CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS
REVISED January 2014
The following specifications for construction of a Habitat for Humanity home are general in nature and
shall be amended to the specific building site and plans. Our specifications meet all building codes in
effect at time of construction. These specifications are subject to field and material modifications at the
sole discretion of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.
Dwelling location
The placement and floor plan of the house shall be at the sole discretion of Habitat for
Humanity. House plan handage will be governed by the driveway location. All setbacks will be
determined by the governing authority.
Excavation
All topsoil shall be pushed from work area and stacked for reuse in final grading. Any topsoil
that is trucked in or excess material trucked off site will be at the sole and exclusive discretion
of Habitat for Humanity. Final grade will be determined by Habitat for Humanity and should be
6” down from top of foundation wall and slope away from foundation at a minimum of 6” drop
in 10’ to provide for run off.
Foundation
Footings: Cement mix 3,000 psi 8” deep x 16”wide with 2 #3 rebar, below 24” frost line.
Foundation Walls: 8” concrete block for crawlspace and larger if required for basement wall. 5
courses, or determined by grade.
Interior support columns or piers: 16” x 16” masonry w/solid concrete cap or solid 3” steel
column/post. Approved ½” anchor bolts 6’ o.c. within 8” of end.
Porch piers: 24” x 24” split faced block.
Damp-proofing: Asphalt foundation coating from footing level to within 6” below final grade.
Basement Floor Slab: Approx. 4” 3,000 psi concrete over 4” of stone and 6 mil vapor barrier.
1
Drain Tile System:
4” slotted drain tile in stone bed around exterior and interior of house foundation piped to
daylight. If daylight cannot be reached, piping will be to sump pit. Sump pump is responsibility
of Homeowner.
Floor Deck Framing
Sill Seal: Dow foam top of foundation wall.
Sill Plate: 2 x 8 PT anchored to ½” anchor bolts.
Girder Beam: 3- 2 x 10 #1 syp with staggered joints over pier supports.
Floor Joist 2 x 8 #1 syp 16” o.c. to spans of 12 ft. or less 2 x 10 #1 syp 16” o.c. to span of 15 ft.
Decking ¾” T&G OSB or Plywood glued to joist with continuous 3/8” bead of Construction
Adhesive.
Exterior Walls & Interior Partitions
Wall studs: 2” x 4”, #2 or better c.g. 16” o.c.
Top and bottom plates: 2” x 4”, #2 or better c.g. Exterior bottom plate to be sealed to floor with
caulk or approved seal foam or tape.
Exterior Headers: 2-2 x 12 with ½” Dow Styrofoam filler core
Exterior Sheathing: ½” OSB on corners and mid-span of wall with ½” Dow Styrofoam XPS over
OSB and 1” Dow Styrofoam on remainder of wall.
House Wrap: Dow Weathermate House wrap fasten with 2” Button head Cap nail 12” o.c.
Plumbing Wall: 2” x 6”, #2or better c.g. 16” o.c.
Roof Framing
Trusses & Rafters: Pre-engineered trusses with 2 x 4 or larger cords as required 24” o.c.
Rafters: 2 x 6 or larger 16” o.c. as required by design plans.
Sheathing: 7/16” OSB with clips fasten with 8d nails 8” o.c.
Roof Shingles: Fiber Glass reinforced Asphalt 25 year over 15 lb. felt, aluminum drip edge
Attic access: 22 ½” x 30” minimum net, 12” tall.
Exterior Doors & Windows
Exterior Doors: Metal Clad foam insulated 3’ x 6’-8” w/ Thermal Break Threshold
Windows: Vinyl Single Hung (Low E) Argon insulated glass with screen Silverline or equal
2
Insulation
Exterior Walls: unfaced R13 Fiberglass.
Foundation Wall: 2” Dow Styrofoam over 6 mil vapor barrier.
Ceiling Insulation: R38 Blown Cellulous or Fiberglass equal.
Access door: 3 layers of 2” Dow Styrofoam backing, weatherstrip to seal
Siding & Exterior Trim
Siding: Vinyl Double 4 Lap CertainTeed MainStreet .042 mil or equal from color selection
determined by Habitat.
Accent Panels: Vinyl Rough-Split Shakes Certain Teed Northwoods or equal on front gable.
Color to be determined by Habitat.
Mulling Strip: PVC or cedar
Soffit: Vinyl Triple 4 Perforated in eave area, solid on rakes and porch ceiling.
Fascia Cover: 6” Aluminum over 2 x 6 framing.
Header Wrap: Aluminum coil stock bent to fit.
Porch Post: Cedar Chase homes Main post 6 x 6 PT W/ Cedar wrap, intermediate post 4 X 4 PT
W/ Cedar wrap.
Porch Railing: Assembly of 1 x 4 Cedar at 36” height (optional designs at HfH discretion). Cedar
wrap may be optional at Habitats discretion.
Porch Deck: Deck Joist 2 x 6 PT or 2 x 8 PT, Deck Boards 5/4” x 6” PT W/ 2 x 10 PT skirt over
outside rim joist.
Gutters: Aluminum 5” Seamless with Downspouts and splash blocks.
Drywall
Ceiling: 5/8” fire code drywall fasten 12” o.c. in field and 8” o.c. on edges with screws or nails.
Walls: ½” Drywall fasten 12” o.c. in field 8” o.c. on edges.
Moisture Areas: ½” moisture resistant (MR) Drywall around tub area or high moisture areas.
Interior Trim and Doors
Doors: 1 3/8” primed 6 panel masonite prehung with Yale or equal brass locksets
Casing: Primed finger jointed 2 ¼” colonial.
Base: Primed finger jointed 3 ¼” colonial.
3
Painting
Interior Walls: One coat latex primer, one coat of latex egg shell off white, Valspar or equal.
Exterior Door: Interior side Bright White interior semi-gloss latex, Exterior side latex semi-gloss.
Color choice by home owner from Habitat selection.
Interior Trim: One coat latex semi-gloss white with final touch-up coat after nail set and caulk.
Exterior Porch Post and Rail: Two coats solid white latex stain.
Kitchen Cabinets, Countertops & Vanities
Standard cabinets are Kitchen Kompact Richwood Lite, Chadwood w/ Square or Cathedral
upper cabinets, or equal. Vanities may be of different manufacture and design at Habitats
discretion. Pedestal sinks may replace vanity cabinets if requested by home owner or space
justifies. Pedestal sinks will be Habitats choice.
Countertops for kitchen will be laminated tops with modern wrap designed, color choice by
home owner from Habitat provided selections. Countertop options subject to change as per
donated material availability.
Vanity tops are poured cultured marble, laminated tops with porcelain bowl may be substituted
as design or circumstances dictate.
Closet Shelving
Vinyl coated wire rack/shelf: one in each bedroom closet. Vinyl coated wire shelf: three in
pantry or linen if plan contains either, one over Washer/ Dryer area.
Floor Covering
Carpet: 100% Continuous filament nylon cut pile with polypropylene backing over 3/8” ½ lb.
Granduer pad, color choice by home owner (max. of three colors) from selection provided by
Habitat. Shaw Encore, Jetliner or equal.
Vinyl Flooring: Armstrong Initiator or equal over ¼” underlayment glued and stapled 4” o.c.
home owner color and pattern choice (max. 2) from available stock colors.
Appliances
Refrigerator: Whirlpool Energy Star Qualified ADA Compliant 18 cu. Ft. Top Mount.
Range: Whirlpool 30” Standard Clean Freestanding gas or electric Range.
Range Hood: Broan, Whirlpool or equal direct vented with washable filter and work light.
(All appliances will be white on white)
4
Plumbing
Water Heater: Richmond XR90 HP 29gal natural gas water heater or equal. Equal grade Energy
Star electric water heater if available when gas is not available or total electric package has
been selected.
Tub/Shower: Aquarius G6004 TS Smooth Wall Fiber glass Gelcoat Tub/Shower or equal. Shower
units of equal quality as above sized as per plans. Color white.
Toilet: Sterling WaterSense 402080 or equal model. Handicap model of equal quality when
required. Color choice white.
Kitchen Sink: Double Bowl 7” deep stainless steel standard 33 x 22 size.
Lavatory Sink: drop-in porcelain per countertop cut-out or cultured top substitute.
Kitchen Faucet: Price Pfister Model WK1-140C WaterSense single lever Chrome w/ hand spray
or equal.
Lavatory Faucet: Peerless Model P35-D WaterSense single lever chrome or equal.
Tub/Shower faucet : Delta WaterSense single lever chrome thermostatically controlled 53533-B
or equal.
Drainage & Vent Lines: Schedule 40 PVC (Polyvinylchloride) sized to code.
Water distribution Lines: PCX cross length polyethylene, Main lines ¾” dia. Lines to fixture
½”dia. Fittings for water lines are brass or poly alloy with crimp connection. Main water line
from meter to home is 1” polybutylene. Drainage line from sewer to house is ASTM SDR 35
Electrical
Electrical service: Underground service to 200 amp. Square-D Service panel with breakers.
Wire: 4/0 AL THHN or Service entrance cable to panel. (disconnect if required after meter)
14 ga. NM Romex for all lighting circuits, 12 ga. NM romex to Kitchen (2 required) Dining and
Laundry circuits. Required wire size to special circuits per code requirements. Ceiling boxes in
Living Room and all bedrooms will be capable of supporting Ceiling Fans.
Light Fixtures: Portfolio 13.12 two bulb globe fixture (Lowes) or equal in bedrooms, living room,
dining room, entrance foyer, hallway, and kitchen main area. One recessed led above kitchen
sink &/or according to print. Single bulb globe fixture or 2 foot fluorescent strip in furnace room
and walk-in closets. Chrome Hollywood bar type lighting over bath sink. Panasonic Whisper Fan
model 5505.05, in bathroom for required air exchange per Energy Star. Additional baths: Delta
Breeze 80 cfm. All Fixture choices by Habitat. Paddle fans are an option in place of ceiling
fixtures in living room and bedrooms, model and size of fan to be determined by Habitat.
Electric Devices: All switches, receptacle and plates white in color placed as per plan and to
code. GFCI devices required in wet locations (bathrooms, kitchen and exterior locations). Pull
Chain fixtures one each in attic and crawlspace. Unfinished Basement lights to be Keyless Lamp
holders.
5
HVAC
Furnace: Gas forced air 95% HE or greater to meet Energy Star requirements. If Air Conditioning
is chosen as option a 14 SEER condensing unit is required. Alternate furnace is a Electric Heat
Pump that meets Energy Star requirement. Sizing of heating and cooling units and duct work
determined by design to meet Energy Star Standards.
Duct Work: Professionally sized, insulated and mastic sealed with one adjustable register
installed in conditioned crawlspace.
Driveways & Sidewalks
Driveway parking pad 18 ft. x 20 ft. with taper down to 10’ approach lane to street, 3000 psi.
concrete over gravel with broom finish. Where concrete drives are not required gravel drive of
equal size may be substituted at Habitats discretion.
Sidewalks: 36” sidewalk from front door or porch to driveway 3000 psi broom finished. Street
sidewalks where required by governing authority sized and design by that authority.
Landscaping and seeding
Landscaping to consist of 5-6 shrubs or plantings as designed and chosen by Habitat, hardwood
mulched with earth edging. Seeding with contractor grade seed, fertilized and strawed in the
area disturbed around house. All landscaping and seeding done weather permitting.
6