Workers build the frame of a new house project. Bare plywood and beams as it is framed up from the foundation. High lumber costs have affected the building process. Shot in Washington state, USA.A house in a charming neighborhood with stunning sidewalk landscaping.
The Phases of Building a New Home
From planning through completion
“From planning through completion, homebuyers should expect somewhere between one to three years, depending on the size, complexity, location, and your contractor’s level of preparedness,” says Alec Hartman, CEO of Welcome Homes.Understanding the various building phases is necessary to appreciate the length of time it takes to build a home.
Pre-Building Phase
The pre-building phase of your home includes planning and designing the structure and preparing the site. “The pre-construction phase can take as little as one month or as long as a year plus, but usually somewhere in between is a safe bet,” says Korey Gregory, a construction supervisor at ASAP Restoration, LLC.
Getting your lot ready is the next step. “Builders will then prepare for construction to begin,” says Alex Toth, director of business development at Opendoor. “They’ll clean the lot and remove trees, rocks, and other blockers. If the lot was well-kept before the purchase, this part of the process should only take a week or so.”
Building Phase
“The construction phase takes around four months to a year,” Gregory says. “This includes site preparation, foundation and framing, roughing in of the structure, interior and exterior work, as well as finishes.” Each of these steps must be inspected.
Toth says this process typically begins by pouring the concrete foundation. “Activity will pause on the home for five to seven days while the foundation is inspected and the concrete cures enough to be built around,” Toth says. Next is constructing the home’s framing. “From there, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and insulation teams will come in one at a time, with each needing about a week to complete their work,” Toth says. “Drywalling is the next step, and the amount of time it takes depends on the size of the home.
”The rest of the building includes flooring, countertops, appliances, and other similar items. Details like paint and wallpaper are also completed at this stage. “Installing lights, blinds, and other final touches is the last step,” Toth says. “If a buyer is opting for relatively common features, this will take about two weeks.”
