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A residence under construction.
Project Timeline
& Milestones
Custom homes do not run on a single fixed calendar. The bands below are approximate ranges we use for planning conversations; your schedule is captured in a project-specific master schedule once scope, site, and jurisdiction are understood.
Phases are listed in typical order of work and often overlap (for example, long-lead procurement starts before permit approval closes, and rough MEP continues while envelope trades are on site). Do not add the durations below to guess a finish date; total time from early design workshops through move-in on the Westside is commonly several years for a large residence. Construction activity after building permit issuance frequently spans on the order of roughly two to three years for substantial homes, with hillside, coastal-adjacent, or highly bespoke programs running longer.
Site visit, goals, budget framework, and how design and construction roles fit together. May include feasibility input alongside your architect. Duration depends on how formed the program already is.
Architectural and interior design iterations through a permit-ready drawing set. This phase usually dominates early calendar time on large custom homes: revisions, consultants (structure, geotech, energy), and HOA or design-review boards can extend it substantially.
We price from mature drawings, clarify specifications, and agree a fixed-price construction agreement. Overlaps late documentation on many projects. Scope churn here directly affects schedule and cost predictability.
Plan check, corrections, building permit issuance, plus HOA or neighbor agreements where required. Simple flat lots skew shorter; Hillside Ordinance, coastal zones, or discretionary reviews skew much longer. Long-lead windows, cladding, and equipment are often released on approved shop drawings during this window.
Demolition if needed, grading, caissons or spread footings, foundation, structural steel or framing to dried-in shell. Hillside access, crane picks, and weather windows add variability. Weekly reporting and milestone walkthroughs begin in this band.
Roofing, waterproofing, glazing, and exterior cladding advance in parallel with mechanical, electrical, plumbing rough-in and inspections. Solar, generator, or extensive smart-home backbone are coordinated here so interiors are not reworked later.
Insulation, plaster, stone and tile, millwork, flooring, fixtures, and paint in sequenced waves. Luxury interiors with extensive stone and custom cabinetwork sit toward the longer end of the range; client selections arriving late extend this phase.
Systems startup and balancing, final inspections, certificate of occupancy, owner orientation, and warranty documentation. Weather-dependent exterior punch and landscaping often trim out alongside commissioning.
Illustrative ranges only. Actual durations depend on design complexity, jurisdiction, site logistics, market conditions, long-lead materials, and change orders. We publish an integrated schedule for your project after contract and update it through weekly reporting.