There’s an old saying: “When you get to drywall, you’re about halfway done.” No, it’s not quite as popular as “There’s more than one way to skin a cat,” or “Don’t judge a book by its cover” – but it is around there in certain circles! When you are building, the timeline for buying a newly built home is always top of mind. You want your dream home, and you want it sooner rather than later. Understandable. So… what does it mean once the drywall is installed? Are you almost there? What’s the schedule look like after this milestone? In this article, we take a look at the new home construction timeline after drywall has been installed.
New Home Construction Timeline After Drywall
By the time the drywall goes up, you are definitely seeing significant progress on your build. But first, let’s back up and review the timeline for bullying a new construction home up to this point. You will need to:
- Secure financing (up to 90 days)
- Find the right builder and sign a contract (3 to 6 weeks)
- Iron out permits – your builder will do this (3 to 4 weeks)
- Prepare the site – if needed (1 to 2 months)
- Begin construction (3 weeks or more)
- Nail down design elements (2 weeks)
There is a great deal of prep work before you begin to see the “bones” of your home taking shape. As you reach the point where the builder works on interior elements, including drywall, though, you will start seeing your vision come to life. Now, what happens at this point?
What’s After Drywall?
Drywall is a board made from plaster, wood pulp, or other materials, and it forms the interior walls of your home. Generally, it takes between 4 to 6 weeks to install, depending on factors such as:
- The size of the home
- The complexity of the framing/layout
- The height of the ceilings and walls
- Drywall finish type
- The experience of the crew and how many people they have lending hands
- The weather – humidity can cause some delays. And if we know anything about south Florida weather… it’s that humidity is usually in the forecast!
The mud used to install drywall needs to cure for at least 24 hours before sanding, painting, or applying another coat. This takes time, and it is obviously frustrating to watch mud dry! But it is an essential part of the process in terms of ensuring a strong, durable end result.
So, your drywall is installed! Great. What happens next is typically work on the exterior of the home. This is when the builder works on brick/stonework, stucco, or siding, as well as the concrete for any garage space or walkways.
From there, the builder works on finishing details, such as plumbing and light fixtures, toilets, sinks, showers and tubs, flooring, and appliances. This stage can take a few weeks or longer, depending on the scope of your project. Once that is complete, inspectors and appraisers will come in, and you’ll have your final walk-throughs and set a closing date. This is really when you know you’ve run a good race and are close to that finish line.
Timeline for Buying a New Construction Home: It Depends
It’s a frustrating answer for homeowners, but one that is the most truthful! Your timeline does depend on a number of factors, such as the size and scope of your home, whether you went with a fully custom home, semi-custom home, or a model home. It also depends on the experience level of your builders, whether inspectors are prompt and responsive, and whether the supply chain gods are smiling down on you.
The new home construction timeline after drywall means that you could be halfway through the project or a quarter of the way through. Again, these things are dependent.
The best way to gain clarification is to ensure you have open lines of communication with your builder. You’ve researched, vetted, and selected the right fit for you. Part of your criteria was that they would be as responsive and communicative as possible. They should keep you updated at every stage of the process.
While it is important that they take steps to mitigate any potential delays and snags, if you will, we live in the real world. Obstacles can, and likely will, happen. If so, your builder needs to be proactive, prompt, and clear in explaining the what’s, why’s, how’s… and what next’s.
Build Your Dreams with Synergy Homes
Synergy Homes specializes in building high-performance, energy-efficient homes that not only deliver leading class value and cost savings but comfort, convenience, and the spaces in which you will create lasting memories.
We also specialize in a tried and tested process that streamlines your construction timeline, as well as clear and effective communication that keeps you updated at each stage of your project’s lifecycle. You will be able to keep track of key milestones, so when the drywall is up, you won’t be wondering “How long now?!” You’ll know because your builder has done their job of ensuring you are informed. Are you ready to come home? Contact Synergy Homes to get started.
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