The timeline for building a custom home in Victoria is impacted by a number of factors. Typical project durations range from 12 to 18 months from project kickoff to completion. This article explores some of the key project points that will influence your timeline and includes some tips on how to avoid delays.
At Horizon Pacific Contracting, we take pride in ensuring every project is fully scheduled in advance. Each step in the process is carefully managed to keep the project moving forward, and an experienced builder can make the most of an elastic timeline to ensure phases get completed on time. Then throughout the process, you’ll receive reports and updates in the style and frequency that you and the project manager have agreed to. This could be digital or in-person, depending on your preference. If changes do need to happen, you will be involved in the process and made aware of the potential timeline impacts so you can decide how to proceed.
Custom Home Timeline
- Planning: 2-4 months
Arguably the most exciting part of the custom home building process is the planning and preparation. Starting with the initial consultation and architectural drawings through to the finishing touches with the help of a designer, this is where house dreams are set in motion. The more complete the design is, the more accurately a timeline can be planned. Changes made after the plans are set can cause surprisingly long delays. Working with a top notch architect, designer and builder will help guide you to the right design, layout and materials so your custom home is right for you from the start.
- Permitting: 2-6 months
The permitting process is where it pays to have an experienced home builder like Horizon Pacific Contracting on your team. With decades of experience seeing projects through in Victoria, we know the ins and outs of the permitting in each municipality as well as the inspection process. We know what it takes to make this step go smoothly.
Some of the permitting time will overlap with the planning time. Once the architectural phase is complete, which includes completed site plans, construction plans and structural drawings, permitting can begin while minor design details are finalized.
- Land prep & foundation: 1-2 months
After months of preparation and planning, now we’re ready to break ground. It starts with clearing the land and getting it ready to support a foundation – a process that will be guided by the land’s slope, soil composition and whether services such as water and electricity already exist at the site.
- Building: 4-8 months
The building phase is where much of the physical progress will take form. Framing, roofing and windows will give your home some shape before insulation, drywall and other vital components are completed.
- Systems, interior & finishes: 2-4 months
Once construction is complete, there will be extensive work to do in the interior of your custom home, and many decisions to be made. All the mechanical systems including plumbing, HVAC and electrical will be installed followed by painting, fixtures, appliances, countertops, and millwork. This is when the personal details you have specified are added to make the home uniquely your home.
Factors That Can Impact Your Project Timeline
Even the best laid plans can encounter the unexpected. An experienced home builder will communicate with you the entire way through the process to ensure that your project is completed on time with minimal surprises. And if something does happen, your builder should have a plan to deal with it.
Land Preparation
Depending on the land you choose to build on, this process could be very quick or require multiple months of work. Lots with steep elevation, massive rock formations or unstable soil compositions such as sand will require special attention at the preparation phase. Waterfront properties can add a level of complexity too.
Weather
Weather is a factor that requires consideration here on Vancouver Island. Heavy rains or even snow can halt the excavation and foundation building process due to the risk of flooding. Framing and roofing would require a pause too in order to avoid material damage. Even high winds can halt a project that requires cranes and other machinery, which would be dangerous to operate. Quality builders respect weather impacts and plan for them. It’s never a good idea to rush a job by cutting corners such as pouring concrete in the rain as materials may not perform to standard or even could fail down the road.
Design Scope
The scope of your house dreams could be the biggest factor impacting your timeline. Nearly every step in the home building process will tackle unique architectural details, complex systems, expansive floor plans and purpose-built rooms. Support-free rooflines eliminate the need for columns but also require cutting edge building techniques (such as with this project). The greater the scope of a project, the more time needed to build it properly.
Design Changes
Permits and approvals are issued based on a home’s approved design. Major design changes require going through the permit process additional times which can slow a project’s progress. Cosmetic changes can impact timelines when materials sources change. Finalizing the major decisions before construction begins and minimizing changes to the home architecture or design will help to keep a project moving forward. If changes are needed, an experienced builder can help you navigate the process to minimize interruption.
Materials
What materials you choose can impact your home’s build timeline. Locally-sourced materials are less likely to cause delays compared to imported materials. The fewer links in the supply chain, the fewer opportunities for a delay to happen. Standard materials are less of a concern, but there can be delays with exotic hardwoods, Italian marble, hand-forged metal and other materials that often need to be imported.
Location
The location of your lot and new custom home can play a part in the total timeline. Remote locations, up in the mountains or on one of the smaller islands will present logistical considerations related to travel time and potential weather impacts. Regardless, logistical challenges like these are predictable and can be worked into your initial project plan.
Permitting & Inspections
The permitting and inspection process is variable depending on which municipality you reside in. And if you go about things in the wrong order, miss critical steps or try to cut corners, you could face delays at inspection or permitting stages. That’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced builder in your corner to move the process along.
Custom Renovation Project Length
The timeline for completing a custom renovation will vary depending on your house plans. Some renovations are straightforward and, with minimal impact to the existing structure, can be completed in a month or two. Large scale projects like home additions and full home renovations could take over a year.
For smaller renovations like bathroom renos or kitchen remodels, the project could be wrapped up in a matter of months. The scope will determine the ultimate timeline, but if no structural changes are required, these are generally shorter projects.
Full home renovations and home additions are more complicated requiring the extended timeline. Moving walls and changing the physical composition of the home will require serious building time on top of the time it takes for finishes and appliances.
If you’re looking to remodel or renovate a heritage home, the process is more complex. Laws around designated heritage home restoration in Victoria are stringent, requiring a delicate dance around compliance, permitting and building codes. When it comes to heritage homes, experience matters if you want to maintain the heritage aesthetic while incorporating modern amenities and building requirements, such as with this home.
Ready to start on your custom home build or renovation? Contact Horizon Pacific Contracting to start exploring what might be possible for your dream home. Request a consultation today.
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