Home Self-Construction: Slabs, Plumbing, and Electrical Systems — PickAClass
★ 4.0 (2) ⏱ 2h 48m 📚 30 lessons 🎧 Audio version

Home Self-Construction: Slabs, Plumbing, and Electrical Systems

Learn how to safely construct concrete slabs, install basic electrical and plumbing systems, and manage structural finishes for your own home building project.

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About this course

Taking charge of your own home construction requires a solid understanding of structural elements and core utilities. This comprehensive text-based course walks you through the essential phases of building slabs, installing utility lines, and ensuring long-term structural integrity. You will transition from understanding basic masonry to planning and executing critical structural and utility installations. By mastering these foundational techniques, you will gain the knowledge needed to coordinate, inspect, or self-build key parts of your home safely, efficiently, and in compliance with standard safety practices. What you'll learn: - Understand the fundamentals of formwork construction and reinforcing concrete slabs. - Design and map basic residential electrical layouts, including safety grounding and circuit distribution. - Plan hydraulic and sanitary installations for efficient water supply and waste management. - Apply structural safety principles using tie beams, structural chains, and load-bearing columns. - Integrate modern eco-friendly building practices, such as basic greywater routing and energy-efficient layout planning. - Maintain and troubleshoot common structural, water, and electrical issues in residential buildings. The course starts with essential terminology of structural engineering and utility design. You will then progress through step-by-step written explanations of concrete pouring, piping installation, and electrical safety protocols, supported by practical calculation examples and structural guides. This course is designed for beginners, aspiring self-builders, and homeowners who want to understand the technical aspects of residential construction. No prior engineering or construction experience is required. Start reading today to build a safe, functional, and sustainable home from the ground up.

Course contents

5 modules · 30 lessons · 2h 48m

1 Foundations and Structural Skeleton
Understand the load-bearing elements of the house and technical engineering terminology.
6 lessons · 35 min
  1. The Builder's Dictionary
    An introduction to essential structural engineering terminology.
    6 min
  2. The Role of Load-Bearing Columns
    How columns work to support the weight of the building.
    6 min
  3. Structural Beams and Ties
    The importance of connecting beams for seismic stability.
    6 min
  4. Load Calculations for Beginners
    Practical calculation examples for sizing basic structural elements.
    7 min
  5. Materials: Concrete and Steel
    Properties of the fundamental materials used for the structure.
    5 min
  6. Construction Site Safety
    Basic rules for working safely during the structural phase.
    5 min
2 Floor Slabs and Concrete Work
Learn how to design and build a reinforced concrete floor slab.
6 lessons · 33 min
  1. The Art of Formwork
    How to build temporary molds to contain the concrete.
    6 min
  2. Floor Slab Reinforcement
    Correct placement of steel rebar for reinforcement.
    6 min
  3. Planning Utility Passages
    Preparing openings for utility systems before the concrete pour.
    5 min
  4. The Concrete Pour
    Techniques for pouring, spreading, and vibrating concrete.
    6 min
  5. Curing and Stripping
    Waiting times and safe removal of formwork.
    5 min
  6. Critical Errors in Floor Slabs
    How to identify and avoid cracks or structural defects.
    5 min
3 Plumbing and Sanitary Systems
Design water distribution and drainage management.
6 lessons · 34 min
  1. Systems Glossary
    Specific terminology for designing water utilities.
    5 min
  2. Water Supply Network
    Designing the path of potable water inside the house.
    6 min
  3. Drainage and Waste Systems
    Necessary slopes and diameters for proper wastewater management.
    6 min
  4. Practical Pipe Installation
    Joining and fastening techniques for modern piping.
    6 min
  5. Greywater Recycling
    Integrating ecological systems for the reuse of non-potable water.
    6 min
  6. Plumbing System Testing
    How to perform pressure tests to prevent future leaks.
    5 min
4 Electrical Systems and Safety
Create a safe and functional electrical system.
6 lessons · 34 min
  1. Basics of Domestic Electrical Engineering
    Concepts of voltage, current, and power for the home.
    5 min
  2. Mapping the Electrical Layout
    Drawing the location of outlets, lights, and switches.
    6 min
  3. Circuit Division
    Separating electrical lines for different loads and safety.
    6 min
  4. The Grounding System
    The importance and installation of the ground rod for safety.
    6 min
  5. Protocols and Protections
    Using RCDs and circuit breakers according to regulations.
    6 min
  6. Laying Conduits and Boxes
    Physical installation of electrical components within the walls.
    5 min
5 Efficiency and Maintenance
Ensure the longevity and energy efficiency of the construction.
6 lessons · 32 min
  1. High-Efficiency Layouts
    Optimizing the position of systems to save energy.
    6 min
  2. Structure-System Integration
    How to integrate pipes and cables without weakening the structure.
    5 min
  3. Preventive Plumbing Maintenance
    Cleaning filters and checking gaskets to prevent damage.
    5 min
  4. Periodic Electrical Check-up
    Inspecting the panel and contacts to prevent overheating.
    5 min
  5. Structural Troubleshooting
    Identifying signs of settling or infiltration over time.
    6 min
  6. Inspection and Certification
    What to check before considering the work finished.
    5 min
Final project

My Self-Building Project

Create a complete technical plan for a multifunctional room (kitchen/bathroom), including the structural layout of the floor slab above and the utility system layouts.

What you'll get

  • 📜 Certificate of completion
    Add it to your LinkedIn profile
  • 💬 Personal AI tutor
    Stuck on a lesson? Ask your built-in tutor anything, any time.
  • 🎧 Audio version included
    Learn on the go — no screen needed
  • ♾️ Lifetime access
    Come back anytime, no expiry
  • 📱 Phone or computer
    Works anywhere, any device
  • 💸 14-day refund
    No questions asked
  • ⚡ Short & focused
    2h 48m of practical content

Certificate of completion

Every course you complete on PickAClass issues a credential like this — original, with its own code, verifiable by URL, and detailed about what was actually demonstrated.

P
PickAClass
Skills profile · verifiable
Document
Certificate of Mastery
This certifies that
Name Surname
has successfully demonstrated mastery of
Home Self-Construction: Slabs, Plumbing, and Electrical Systems
Skills demonstrated
✓
Behavioral pattern analysis
Foundational
1.2 hrs
✓
Decision-architecture frameworks
Proficient
1.4 hrs
✓
A/B test design
Proficient
1.7 hrs
✓
Behavioral copywriting
Advanced
1.9 hrs
P
PickAClass — Name Surname
Home Self-Construction: Slabs, Plumbing, and Electrical Systems
Page 2 of 2
Performance detail
Coursework summary
Lessons completed 14 / 14
Practice questions 26 / 28
Assignments submitted 4 (avg 4.5 / 5)
Capstone project Reviewed — 4.6 / 5
Total practice 6.2 hrs
Performance benchmark
Cohort rank Top 12% of 1,625
Time to completion 11 days (median: 22)
Mastery score 91 / 100
Practice-question score 94%
Skill verification Verified Skill Path
Verify this credential
pickaclass.com/certificates/PCC-2026-X4F7-AP19
Issued under the academic standards of PickAClass. Skill levels reflect assessed performance against the course's competency rubric. This is an original credential of this platform.

Reviews (2)

Adrián Ruiz CR Verified learner
★ 4 · September 22, 2026

Good material overall. Some parts moved a bit fast for me, but the core concepts were explained well. Useful for building a foundation.

Sari Indah ID Verified learner
★ 4 · August 11, 2026

It's a good course if you have some prior knowledge. For absolute beginners, some concepts might be a bit challenging. The structure is logical, though.

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