How Long Does It Take to Build a House?

Building a house from the ground up is an exciting adventure! You get to decide where the house will be located, the interior and exterior design, and all the finishes and fittings right down to the drawer pulls in the kitchen. If you are just starting this process, you may be wondering, “How long does it take to build a house”?

Timelines in home construction vary widely because there are numerous variables that can delay your progress. Below, we will go through a typical home building timeline, including factors that can speed things up or slow construction down. With this information in hand, you will be able to plan more effectively.

How Long Does Building a House Take on Average?

In the U.S., it typically takes 6 to 12 months to build a new single-family home. However, that is just an average; some homes are completed in 3 to 4 months, especially in planned communities with standard designs. Larger homes with a lot of customization can take over a year to complete.

Note that the construction time does not include preliminaries such as locating and buying land, getting financing, finalizing your design, and getting building permits. Think of the timeline as starting when the shovels hit the ground.

Phases in Building a House

Home construction generally follows the same steps in the same order. Here are the typical stages of building a house:

Pre-Construction (1 to 3 Months)

Before groundbreaking, there are numerous tasks to undertake. When asking how long it is to build a house, plan well in advance to look after these steps:

• Finding and buying the land.
• Hiring a builder or contractor.
• Making design decisions and finalizing your plans.
• Getting building permits and other approvals.
• Applying for construction financing.

At this stage of building a house, delays can happen for numerous reasons, including closing the deal on the land, permitting problems, and zoning issues.

Pouring or Setting the Foundation (1 to 3 Weeks)

Once your lot has been cleared and leveled, the first step is digging and pouring the foundation. Usually, this process is efficient, but soil conditions and weather can play a role. The type of foundation you choose can also play a role: slab foundations can be poured in just a few days, whereas a full basement takes longer because it requires excavation and constructing larger forms.

Framing and Roofing (1 to 2 Months)

The framing phase of building a house is exciting because that is when the house starts to look like a house. During framing, the bones of the house are built, including the floors, walls, and roof. The framing process can be delayed by weather. This includes weather like cold temperatures and precipitation/moisture. Construction material supply line delays can also play a role in how long the framing process takes.

Installing the roofing is typically a very quick process requiring no longer than one or two days.

Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC (1 to 3 Months)

This phase of building a house includes everything that winds up being behind the walls. This work can happen very quickly because the walls are still open, but can also be massively delayed by shortages of skilled tradespeople. When you are calculating how long will it take to build a house, this is where you should add a buffer of a few months.

At this stage, your build will also need to undergo a series of inspections to make sure everything is up to code before the drywall goes up. Efficiency at this point can depend on your contractor’s planning and scheduling skills, but you can certainly keep tabs on this to make sure everything is proceeding at a reasonable pace.

Interior & Exterior Finishes (1 to 2 Months)

This phase includes insulating and drywalling your home, installing trim, cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, doors, and windows, putting up the siding, and doing the landscaping.

Final Adjustments and Inspection (2 to 4 Weeks)

The last phase of building a home includes a final walkthrough and any adjustments or corrections you want to make. After that, it is time for the building inspector to sign off on the construction project. Then you can move in!

Factors That Can Affect the Timeline to Build a House

Unfortunately, delays in the timeline to building a house can be numerous. Understanding them and which ones can affect your build will help you avoid frustration. Here are the factors that play a key role in delaying many house builds:

• Weather: Heavy rain, snow, or freezing temperatures can cause delays, especially while the house is still open to the weather.
• Permits and inspections: Delays at the city or county level can stall your timeline. If you are asking for any exceptions to zoning regulations, that can also add to your timeline significantly.
• Labor shortages: If your area is experiencing high construction demand, tradespeople may be booked up. Tradespeople are also notoriously in short supply even when they are not in high demand. Working with a builder or contractor who has dedicated tradespeople can help you avoid delays.
• Supply chain issues: These can delay delivery of everything from lumber to windows. Supply chain issues sometimes come out of nowhere, so it is best to build in a buffer for them.
• Change orders and customization: Making decisions after you start building a house can set the timeline back and add cost. Nevertheless, change orders are very common during construction, and you should not cancel them if they will affect your enjoyment of the home.

Building vs. Buying

If you are deciding between building a house and buying an existing one, this is how the timelines compare:

So, how long does it take to build a house? On average, plan for 6 to 12 months, but the timeline can vary based on location, customization, materials, labor availability, and several other factors. Building a house can be frustrating and even aggravating at times, but with patience, you’ll end up with a home that is custom-made for you, and that is worth the time and effort!