Code Electric Iowa Electrical Contractor | (515) 208-2415: New Home Construction Schedule

New Home Construction Schedule

How long does it take to build a house? Scroll down this page to see an example of a typical construction schedule for a large (6,000 sq. ft.) custom home. It includes most, but not all, of the activities involved in the process of building a new house in most parts of the country. Sample construction draws have been included for reference purposes, although individual lenders & mortgage companies will most likely have their own draw schedules.

Notice that because construction draws from the lender typically follow the completion of various phases, or milestones, the cash flow on a project can be very irregular. While the money flowing out of a construction company; for employee salaries, benefits, office space, vehicles, insurance, equipment and other company expenses, typically occurs on a regular calendar based timeline, the money used to pay these expenses follows an event driven schedule. Therefore, besides the "normal" unplanned events that can affect the progress of a home building project, it is not uncommon for home builders to rearrange construction schedules in order to gain access to draw money so that they are able to pay subcontractors and suppliers in a timely manner. By the way, this is generally a good thing (provided you have an honest builder) because subcontractors tend to follow the money and happy subs are almost always preferable to unhappy ones:-)

Will your house take this long to build?

Probably not; most home building projects will take less time, but some will take even more. For example, the timeline for a smaller house, with few options and less detailed finishes, which has been built many times before by professional builders, might be as short as 8 to 12 weeks. However, 6 to 9 months from start to finish is probably a more realistic average (average is not a good word for a typical homeowner). While a larger house, with more options, custom features, fancier finishes, and more owner involvement -- especially if the owner has little construction experience -- may very well take 1 1/2 to 2 years to complete. Then again, if you build your own house, and make the common mistake of moving in before every last detail is finished, well, you might be looking at decades instead of months or years --- I speak from experience, but it's just a little trim in the powder room, and a short piece of baseboard behind the master bath door, and a small piece of molding in the hallway linen closet, and....

The actual schedule of completion for your specific project will vary based upon many factors including, but not limited to, size and degree of difficulty of the structure, site and weather conditions, material and contractor availability, crew sizes, effective scheduling and communication, the knowledge and experience of those managing the project, and perhaps most significantly, the number, timeliness, and complexity of the changes you will inevitably make to the original contract after construction has already begun.

ID	Outline Number	Name	Duration	Predecessors	Start	Finish
1	1	Contracts	0.00d	.
2	1.1	__Supply Lot Sale Agreement	0.00d	.
3	1.2	__Supply Construction Agreement	0.00d	.
4	1.3	__Supply Contract Plans	0.00d	3
5	1.4	__Supply Contract Specifications	0.00d	3
6	1.5	__Supply Contract Site Plan	0.00d	3
7	1.6	__Secure Financing	0.00d	.
8	1.7	__Construction Loan Settlement	0.00d	.
9	2	Document Review & Revision	25.00d	.
10	2.1	__Review & Finalize Plans	15.00d	4
11	2.2	__Review & Finalize Specifications	20.00d	5
12	2.3	__Review & Finalize Site Plan	1.00d	6,10
13	2.4	__Print Construction Drawings	5.00d	10,11,12
14	2.5	__Approve Revised Plans	0.00d	13
15	2.6	__Approve Revised Specifications	0.00d	13
16	2.7	__Approve Revised Site Plan	0.00d	13
17	3	Bids & Contracts	24.00d	.
18	3.1	__Make Copies of Plans	3.00d	14
19	3.2	__Make Copies of Specifications	2.00d	15
20	3.3	__Distribute Plans & Specifications	1.00d	18,19
21	3.4	__Receive Bids	10.00d	20
22	3.5	__Review Bids	5.00d	.
25	3.6	__Execute Subcontractor Agreements	5.00d	23
26	4	Grading & Building Permits	17.00d	.
27	4.1	__Schedule lot stake-out	1.00d	13
28	4.2	__Stake lot	1.00d	27FS+3d
29	4.3	__File Grading Permit Application	1.00d	16
30	4.4	__File Building Permit Application	3.00d	14,15,16
31	4.5	__Post Lot Identification	1.00d	28,29,30
32	4.6	__Meet Sed. Control Insp.	1.00d	29FS+2d,28,31
33	4.7	__Walk Lot w/ Owner	1.00d	32
34	4.8	__Install Construction Entrance	1.00d	32,33
35	4.9	__Install Sediment Controls	2.00d	32,33
36	4.10	__Sediment Control Insp.	1.00d	34,35
37	4.11	__Grading Permit Issued	1.00d	36
38	4.12	__Permit Process	10.00d	30
39	4.13	__Building Permit Approved	1.00d	38,37
40	4.14	__Pay Permit Fees and Excise Taxes	1.00d	39FS+2d
41	4.15	__Building Permit Issued	0.00d	40
42	5	Site Work	7.00d	.
43	5.1	__Clear Lot	3.00d	37
44	5.2	__Strip Topsoil & Stockpile	1.00d	43
45	5.3	__Stake Lot for Excavation	1.00d	43
46	5.4	__Rough grade lot	1.00d	43,45
47	5.5	__Excavate for foundation	2.00d	39,45,43,46
48	6	Foundation	24.00d	.
49	6.1	__Layout footings	1.00d	47
50	6.2	__Dig Footings & Install Reinforcing	1.00d	49
51	6.3	__Footing Inspection	0.00d	50
52	6.4	__Pour footings	1.00d	51
53	6.5	__Pin Footings	1.00d	52
54	6.6	__Stock Block, Mortar, Sand	1.00d	53
55	6.7	__Build Block Foundation	15.00d	53,54
56	6.8	__Foundation Certification	0.00d	55
57	6.9	__Draw #1 (Location Survey)	0.00d	56
58	6.10	__Fill Block Cores w/ Concrete	1.00d	55
59	6.11	__Steel Delivery	1.00d	58
60	6.12	__Set Lintels, Bolts, Cap Block	2.00d	59
61	6.13	__Lumber Delivery	1.00d	58
62	6.14	__Waterproofing and Drain Tile	1.00d	61
63	7	Rough Carpentry	44.00d	.
64	7.1	__Set Steel	1.00d	60
65	7.2	__1st Floor Deck Framing	4.00d	64
66	7.3	__1st Floor Wall Framing	4.00d	65
67	7.4	__Draw #2 (First Floor Deck)	0.00d	66
68	7.5	__2nd Floor Deck Framing	2.00d	67
69	7.6	__Draw #3 (Second Floor Deck)	0.00d	68
70	7.7	__2nd Floor Wall Framing	3.00d	69
71	7.8	__Set Roof Trusses	2.00d	70
72	7.9	__Frame Roof	7.00d	71
73	7.10	__Install Roof Plywood	5.00d	72
74	7.11	__Install Windows & Doors	2.00d	73,111
75	7.12	__Frame Basement	3.00d	72,81
76	7.13	__Frame Basement Bulkheads	2.00d	75,87,93
77	8	Concrete Slabs	8.00d	.
78	8.1	__Basement Slab Preparation	2.00d	65,91
79	8.2	__Termite Treatment Basement Slab	1.00d	78
80	8.3	__Slab Inspection	1.00d	79
81	8.4	__Pour Basement Slab	1.00d	80
82	8.5	__Prep Garage Slab	1.00d	81
83	8.6	__Termite Treatment Garage Slab	1.00d	82
84	8.7	__Pour Garage Slab	1.00d	83
85	9	H.V.A.C.	17.00d	.
86	9.1	__HVAC Layout & Measure	1.00d	72
87	9.2	__HVAC Rough-in	5.00d	86,111
88	9.3	__HVAC Set Indoor Units	2.00d	81,87
89	9.4	__HVAC Temporary Heat	2.00d	88
90	10	Plumbing Rough-in	37.00d	.
91	10.1	__Plumbing Sub-slab	2.00d	65
92	10.2	__Plumbing Layout	1.00d	91,87
93	10.3	__Plumbing rough-in	5.00d	92
94	11	__Plumbing Sub-slab Inspection	0.00d	91
95	12	__Plumbing Rough-in Inspection	0.00d	93
96	13	Electric Rough-in	19.00d	.
97	13.1	__Set Electric Boxes	2.00d	74
98	13.2	__Install Electric Service Panel	2.00d	97
99	13.3	__Electrical Walk-through	1.00d	98
100	13.4	__Electrical Rough-wire	14.00d	99
101	14	Specialty Rough-ins	5.00d	.
102	14.1	__Central Vacuum Rough-in	5.00d	100
103	14.2	__Alarm System Rough-in	5.00d	100
104	14.3	__Telephone System Rough-in	5.00d	100
105	14.4	__Television System Rough-in	5.00d	100
106	14.5	__Audio Visual Rough-in	5.00d	100
107	15	__ Electrical inspection	0.00d	96,101
108	16	Draw #5 (Rough-ins complete)	0.00d	95,107
109	17	Framing Inspection	0.00d	95FS+1d,107FS+1d
110	18	Roofing	68.00d	.
111	18.1	__Roofing Paper Installed	3.00d	73
112	18.2	__Draw #4 (Roof, windows, doors)	0.00d	74,111
113	18.3	__Stock Roof Shingles	1.00d	112
114	18.4	__Install Roof Shingles	7.00d	113,119
115	19	Exterior Finishes	56.00d	.
116	19.1	__Siding	3.00d	74
117	19.2	__Exterior Trim	7.00d	116
118	19.3	__Brick Arch Forms	1.00d	117
119	19.4	__Brick Veneer	45.00d	118
120	20	Insulation	5.00d	.
121	20.1	__Caulk & Air Seal	1.00d	109
122	20.2	__Draft & Fire Stop	1.00d	121
123	20.3	__Batt Insulation	3.00d	121,122
124	21	Insulation Inspection	0.00d	123,120
125	22	BGE Energy Wise Inspection	0.00d	124
126	23	Drywall	26.00d	.
127	23.1	__Stock Drywall	1.00d	124
128	23.2	__Hang Drywall	5.00d	127
129	23.3	__Remove Scrap Drywall	1.00d	128
130	23.4	__Tape and Finish Drywall	15.00d	128,129
131	23.5	__Sand Drywall	1.00d	130
132	23.6	__Drywall Point-up	3.00d	131
133	24	Draw #6 (Insulation & drywall applied)	0.00d	128,126
134	25	Floor Finishes	76.00d	.
135	25.1	__Ceramic Tile	15.00d	142
136	25.2	__Install Hardwood Floor	4.00d	146
137	25.3	__Sand, Stain, Seal Hardwood	5.00d	196
138	25.4	__Install Carpet	4.00d	137
139	25.5	__Final Coat Hardwood	2.00d	196
140	26	Paint	59.00d	.
141	26.1	__Prep Drywall for Prime Coat	2.00d	131
142	26.2	__Prime Paint Drywall	2.00d	141
143	26.3	__Prep Trim for Prime Coat	2.00d	142,152
144	26.4	__Prime Trim	2.00d	143
145	26.5	__Finish Coat Trim	10.00d	144,156
146	26.6	__Finish Coat Drywall	14.00d	145,132
147	26.7	__Caulk Exterior Windows & Doors	1.00d	146,117
148	26.8	__Finish Coat Exterior Trim & Siding	1.00d	147
149	27	Draw #7 (Roofing, masonry, siding)	0.00d	114,157
150	28	Interior Trim	29.00d	.
151	28.1	__Interior Trim Delivery	1.00d	142
152	28.2	__Install Interior Doors	5.00d	151
153	28.3	__Install Interior Trim	15.00d	152
154	28.4	__Install Cabinetry	5.00d	153
155	28.5	__Install Appliances	1.00d	154
156	28.6	__1st Punch-out Interior Trim	2.00d	155,144
157	29	H.V.A.C. Trim	1.00d	140
158	29.1	__Install Grills & Registers for Paint	1.00d	131
159	29.2	__Set Outdoor Units	1.00d	165
160	30	Plumbing Trim	5.00d	.
161	30.1	__Set Fixtures	4.00d	135,136,146,154
162	30.2	__Connect Appliances	1.00d	161
163	31	__Final Plumbing Inspection	0.00d	160
164	32	Exterior Landscaping	32.00d	.
165	32.1	__Rough Final Grade	1.00d	119
166	32.2	__Patios	7.00d	165,119
167	32.3	__Porches	5.00d	166,119
168	32.4	__Sidewalks	7.00d	167,119
169	32.5	__Decks	7.00d	168,119
170	32.6	__Driveways	2.00d	165,169
171	32.7	__Final Grade and Seed	3.00d	170,166,167,168
172	33	Electrical Final Trim	160.00d	.
173	33.1	__Switch & Plug	2.00d	142,100
174	33.2	__Install Fixtures	1.00d	.
175	33.3	__Connect Appliances	1.00d	.
176	34	Hardware	12.00d	.
177	34.1	__Door Hardware	2.00d	145,146
178	34.2	__Bath Hardware	2.00d	145,146
179	34.3	__Mirrors	5.00d	178
180	34.4	__Shower Doors	10.00d	178
181	35	Draw #8 (Prime paint, cabinets, doors)	0.00d	142,152,154
182	36	Draw #9 (Trim, furnace, hrdwd, tile, rails)	0.00d	153,181
183	37	Draw #10 (Plumbing & elec. trim, final paint)	0.00d	146,182
184	38	Final Building Inspection	0.00d	183
185	39	Use & Occupancy Certificate	0.00d	184FS+3d
186	40	First Walk-thru	0.00d	185
187	41	Draw #11 (Final payment per contract)	0.00d	186
188	42	Final Punch-out	9.00d	.
189	42.1	__Punch Out Walk-thru List	4.00d	186
190	42.2	__Trim and Adjust Doors	2.00d	184,189
191	42.3	__Paint Touch-up	3.00d	190
192	43	Cleaning	14.00d	.
193	43.1	__Windows	3.00d	145,146
194	43.2	__Rough Clean	3.00d	193
195	43.3	__Final Clean	2.00d	176,188
196	44	Final Walk-through	0.00d	187,188,192
197	45	Move-in	0.00d	196FS+1d