12 Steps of Construction

Once the construction drawings and other related documents have been completed and approved by
the authority in jurisdiction. The project will then be awarded to a contractor by the client through a
consultant. In this period, the construction of the proposed project will begin. Construction can be
summarized into 12 stages.

1. Clearing of the ground – To begin the actual construction, the clearing of the ground from where
the location of the project will be built is the first thing to consider. The construction personnel
task is to free the construction site for any obstruction and debris that may obstruct and delay
the construction. The temporary facilities such as Engineers office, Labor’s quarter, material
storage room, temporary water, and electric supplies and other related facilities should also be
constructed prior to the start of work. A site perimeter fence should also be constructed during
this period.
2. Site layout and Staking – this activity involves the setting of the reference points in a form of
construction grid lines and marking off the gate level. This is performed to ensure that the grids
have been set-up on site according to approved plans. The reference point should be marked
properly and should not be disturbed throughout the course of the construction. Gridlines
according to the approved drawing should be layout prior to construction. Depending on the
complexity and size of the project the construction grids can be layout through the use of
theodolite or related surveying instruments. A more traditional way of the layout of the
construction grid is popular to use for small projects is through staking using batter board and
strings. Batter board are temporary wooden frames use to suspend the strings. The strings are
the representation of the grid lines at X and Y directions according to approved plans. These will
serve as a guide throughout the construction so it is important to fix a reference line in both
directions to be used once the grids have been placed when needed in the construction.
3. Excavation – Once the layouts of construction points and grid lines have been completed, the
excavation works begin. The excavation depth depends on the recommendation by the soil
investigation report. But it is safe to say that the minimum excavation level for the footing to rest
should stick to 1 meter below the gate level or the 0.00 level. Excavation works is a massive
activity; therefore, a proper caution should be observed during this stage. In the event that the
excavation needed is along with the neighbor’s existing structure exceeding 1.20 meter from your
proposed level, then shoring support is recommended.
4. Compacting and Laying of PCC – Compacting of the excavated surface should perform once we
reached the desired excavation level. A layer of crushed gravel is then to be added during the
compacting. In a standard compaction procedure, the final compacted layer should be checked in
order to reach the desired degree of compaction to not less than 95% of the maximum dry density.
It is then in this stage that an anti-termite treatment on the ground should also be considered.
The laying of PCC or plain concrete cement should follow afterward in preparation for rebar
works. PCC is usually composed of a 10mm thick lean concrete for the footing rebar to be laid
evenly leveled.
5. Foundation Rebar and Column Starter Bars – Once the laying of PCC has been set-up, the rebar
works for foundation and any foundation beams are the next activity. In this stage, the
reinforcement of foundations is being prepared according to the structural schedule along with
 its formworks. The proper and standard concrete cover should be observed during this procedure.
Starter bars for columns should also be installed accordingly before concrete pouring.
6. Concreting of foundation and Column rebar installation concreting of foundations has to come
next after rebar works. The concrete to be poured should be properly vibrated for the concrete
especially the aggregates to fully spread into the footing. Installation of column reinforcement on
the previously installed column starter bars should be continued. A proper concrete cover should
consider before closing the form works. For substructure columns, an additional concrete cover
of at least 50mm has to be considered up to plinth level to protect the rebar for possible corrosion
due to sulfate attack.
7. Concreting of Column and Bitumen Paint Applications – Once the concreting of stub columns has
been completed. Give time for the concrete to dry completely and apply at least two coats of
bitumen paint for both footing and stub columns. Bitumen paint helps in absorbing moisture due
to the soil to prevent seepage into the substructure concrete.
8. Setting up Perimeter Blocks – Install solid blocks along the perimeter or the edge of the proposed
project. This is to establish a boundary between the inside and outside edges of the project. It is
also helpful when the difference of inside floor finish level to outside pavement or ground level is
significant. Two coats of bitumen paints should also apply afterward. In some cases, perimeter
blocks are optional especially for areas where the soil characteristics are too firm.
9. Backfilling and Compacting – once the substructures like foundation structures including the solid
blocks have been installed completed, backfilling and compacting should take place. Backfilling
and compacting should be done partially to make sure that the required degree of compacting
has been met until reaching the bottom of the tie-beam level.
10. Tie Beam Reinforcement, Grade Slab and Concreting – Preparation and installing the tie-beam
reinforcement as per the approved drawing is the next step to consider after the backfilling and
compacting. Formworks with standard concrete cover are also included in this stage. Once the
reinforcement works have been completed we can start the concreting. Installing of grade slab
mesh and concrete work is then to be followed.
11. Rebar Works and Concreting of Columns – At this stage, the substructure component of our
project has been completed. It is now time for the project to go up. The next thing to consider is
the rebar works, shuttering or formworks and concreting to be done. Prior to concreting, we see
to it that the columns followed the structural schedule, the form works should be vertically level
and a standard concrete cover has to maintain prior to the closing of forms.
12. Beam and slab works – once the ground floor columns have been cast, it is time to prepare the
project for beams and suspended slab reinforcement activity. Like any other structural members,
beams, and slab reinforcement should be followed strictly. Shuttering or form works for slab and
beams should be properly anchored and checked prior to concrete pouring.

Step 11 can be repeated accordingly until such time that the structural frame or the core and shell of the
structure has been completed. The architectural finishing works are then to be followed