family needs and budget;
2. architectural design and the building permit process;
3. final quotation and construction contract;
4. construction preparation and foundation;
5. production and installation of the CLT elements;
6. completing the exterior of the house;
7. technical systems and interior works;
8. external concrete works and further development of the outdoor areas;
9. handover and documentation.

1. The plot, initial information, family needs and budget

Before starting the design, we review the plot and gather the necessary initial information.

We commission a topographical survey, which forms the basis for the site plan. Depending on the plot, a dendrological survey, radon survey or another site-specific study may also be required.

The architect reviews the detailed plan or design conditions and, where necessary, communicates with the local municipality. If any condition needs clarification or can be adjusted within the limits permitted by law, we can explore this during the design process. Where needed, we can also handle applications for initial or additional design conditions.

At the same time, we advise the client on utility connections and, where required, apply to the relevant network operators for technical conditions. These form the basis for the later design of electricity, water and sewer connections.

At this stage we also define the brief for the house itself: the family’s spatial needs, preferred architecture, house size, possible future auxiliary buildings and budget.

When discussing the budget, it is useful to distinguish between the construction budget for the house itself and the total budget required to complete the entire home. Furniture, the kitchen, landscaping and other later choices can vary greatly in price and can also be changed or added over time. The floor plan, primary structure, insulation and other fundamental construction solutions are much harder to alter later. For that reason, the budget should first secure the technical and architectural quality that matters most for the house itself.

Connection fees for electricity, water and sewer networks are paid directly by the client to the relevant service provider and are not part of the house construction price.

2. Architectural design and the building permit

Design is a collaborative process. The architect develops the floor plan and architectural solution together with the client, refining the design step by step until the main decisions are in place.

For some clients, one or two larger rounds of revisions are enough; for another project there may be ten. This is often one of the main factors affecting the duration of the design process.

While the architectural design is being developed, the architect also discusses solutions with the project manager. This allows us to assess early on how different details should be built, whether any special solutions need additional attention, and how to keep the project within the desired budget.

The building permit submission includes:

• the architectural design at preliminary design level;
• the electricity connection design, including the connection solution;
• the water and sewer connection design, which also covers stormwater and, where necessary, drainage;
• the energy performance certificate.

If the property is not connected to public water or sewer networks, these services are provided locally, for example through a borehole and a biological wastewater treatment system.

Depending on the municipality, separate internal heating, ventilation, water and sewer designs may already be required at the building permit stage. If this applies, we clarify with the client which additional designs need to be commissioned and how this affects the schedule and design costs.

If a radon survey has been carried out, its results are taken into account in the building design. Where radon levels are elevated, appropriate protection is included. If a separate survey is not commissioned, regional radon-risk information can also be used and protective measures can be planned as a precaution.

If a dendrological survey has been carried out, valuable existing trees are considered when positioning the house. Where trees need to be removed for construction, the architect can also assist with the necessary approvals and tree-felling permit process.

The architect brings the different design disciplines together, checks that they are coordinated and manages the overall design process.

State fees related to technical conditions, design conditions and the building permit are paid by the client, with the architect forwarding the necessary payment information.

During the building permit process, the authorities may raise questions or comments that require clarification. These are resolved where necessary through additional information or minor design changes.

Once the project is sufficiently defined, we can prepare an accurate construction quotation. If requested, an initial cost estimate can also be prepared earlier, for example on the basis of the first floor-plan solution.

3. Final quotation and construction contract

Once the design is complete and the building permit has been issued, the final construction scope is established.

The quotation clearly defines which works and solutions will be carried out by Happy Home. Based on this, a construction contract is signed setting out the scope, price, payment stages, schedule and responsibilities.

The scope ordered from Happy Home can vary. The minimum scope we offer is an engineered CLT factory package together with installation, after which the client can continue with contractors of their own choice. Alternatively, we can take the project all the way through to a complete turnkey solution. What matters is that the exact scope and responsibilities are clearly defined in the contract before construction begins.

Owner supervision must be independent of the builder and is commissioned separately by the property owner. If needed, we can recommend specialists with whom we have had good experience.

Before construction begins, we also reconfirm details that affect the structure or technical systems, such as the positions of floor drains and the kitchen layout.

For the kitchen, for example, it is important at this stage to know the position of the extractor hood and how the exhaust is to be routed: whether the duct needs to run through the floor and foundation or is solved through the ceiling.

Where relevant, we also confirm the stormwater tank, protection of existing trees during construction and other plot-specific details.

If there is an existing building on the plot that must be removed before the new house can be built, the demolition design, approvals and demolition works need to be resolved in advance. Depending on the project, we can organise this ourselves or recommend a suitable service provider.

4. Construction preparation and foundation

Once the building permit, contract and necessary preparations are in place, construction can begin.

The foundation is especially important for a CLT house. Factory-made elements arrive on site already cut to exact dimensions, which means the foundation must also be extremely precise in both dimensions and levels.

The necessary service penetrations and preparations for water, sewer, electricity and other technical systems are installed together with the foundation according to the project.

Larger site-preparation works — such as tree removal, drainage or other special works — are generally completed before Happy Home’s construction schedule begins and are not included in the standard 22-week construction period.

5. CLT production and installation

While the foundation is being built on site, the CLT elements for the house are produced in the factory.

The structure of every house is engineered specifically for its architectural design. The structural engineer prepares the calculations and production drawings, which are then used to manufacture the walls, floors, roof elements and other required components.

The finished elements are transported to site and installed by crane. The main CLT structure can be erected in approximately one week.

This is one of the most impressive stages of CLT construction: compared with many other building methods, a finished foundation becomes a three-dimensional house in a very short time. Naturally, a great deal of work still follows, but by this stage the main form and spaces of the building already exist.

During installation, the CLT is protected from moisture at critical points. The lower edges of the wall elements are protected with waterproof tape, while the roof elements are covered from above with a waterproof protective layer. Some construction moisture or rain may still enter the building before it is fully weather-tight. Once the building is closed to the weather, it is thoroughly dried using mechanical drying equipment before interior works begin, and the moisture level of the materials is checked to make sure it is suitable for the next stages.

Depending on the architectural and interior design, some CLT surfaces can be left exposed inside the house. This needs to be decided during the design phase, as the factory selects material of the appropriate visual quality for surfaces that will remain visible. Exposed CLT is sanded and, where required, grooves can be milled into the surface to reduce the risk of visible cracking.

6. Completing the exterior

Once the main structure is standing, work continues on the building envelope.

Insulation, windows, external doors and, where required, roof windows are installed. The roof receives its final covering, and the façade and other external finishes are completed.

The exterior-completion stage includes:

• façade materials and finishes;
• roof and other flashings;
• rainwater systems;
• other exterior details.

The terrace is generally built during or immediately after the exterior-finishing stage and is shown as a separate item in the quotation.

The result is an architecturally complete and weatherproof house.

7. Technical systems and interior works

The next stage depends on the level of completion the client has ordered from Happy Home.

Ventilation, the heating system and internal water and sewer works generally form part of the technical core of the house. Other interior works can be ordered according to the desired scope — for example electrical work, plasterboard work, interior finishing or the complete package. Separate quotations are prepared for these works.

During electrical installation, the required cable channels and electrical box openings are milled individually into the CLT elements according to the electrical design.

For hydronic underfloor heating, the heating pipes are installed before the concrete floor is poured.

Where the project specifies plasterboard-covered walls and ceilings — as in most of our houses — the CLT is covered in the relevant areas and the surfaces are then finished according to the interior design.

The scope and duration of interior finishing can vary considerably from one project to another. Factors include:

• the selected materials and complexity of installation;
• architectural and interior-design special solutions;
• custom furniture and other interior details;
• product lead times;
• the size of the house.

Parquet flooring, lighting fixtures, sanitaryware and other selected final products are generally purchased by the client and delivered to site. This keeps the product warranty directly between the client and the supplier. Happy Home can provide installation.

If a more comprehensive interior-design service is commissioned, the interior architect can also assist, within the agreed scope, with the selection of materials, lighting, sanitaryware, furniture and custom-made furniture, as well as quotations, orders and delivery coordination.

8. External works and outdoor areas

Depending on the agreed scope, Happy Home can also carry out various external concrete works, including:

• entrance steps and platforms;
• driveways and other concrete surfaces;
• concrete fences and walls.

We do not provide landscaping or landscape-architecture services ourselves. For these, we can refer the client to one of our partners, or the client can choose their own specialist.

If there are plans to add a garage, auxiliary building, sauna or guest house in the future, it is worth discussing this from the beginning of the house design. This allows their potential locations, access routes and technical requirements to be considered as part of the overall site solution.

Handover of the house does not need to wait for landscaping to be completed. In general, we hand over the house once the ordered interior works and the external works included in Happy Home’s scope are complete.

9. Handover and documentation

Throughout construction, we maintain a detailed digital construction log and manage the related documentation as the work progresses.

When the house is complete, the finished works and technical systems are checked, the necessary equipment is commissioned and the documentation created during construction is compiled for handover to the client.

The client receives the relevant certificates, as-built documentation, construction log records and other agreed material. Proper documentation is important both for the future use of the house and for the occupancy permit process.

Handover also includes the technical information required to operate the house and the relevant maintenance documentation for installed equipment, helping to make future use and maintenance as straightforward as possible.

After handover, Happy Home provides a 2-year warranty on construction works and a 50-year warranty on the structural elements.

How long does the entire process take?

Happy Home uses two main timeframes as general guidance:

From the start of design to the building permit: generally around 3–6 months.

Construction phase: for a typical project, approximately 22 weeks, or around 5 months.

These are not fixed deadlines for every project. The duration of the design stage depends, among other things, on how quickly the final architectural solution is agreed with the client and whether any additional information or revisions are required during the permit process.

The length of the construction phase depends primarily on the scope of work ordered from Happy Home. The schedule for an exterior-complete house is naturally different from that of a full turnkey solution.

The size of the house, architectural and interior-design special solutions, the extent and complexity of interior finishing, and material and product lead times can also affect the schedule.

Around five months is a useful guideline for the main construction of even a larger house. For a small or medium-sized house, all or most of the interior finishing can usually also be completed within this timeframe. For a larger house or a more extensive and detailed interior, the overall schedule may be longer, mainly because of the amount of interior finishing involved.

One team keeps the whole process together

Building a house involves many different designs, specialists, decisions and stages of work. The client does not need to be responsible for coordinating all of them.

During the design stage, the architect effectively acts as the design project manager — gathering the initial information and different design disciplines, communicating with the necessary parties and keeping the architectural whole coordinated.

Once the design is complete and the building permit has been issued, the main responsibility shifts to the construction project manager, who coordinates the sequence of works, contractors, procurement, schedule and documentation.

The client can choose how involved they want to be and which decisions they would like to keep in their own hands. This allows the entire journey — from the first analysis of the plot and architectural concept to the finished home — to move forward as one coordinated process.

Practical questions during construction

When do finishing materials need to be selected?

Key finishing materials and interior products need to be selected early enough because tiles, parquet flooring, lighting, sanitaryware and other products all have their own place in the construction schedule. Some choices also affect technical systems and therefore need to be known before the relevant works are carried out.

The project manager helps keep track of when each decision needs to be made and informs the client of the relevant deadlines. The earlier the main selections are confirmed, the lower the risk that product lead times will affect the final construction schedule.

Can I visit the site during construction?

Yes. Clients are welcome to visit their house while it is under construction.

Where possible, we also show prospective clients our houses that are under construction or already completed before a contract is signed. A real building gives a much better sense of room sizes, materials, details and construction quality than drawings or renders alone.

What can have the biggest impact on the overall schedule?

During the design and building-permit stages, timing can be affected by how long it takes to reach the final architectural solution, whether questions requiring clarification arise during the permit process, and whether the necessary utility connections and technical conditions have been initiated in good time.

During construction, the schedule is influenced mainly by the scope ordered from Happy Home, the complexity of the interior finishing, special solutions and material and product lead times. Delays in client decisions can also shift subsequent stages, which is why the deadlines for key selections are agreed with the project manager as early as possible.