Example & sample on construction schedule / custom home building time-line.

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A Sample Residential Construction Schedule - (for a 6,000 square foot custom home)

Is The Full Working Schedule For Sale?

A number of professional custom homebuilders have asked to buy the Microsoft Project file that was used to create the home building construction schedule shown on this page. In response to these requests, you may click here to download a sample MPX file and/or get more information about purchasing the complete working template.

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 custom home. It was produced using Microsoft Project^® 4.1 scheduling software and includes most, but not all, of the activities involved in the process of building a new house in Maryland. 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, 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.

Good luck with your project, thank you for visiting www.4homebuilder.com, and have fun building!

ID Outline Number Name Duration Predecessors Start Finish

1 1 Contracts 0.00d . Thu 6/5/04 Thu 6/5/04

2 1.1 __Supply Lot Sale Agreement 0.00d . Thu 6/5/04 Thu 6/5/04

3 1.2 __Supply Construction Agreement 0.00d . Thu 6/5/04 Thu 6/5/04

4 1.3 __Supply Contract Plans 0.00d 3 Thu 6/5/04 Thu 6/5/04

5 1.4 __Supply Contract Specifications 0.00d 3 Thu 6/5/04 Thu 6/5/04

6 1.5 __Supply Contract Site Plan 0.00d 3 Thu 6/5/04 Thu 6/5/04

7 1.6 __Secure Financing 0.00d . Thu 6/5/04 Thu 6/5/04

8 1.7 __Construction Loan Settlement 0.00d . Thu 6/5/04 Thu 6/5/04

9 2 Document Review & Revision 25.00d . Thu 6/5/04 Wed 7/9/04

10 2.1 __Review & Finalize Plans 15.00d 4 Thu 6/5/04 Wed 6/25/04

11 2.2 __Review & Finalize Specifications 20.00d 5 Thu 6/5/04 Wed 7/2/04

12 2.3 __Review & Finalize Site Plan 1.00d 6,10 Thu 6/26/04 Thu 6/26/04

13 2.4 __Print Construction Drawings 5.00d 10,11,12 Thu 7/3/04 Wed 7/9/04

14 2.5 __Approve Revised Plans 0.00d 13 Wed 7/9/04 Wed 7/9/04

15 2.6 __Approve Revised Specifications 0.00d 13 Wed 7/9/04 Wed 7/9/04

16 2.7 __Approve Revised Site Plan 0.00d 13 Wed 7/9/04 Wed 7/9/04

17 3 Bids & Contracts 24.00d . Thu 7/10/04 Tue 8/12/04

18 3.1 __Make Copies of Plans 3.00d 14 Thu 7/10/04 Mon 7/14/04

19 3.2 __Make Copies of Specifications 2.00d 15 Thu 7/10/04 Fri 7/11/04

20 3.3 __Distribute Plans & Specifications 1.00d 18,19 Tue 7/15/04 Tue 7/15/04

21 3.4 __Receive Bids 10.00d 20 Wed 7/16/04 Tue 7/29/04

22 3.5 __Review Bids 5.00d . Wed 7/30/04 Tue 8/5/04

25 3.6 __Execute Subcontractor Agreements 5.00d 23 Wed 8/6/04 Tue 8/12/04

26 4 Grading & Building Permits 17.00d . Thu 7/10/04 Fri 8/1/04

27 4.1 __Schedule lot stake-out 1.00d 13 Thu 7/10/04 Thu 7/10/04

28 4.2 __Stake lot 1.00d 27FS+3d Wed 7/16/04 Wed 7/16/04

29 4.3 __File Grading Permit Application 1.00d 16 Thu 7/10/04 Thu 7/10/04

30 4.4 __File Building Permit Application 3.00d 14,15,16 Thu 7/10/04 Mon 7/14/04

31 4.5 __Post Lot Identification 1.00d 28,29,30 Thu 7/17/04 Thu 7/17/04

32 4.6 __Meet Sed. Control Insp. 1.00d 29FS+2d,28,31 Fri 7/18/04 Fri 7/18/04

33 4.7 __Walk Lot w/ Owner 1.00d 32 Mon 7/21/04 Mon 7/21/04

34 4.8 __Install Construction Entrance 1.00d 32,33 Tue 7/22/04 Tue 7/22/04

35 4.9 __Install Sediment Controls 2.00d 32,33 Tue 7/22/04 Wed 7/23/04

36 4.10 __Sediment Control Insp. 1.00d 34,35 Thu 7/24/04 Thu 7/24/04

37 4.11 __Grading Permit Issued 1.00d 36 Fri 7/25/04 Fri 7/25/04

38 4.12 __County Permit Process 10.00d 30 Tue 7/15/04 Mon 7/28/04

39 4.13 __Building Permit Approved 1.00d 38,37 Tue 7/29/04 Tue 7/29/04

40 4.14 __Pay Permit Fees and Excise Taxes 1.00d 39FS+2d Fri 8/1/04 Fri 8/1/04

41 4.15 __Building Permit Issued 0.00d 40 Fri 8/1/04 Fri 8/1/04

42 5 Site Work 7.00d . Mon 7/28/04 Tue 8/5/04

43 5.1 __Clear Lot 3.00d 37 Mon 7/28/04 Wed 7/30/04

44 5.2 __Strip Topsoil & Stockpile 1.00d 43 Thu 7/31/04 Thu 7/31/04

45 5.3 __Stake Lot for Excavation 1.00d 43 Thu 7/31/04 Thu 7/31/04

46 5.4 __Rough grade lot 1.00d 43,45 Fri 8/1/04 Fri 8/1/04

47 5.5 __Excavate for foundation 2.00d 39,45,43,46 Mon 8/4/04 Tue 8/5/04

48 6 Foundation 24.00d . Wed 8/6/04 Mon 9/8/04

49 6.1 __Layout footings 1.00d 47 Wed 8/6/04 Wed 8/6/04

50 6.2 __Dig Footings & Install Reinforcing 1.00d 49 Thu 8/7/04 Thu 8/7/04

51 6.3 __Footing Inspection 0.00d 50 Thu 8/7/04 Thu 8/7/04

52 6.4 __Pour footings 1.00d 51 Fri 8/8/04 Fri 8/8/04

53 6.5 __Pin Footings 1.00d 52 Mon 8/11/04 Mon 8/11/04

54 6.6 __Stock Block, Mortar, Sand 1.00d 53 Tue 8/12/04 Tue 8/12/04

55 6.7 __Build Block Foundation 15.00d 53,54 Wed 8/13/04 Tue 9/2/04

56 6.8 __Foundation Certification 0.00d 55 Tue 9/2/04 Tue 9/2/04

57 6.9 __Draw #1 (Location Survey) 0.00d 56 Tue 9/2/04 Tue 9/2/04

58 6.10 __Fill Block Cores w/ Concrete 1.00d 55 Wed 9/3/04 Wed 9/3/04

59 6.11 __Steel Delivery 1.00d 58 Thu 9/4/04 Thu 9/4/04

60 6.12 __Set Lintels, Bolts, Cap Block 2.00d 59 Fri 9/5/04 Mon 9/8/04

61 6.13 __Lumber Delivery 1.00d 58 Thu 9/4/04 Thu 9/4/04

62 6.14 __Waterproofing and Drain Tile 1.00d 61 Fri 9/5/04 Fri 9/5/04

63 7 Rough Carpentry 44.00d . Tue 9/9/04 Fri 11/7/04

64 7.1 __Set Steel 1.00d 60 Tue 9/9/04 Tue 9/9/04

65 7.2 __1st Floor Deck Framing 4.00d 64 Wed 9/10/04 Mon 9/15/04

66 7.3 __1st Floor Wall Framing 4.00d 65 Tue 9/16/04 Fri 9/19/04

67 7.4 __Draw #2 (First Floor Deck) 0.00d 66 Fri 9/19/04 Fri 9/19/04

68 7.5 __2nd Floor Deck Framing 2.00d 67 Mon 9/22/04 Tue 9/23/04

69 7.6 __Draw #3 (Second Floor Deck) 0.00d 68 Tue 9/23/04 Tue 9/23/04

70 7.7 __2nd Floor Wall Framing 3.00d 69 Wed 9/24/04 Fri 9/26/04

71 7.8 __Set Roof Trusses 2.00d 70 Mon 9/29/04 Tue 9/30/04

72 7.9 __Frame Roof 7.00d 71 Wed 10/1/04 Thu 10/9/04

73 7.10 __Install Roof Plywood 5.00d 72 Fri 10/10/04 Thu 10/16/04

74 7.11 __Install Windows & Doors 2.00d 73,111 Wed 10/22/04 Thu 10/23/04

75 7.12 __Frame Basement 3.00d 72,81 Fri 10/10/04 Tue 10/14/04

76 7.13 __Frame Basement Bulkheads 2.00d 75,87,93 Thu 11/6/04 Fri 11/7/04

77 8 Concrete Slabs 8.00d . Thu 9/18/04 Mon 9/29/04

78 8.1 __Basement Slab Preparation 2.00d 65,91 Thu 9/18/04 Fri 9/19/04

79 8.2 __Termite Treatment Basment Slab 1.00d 78 Mon 9/22/04 Mon 9/22/04

80 8.3 __Slab Inspection 1.00d 79 Tue 9/23/04 Tue 9/23/04

81 8.4 __Pour Basement Slab 1.00d 80 Wed 9/24/04 Wed 9/24/04

82 8.5 __Prep Garage Slab 1.00d 81 Thu 9/25/04 Thu 9/25/04

83 8.6 __Termite Treatment Garage Slab 1.00d 82 Fri 9/26/04 Fri 9/26/04

84 8.7 __Pour Garage Slab 1.00d 83 Mon 9/29/04 Mon 9/29/04

85 9 H.V.A.C. 17.00d . Fri 10/10/04 Mon 11/3/04

86 9.1 __HVAC Layout & Measure 1.00d 72 Fri 10/10/04 Fri 10/10/04

87 9.2 __HVAC Rough-in 5.00d 86,111 Wed 10/22/04 Tue 10/28/04

88 9.3 __HVAC Set Indoor Units 2.00d 81,87 Wed 10/29/04 Thu 10/30/04

89 9.4 __HVAC Temporary Heat 2.00d 88 Fri 10/31/04 Mon 11/3/04

90 10 Plumbing Rough-in 37.00d . Tue 9/16/04 Wed 11/5/04

91 10.1 __Plumbing Sub-slab 2.00d 65 Tue 9/16/04 Wed 9/17/04

92 10.2 __Plumbing Layout 1.00d 91,87 Wed 10/29/04 Wed 10/29/04

93 10.3 __Plumbing rough-in 5.00d 92 Thu 10/30/04 Wed 11/5/04

94 11 County Plumbing Sub-slab Inspection 0.00d 91 Wed 9/17/04 Wed 9/17/04

95 12 County Plumbing Rough-in Inspection 0.00d 93 Wed 11/5/04 Wed 11/5/04

96 13 Electric Rough-in 19.00d . Fri 10/24/04 Wed 11/19/04

97 13.1 __Set Electric Boxes 2.00d 74 Fri 10/24/04 Mon 10/27/04

98 13.2 __Install Electric Service Panel 2.00d 97 Tue 10/28/04 Wed 10/29/04

99 13.3 __Electrical Walk-through 1.00d 98 Thu 10/30/04 Thu 10/30/04

100 13.4 __Electrical Rough-wire 14.00d 99 Fri 10/31/04 Wed 11/19/04

101 14 Specialty Rough-ins 5.00d . Thu 11/20/04 Wed 11/26/04

102 14.1 __Central Vacuum Rough-in 5.00d 100 Thu 11/20/04 Wed 11/26/04

103 14.2 __Alarm System Rough-in 5.00d 100 Thu 11/20/04 Wed 11/26/04

104 14.3 __Telephone System Rough-in 5.00d 100 Thu 11/20/04 Wed 11/26/04

105 14.4 __Television System Rough-in 5.00d 100 Thu 11/20/04 Wed 11/26/04

106 14.5 __Audio Visual Rough-in 5.00d 100 Thu 11/20/04 Wed 11/26/04

107 15 County Electrical inspection 0.00d 96,101 Wed 11/26/04 Wed 11/26/04

108 16 Draw #5 (Rough-ins complete) 0.00d 95,107 Wed 11/26/04 Wed 11/26/04

109 17 County Framing Inspection 0.00d 95FS+1d,107FS+1d Thu 11/27/04 Thu 11/27/04

110 18 Roofing 68.00d . Fri 10/17/04 Tue 1/20/05

111 18.1 __Roofing Paper Installed 3.00d 73 Fri 10/17/04 Tue 10/21/04

112 18.2 __Draw #4 (Roof, windows, doors) 0.00d 74,111 Thu 10/23/04 Thu 10/23/04

113 18.3 __Stock Roof Shingles 1.00d 112 Fri 10/24/04 Fri 10/24/04

114 18.4 __Install Roof Shingles 7.00d 113,119 Mon 1/12/05 Tue 1/20/05

115 19 Exterior Finishes 56.00d . Fri 10/24/04 Fri 1/9/05

116 19.1 __Siding 3.00d 74 Fri 10/24/04 Tue 10/28/04

117 19.2 __Exterior Trim 7.00d 116 Wed 10/29/04 Thu 11/6/04

118 19.3 __Brick Arch Forms 1.00d 117 Fri 11/7/04 Fri 11/7/04

119 19.4 __Brick Veneer 45.00d 118 Mon 11/10/04 Fri 1/9/05

120 20 Insulation 5.00d . Fri 11/28/04 Thu 12/4/04

121 20.1 __Caulk & Air Seal 1.00d 109 Fri 11/28/04 Fri 11/28/04

122 20.2 __Draft & Fire Stop 1.00d 121 Mon 12/1/04 Mon 12/1/04

123 20.3 __Batt Insulation 3.00d 121,122 Tue 12/2/04 Thu 12/4/04

124 21 County Insulation Inspection 0.00d 123,120 Thu 12/4/04 Thu 12/4/04

125 22 BGE Energy Wise Inspection 0.00d 124 Thu 12/4/04 Thu 12/4/04

126 23 Drywall 26.00d . Fri 12/5/04 Fri 1/9/05

127 23.1 __Stock Drywall 1.00d 124 Fri 12/5/04 Fri 12/5/04

128 23.2 __Hang Drywall 5.00d 127 Mon 12/8/04 Fri 12/12/04

129 23.3 __Remove Scrap Drywall 1.00d 128 Mon 12/15/04 Mon 12/15/04

130 23.4 __Tape and Finish Drywall 15.00d 128,129 Tue 12/16/04 Mon 1/5/05

131 23.5 __Sand Drywall 1.00d 130 Tue 1/6/05 Tue 1/6/05

132 23.6 __Drywall Point-up 3.00d 131 Wed 1/7/05 Fri 1/9/05

133 24 Draw #6 (Insulation & drywall applied) 0.00d 128,126 Fri 1/9/05 Fri 1/9/05

134 25 Floor Finishes 76.00d . Tue 1/13/05 Tue 4/28/05

135 25.1 __Ceramic Tile 15.00d 142 Tue 1/13/05 Mon 2/2/05

136 25.2 __Install Hardwood Floor 4.00d 146 Fri 3/27/05 Wed 4/1/05

137 25.3 __Sand, Stain, Seal Hardwood 5.00d 196 Thu 4/16/05 Wed 4/22/05

138 25.4 __Install Carpet 4.00d 137 Thu 4/23/05 Tue 4/28/05

139 25.5 __Final Coat Hardwood 2.00d 196 Thu 4/16/05 Fri 4/17/05

140 26 Paint 59.00d . Wed 1/7/05 Mon 3/30/05

141 26.1 __Prep Drywall for Prime Coat 2.00d 131 Wed 1/7/05 Thu 1/8/05

142 26.2 __Prime Paint Drywall 2.00d 141 Fri 1/9/05 Mon 1/12/05

143 26.3 __Prep Trim for Prime Coat 2.00d 142,152 Wed 1/21/05 Thu 1/22/05

144 26.4 __Prime Trim 2.00d 143 Fri 1/23/05 Mon 1/26/05

145 26.5 __Finish Coat Trim 10.00d 144,156 Mon 2/23/05 Fri 3/6/05

146 26.6 __Finish Coat Drywall 14.00d 145,132 Mon 3/9/05 Thu 3/26/05

147 26.7 __Caulk Exterior Windows & Doors 1.00d 146,117 Fri 3/27/05 Fri 3/27/05

148 26.8 __Finish Coat Exterior Trim & Siding 1.00d 147 Mon 3/30/05 Mon 3/30/05

149 27 Draw #7 (Roofing, masonry, siding) 0.00d 114,157 Tue 3/31/05 Tue 3/31/05

150 28 Interior Trim 29.00d . Tue 1/13/05 Fri 2/20/05

151 28.1 __Interior Trim Delivery 1.00d 142 Tue 1/13/05 Tue 1/13/05

152 28.2 __Install Interior Doors 5.00d 151 Wed 1/14/05 Tue 1/20/05

153 28.3 __Install Interior Trim 15.00d 152 Wed 1/21/05 Tue 2/10/05

154 28.4 __Install Cabinetry 5.00d 153 Wed 2/11/05 Tue 2/17/05

155 28.5 __Install Appliances 1.00d 154 Wed 2/18/05 Wed 2/18/05

156 28.6 __1st Punch-out Interior Trim 2.00d 155,144 Thu 2/19/05 Fri 2/20/05

157 29 H.V.A.C. Trim 1.00d 140 Tue 3/31/05 Tue 3/31/05

158 29.1 __Install Grills & Registers for Paint 1.00d 131 Tue 3/31/05 Tue 3/31/05

159 29.2 __Set Outdoor Units 1.00d 165 Tue 3/31/05 Tue 3/31/05

160 30 Plumbing Trim 5.00d . Thu 4/2/05 Wed 4/8/05

161 30.1 __Set Fixtures 4.00d 135,136,146,154 Thu 4/2/05 Tue 4/7/05

162 30.2 __Connect Appliances 1.00d 161 Wed 4/8/05 Wed 4/8/05

163 31 County Final Plumbing Inspection 0.00d 160 Wed 4/8/05 Wed 4/8/05

164 32 Exterior Landscaping 32.00d . Mon 1/12/05 Tue 2/24/05

165 32.1 __Rough Final Grade 1.00d 119 Mon 1/12/05 Mon 1/12/05

166 32.2 __Patios 7.00d 165,119 Tue 1/13/05 Wed 1/21/05

167 32.3 __Porches 5.00d 166,119 Thu 1/22/05 Wed 1/28/05

168 32.4 __Sidewalks 7.00d 167,119 Thu 1/29/05 Fri 2/6/05

169 32.5 __Decks 7.00d 168,119 Mon 2/9/05 Tue 2/17/05

170 32.6 __Driveways 2.00d 165,169 Wed 2/18/05 Thu 2/19/05

171 32.7 __Final Grade and Seed 3.00d 170,166,167,168 Fri 2/20/05 Tue 2/24/05

172 33 Electrical Final Trim 160.00d . Thu 6/5/04 Wed 1/14/05

173 33.1 __Switch & Plug 2.00d 142,100 Tue 1/13/05 Wed 1/14/05

174 33.2 __Install Fixtures 1.00d . Thu 6/5/04 Thu 6/5/04

175 33.3 __Connect Appliances 1.00d . Thu 6/5/04 Thu 6/5/04

176 34 Hardware 12.00d . Fri 3/27/05 Mon 4/13/05

177 34.1 __Door Hardware 2.00d 145,146 Fri 3/27/05 Mon 3/30/05

178 34.2 __Bath Hardware 2.00d 145,146 Fri 3/27/05 Mon 3/30/05

179 34.3 __Mirrors 5.00d 178 Tue 3/31/05 Mon 4/6/05

180 34.4 __Shower Doors 10.00d 178 Tue 3/31/05 Mon 4/13/05

181 35 Draw #8 (Prime paint, cabinets, doors) 0.00d 142,152,154 Tue 2/17/05 Tue 2/17/05

182 36 Draw #9 (Trim, furnace, hrdwd, tile, rails) 0.00d 153,181 Tue 2/17/05 Tue 2/17/05

183 37 Draw #10 (Plumbing & elec. trim, final paint) 0.00d 146,182 Thu 3/26/05 Thu 3/26/05

184 38 Final Building Inspection 0.00d 183 Thu 3/26/05 Thu 3/26/05

185 39 Use & Occupancy Certificate 0.00d 184FS+3d Tue 3/31/05 Tue 3/31/05

186 40 First Walk-thru 0.00d 185 Tue 3/31/05 Tue 3/31/05

187 41 Draw #11 (Final payment per contract) 0.00d 186 Tue 3/31/05 Tue 3/31/05

188 42 Final Punch-out 9.00d . Wed 4/1/05 Mon 4/13/05

189 42.1 __Punch Out Walk-thru List 4.00d 186 Wed 4/1/05 Mon 4/6/05

190 42.2 __Trim and Adjust Doors 2.00d 184,189 Tue 4/7/05 Wed 4/8/05

191 42.3 __Paint Touch-up 3.00d 190 Thu 4/9/05 Mon 4/13/05

192 43 Cleaning 14.00d . Fri 3/27/05 Wed 4/15/05

193 43.1 __Windows 3.00d 145,146 Fri 3/27/05 Tue 3/31/05

194 43.2 __Rough Clean 3.00d 193 Wed 4/1/05 Fri 4/3/05

195 43.3 __Final Clean 2.00d 176,188 Tue 4/14/05 Wed 4/15/05

196 44 Final Walk-through 0.00d 187,188,192 Wed 4/15/05 Wed 4/15/05

197 45 Move-in 0.00d 196FS+1d Thu 4/16/05 Thu 4/16/05

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