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How to Live a Beautiful Life

Everything You Need to Know About Building a House in Dallas

Including which builder to choose.
By D Home |
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Claire Mallison
The first part is simple: Avoid a bad experience by doing some research. Start with our
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Are you comfortable with the average construction costs for the type of house you want?
Do you have your requirements set (i.e., number of bedrooms, bathrooms, floors, etc.)?
Have you accounted for a landscape architect? Incorporate this into your total plan and budget.

Remodel


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What condition is the house in now? Will it need to be taken down to the studs?
How much reconfiguring needs to be done? For example, are you looking at moving every wall?
Are you happy with your current ceiling heights? Consider building if you have 8-foot ceilings and hate them.

Dallas Homes by the Numbers


We polled our best builders and asked them for the facts and figures that’ll help you see what’s trending in the Dallas market.



The Averages:

  • 5,000 square feet

  • 4 Bedrooms

  • 5 Bathrooms (Most of the builders we surveyed are typically building a full bath for each bedroom, plus a powder room or pool bath.)

  • 3 car garage

  • Pool (58% of homes builders a building include a pool)

  • Formal Spaces (Just more than half our builders found that clients still want that formal dining room, even if it’s just to show off their family heirlooms.)

  • 80% of home owners are still embracing open concept rooms


These five styles are the most popular in town:

  • Mediterranean

  • Transitional

  • Modern

  • Farmhouse


Glossary of Building Terms


Mark Danuser of Tatum Brown Custom Homes knows some details may not be all too familiar for first-time homebuilders. Here’s a handy list of words you should know.

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Claire Mallison

BalusterrnrnA single vertical part of a staircase railing used between the top rail and either the stair treads or a bottom rail.

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Claire Mallison

EavesrnrnThe lower portion of the roof that overhangs the exterior wall of the home.

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Claire Mallison

FlashingrnrnThin piece of waterproof material (i.e., metal or rubber) installed at joints to prevent water passing into a structure.

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Claire Mallison

CorbelrnrnA load-bearing ledge or shelf that juts out from a wall to provide support to the structure above. Often seen in countertops, mantels, etc.

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Claire Mallison

ScupperrnrnAn opening that allows water to drain from a flat roof.

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Claire Mallison

SoffitsrnrnThis board is tucked away horizontally under the fascia board and is the board that you can see from directly underneath the structure.

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Claire Mallison

CornicernrnThe part of the roof that projects out from the wall and includes the fascia, soffit, and any detail trim work.

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Claire Mallison

Muntin BarsrnrnThe small wooden bars that divide the glass panes in a window or door.






Finding the best of the best can be overwhelming, especially in a town where business is booming. Allow us to help.

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