The nine stages, in order
This is one real house, photographed from the same spot from the bare foundation to the day the sod went down. The times are typical ranges for each stage; your builder’s schedule is the one that counts.
Stage 1 of 9
Design, plans and permit
2 to 4 months, plus the permit
Plans get drawn, engineered and priced, finishes get picked and the permit goes in. Once the permit is issued, it took another 1.4 months on average for construction to start in 2025.
Stage 2 of 9
Site prep and foundation
1 to 2 months
The lot is cleared and dug, footings and foundation walls are poured, then waterproofed and backfilled. Concrete needs to cure, and an inspection usually comes before framing starts.
Stage 3 of 9
Framing
1 to 3 months
Floors, walls and the roof structure go up, then sheathing. This is the stage where the house suddenly looks like a house, and the stage most exposed to weather.
Stage 4 of 9
Roof, windows and lock-up
Weeks, at the end of framing
Shingles, house wrap, windows and exterior doors go on until the house can be locked. From here the inside is dry, and the trades inside can start.
Stage 5 of 9
Rough-ins and insulation
1 to 2 months
Plumbing, wiring, heating and ductwork run through the open walls, each signed off by an inspector, then insulation goes in. Outside, gutters and porch details carry on.
Stage 6 of 9
Siding and exterior finishes
1 to 2 months, alongside work inside
Siding, stone, trim and soffits go on outside while drywall goes up inside. Exterior work waits on the weather; interior work does not.
Stage 7 of 9
Drywall and interior finishes
2 to 4 weeks of drywall, then 1 to 2 months of finishes
Drywall, paint, cabinets, counters, flooring, tile, trim, doors and fixtures, roughly in that order. Finishes take longest when selections are made late or materials are back-ordered.
Stage 8 of 9
Driveway and grading
Weeks, weather permitting
The driveway and walks get poured and the yard is graded so water runs away from the house. Concrete flatwork waits for the heavy trucks to be done.
Stage 9 of 9
Landscaping, final inspection and walkthrough
1 to 2 months with the exterior work
Sod, trees and planting go in, the final inspection gives occupancy, and you walk through the house with your builder. Small fixes go on a punch list and get done after you move in.
What decides how long yours takes
- Who builds it. Houses built to sell took 7.4 months in 2025, custom homes with a hired builder 11.7, and houses the owners built themselves 14.3.
- Permits. Your city sets the pace for the permit and every inspection after it.
- Weather and season. Foundations, framing and exterior work wait out rain, deep cold and snow.
- Selections. Cabinets, windows and finishes chosen late, or changed mid-build, become the critical path.
- Trades’ calendars. Each trade comes in order, so one crew running late pushes every crew behind it.
Planning around the build
Most families are living somewhere else while the house goes up. A few things keep the move-in date from becoming a surprise:
- Keep your current lease or sale date flexible by a month or two
- Ask your builder which selections are due when, and make them early
- Visit at the big moments: after framing, after rough-ins, and before drywall closes the walls
Knowing where yours is at
A house takes most of a year, and the hardest part is often not knowing what happened this week or what comes next. More builders now send a live timeline instead: one link that shows the stage you are in, this week’s photos and the next step.
The Walshes’ house on their phone, mid-build: lock-up today, stage 4 of 10.
See the Walshes’ full timeline →
If your builder doesn’t send one, show them this page.
Questions homeowners ask
How long does it take to build a custom home?
Custom homes built by a hired builder took 11.7 months on average from permit to completion in 2025, plus 2 to 4 months of design before the permit.
Is it faster to buy a house that is already being built?
Usually. Houses built to sell took 7.4 months in 2025, because the plans repeat and the builder runs several at once.
What is lock-up?
The point where the roof, windows and exterior doors are on and the house can be locked. It marks the end of the structure and the start of the work inside.
What is the longest stage of building a house?
Framing and the interior finishes are usually the longest, at 1 to 3 months and 1 to 2 months. Planning before the permit is often longer than either.
Can I visit the site while my house is being built?
Usually, with your builder and with safety gear. Ask for a walk-through before the drywall goes up, when you can still see the wiring, plumbing and blocking.
Why does building a house take longer than expected?
Permits and inspections, weather, back-ordered materials, late selections and changes, and trades running late on other jobs.
Sources: build times from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction for houses finished in 2025, as reported by NAHB (Na Zhao, September 2026). Stage times from Ecohome, “How Long Does It Take to Fully Build a House?” (March 2023).