Custom homes in San Antonio typically require 12 to 18 months from start to finish, while production builds typically take 6 to 9 months from contract to closing. These timelines shape everything from crew coordination to financing draws, making accurate schedule estimates essential for project success.
We’ve observed that public and military projects in the region experience significant schedule growth, with some Joint Base San Antonio vertical projects averaging more than 300 additional days beyond initial estimates. Developing a risk-aware schedule estimate helps development teams avoid surprises, align permit timing with construction phases, and set realistic expectations for stakeholders amid the San Antonio market’s unique challenges.
What Timelines Should You Expect By Project And Phase In San Antonio?
Custom construction projects in San Antonio typically require 12-18 months from initial consultation to final handover. At EB3 Construction, we structure our process to deliver comprehensive custom builds within this timeframe, with each phase carefully planned to maintain momentum while ensuring thorough quality control.
Our consultation phase runs 3-5 days, covering initial meetings and site assessments. We then provide an initial estimate within 3-5 days, including preliminary budgets and feasibility reviews.
The design phase can span 2-3 weeks and includes architectural planning, engineering coordination, and permit preparation. We deliver a final proposal within 1-2 weeks after design completion, incorporating revisions and finalizing scope details.
Selections require approximately 30 days for material choices, fixture specifications, and finish coordination. This phase overlaps with pre-construction scheduling, which takes 30-60 days and includes permit approvals, subcontractor coordination, and construction sequencing.
Construction typically runs 8-12 months, covering foundation work through final inspections. We conclude with a 30-day closeout period for punch list completion, final walkthroughs, and documentation handover.
| Phase | Duration | Activities Included |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | 3-5 days | Initial meetings and site assessments |
| Initial Estimate | 3-5 days | Preliminary budgets and feasibility reviews |
| Design | 2-3 weeks | Architectural planning, engineering coordination, permit preparation |
| Final Proposal | 1-2 weeks | Incorporating revisions, finalizing scope details |
| Selections | 30 days | Material choices, fixture specifications, finish coordination |
| Pre-Construction Scheduling | 30-60 days | Permit approvals, subcontractor coordination, construction sequencing |
| Construction | 8-12 months | Foundation work through final inspections |
| Closeout | 30 days | Punch list completion, final walkthroughs, documentation handover |
Production homes in San Antonio commonly span 6-9 months from contract execution to closing. These standardized builds follow established processes with predetermined materials and layouts, reducing coordination complexity and shortening overall timelines.
Builder contracts typically include extension provisions for weather delays, permit issues, or unforeseen site conditions. We treat completion dates as targets rather than guarantees, building schedule float into our planning to accommodate realistic construction variables.
Military and public projects in the San Antonio region often extend beyond initial estimates. Joint Base San Antonio projects, in particular, average additional months compared to baseline timelines due to security requirements, specialized inspections, and coordination protocols.
What Commonly Drives Schedule Growth In San Antonio?
Schedule growth in San Antonio construction stems from a mix of design complexity, regulatory requirements, and local conditions. We regularly see projects extend beyond initial timelines due to predictable seasonal challenges and unforeseen site complications.
Design and Trade Coordination
Design complexity creates cascading delays when specialty trades face extended lead times for custom materials or engineered systems. Projects requiring specialized mechanical, electrical, or structural work often encounter scheduling conflicts as trade contractors juggle multiple commitments across the region’s busy construction market.
Subcontractor scheduling becomes particularly challenging during peak building seasons. With skilled labor shortages affecting electricians, pipefitters, and other craft trades amid a strong regional construction market, coordinating crew availability can push timelines beyond original estimates.
Financial and Administrative Delays
Financing and draw delays interrupt project flow when lenders require additional documentation or when economic conditions tighten credit availability. These financial holdups often coincide with critical construction phases, creating costly downtime that compounds schedule impacts.
Zoning and permit approvals through local jurisdictions introduce timing uncertainty to San Antonio projects. Municipal review processes vary significantly, and we account for these variables when establishing realistic project schedules.
Site Conditions and Weather
Site preparation issues often emerge during excavation and foundation work. Poor soils, unexpected drainage problems, or rock conditions require engineering solutions that extend timelines beyond initial estimates.
Texas weather patterns create seasonal constraints that affect outdoor work scheduling. Summer heat limits productive hours for concrete pours and roofing work, while occasional severe weather systems can halt progress entirely.
Public Project Complications
Public and military projects in the San Antonio region face additional schedule growth factors. Added work during construction, contractor delays, and untimely utility relocations contribute to extended timelines on government contracts.
Design changes and errors become more complex to resolve on public projects due to additional approval processes and compliance requirements. Unforeseen site conditions and right-of-way issues add further complications to these projects.
Regional military vertical projects show significant schedule extensions, with an average added duration of approximately 282 days. Joint Base San Antonio projects specifically average 327 days of growth beyond original schedules, reflecting the specialized requirements and approval processes inherent in military construction.
How Do You Build A Risk-Aware Construction Time Estimate?
We build risk-aware construction time estimates using three-point estimating for each major activity. This technique captures uncertainty in construction by establishing three duration estimates—optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic. The optimistic estimate assumes everything proceeds smoothly with no delays. The most likely estimate reflects typical conditions based on our experience and common project challenges. The pessimistic estimate accounts for potential setbacks that could significantly impact the schedule.
Three-point estimating uses a weighted formula: the expected duration equals (optimistic + 4 × most likely + pessimistic) ÷ 6. This weighting gives the most likely estimate greater influence while still accounting for best- and worst-case possibilities. The result provides a probability distribution that supports P50 and P90 schedule targets, so we can establish confidence levels for completion dates.
Risk-based contingency requires maintaining a simple risk register throughout the project. We identify event-driven risks specific to the construction phase, such as utility relocations that could delay sitework, permit timing that affects the critical path, or material availability issues that impact specialty trades. Each risk is rated for probability and potential schedule impact, allowing us to carry appropriate schedule float aligned with the project phase.
Documentation forms the backbone of auditable estimates. We preserve assumptions and quantities at each milestone, creating an assumption log that tracks our reasoning and baseline conditions. As design details mature and scope becomes clearer, we reduce contingency percentages and move confirmed work into the base durations. This progressive refinement keeps the estimate current while maintaining the risk awareness that protects the overall schedule.
Milestone reviews provide checkpoints where we examine both progress and remaining risks. We preserve redlines and review notes at each stage, ensuring stakeholders understand how the estimate evolved and what assumptions still drive the schedule. This documentation trail is essential when schedule adjustments become necessary or when clients question timing decisions during construction.
Which Milestones And Inspections Should Anchor The San Antonio Schedule?
Foundation completion marks your first major milestone. This phase includes the concrete pour and foundation surveys that confirm elevations and setbacks meet code requirements. We schedule waterproofing, drainage systems, and any under-slab utilities before this checkpoint. The foundation inspection must pass before any vertical construction can begin.
Framing completion triggers one of the most critical checkpoints in San Antonio construction. The structural frame establishes your home’s skeleton and requires inspection approval before proceeding. This framing milestone coincides with completion of the MEP rough-ins, where mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are installed simultaneously through the open framework.
The pre-drywall inspection is the last opportunity to evaluate systems before they become concealed. We coordinate this inspection after MEP rough-ins are complete but before drywall installation begins. San Antonio’s Development Services Department requires this checkpoint to verify electrical wiring, plumbing lines, and HVAC ductwork meet code standards. Issues identified during the pre-drywall inspection can be corrected efficiently, while problems discovered after drywall installation require expensive wall repairs.
Insulation and drywall installation follow approval of the pre-drywall inspection. San Antonio requires third-party insulation inspections to verify proper installation and air sealing. The drywall phase transforms open framing into recognizable rooms, making this an exciting visual milestone for property owners. We ensure the insulation inspection passes before scheduling drywall crews.
Interior finishes encompass flooring, cabinetry, painting, and trim installation. This phase requires careful coordination as multiple trades work in the same spaces. We schedule cabinet installation after drywall is complete and before final plumbing and electrical fixtures are installed. Paint application occurs after all cutting and drilling for fixtures is complete.
Exterior completion includes hardscape installation and final utility connections. We coordinate driveway concrete, landscaping, and exterior utility tie-ins during this phase. CPS Energy connections for permanent electrical service require approval from both the utility company and San Antonio’s inspection department. This milestone protects interior finishes from weather exposure.
Punch list and re-walk provide a systematic quality verification before closing. We conduct a detailed walkthrough to identify any remaining items requiring attention. The punch list documents specific corrections needed, from paint touch-ups to fixture adjustments. After completing punch list items, we schedule a re-walk to verify all corrections meet our standards.
The certificate of occupancy serves as the final approval milestone. San Antonio’s Development Services Department issues the certificate of occupancy only after all inspections pass and punch list items are resolved. No closing can occur without this certificate, regardless of target completion dates. We coordinate final inspections for building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas systems before requesting the certificate.
The 30-day closeout extends beyond the typical closing process. This period allows us to address any minor issues that emerge after occupancy begins. We schedule a follow-up inspection approximately 30 days after closing to identify items that may need attention under warranty coverage. This closeout phase ensures long-term satisfaction with the completed project.
For production homes, we establish additional checkpoints aligned with buyer involvement. Key owner inspections occur before drywall installation and before the final walkthrough. These checkpoints allow buyers to review progress and address concerns while corrections are still straightforward to implement.
Closing coordination depends entirely on certificate of occupancy approval and final corrections, not projected completion dates. We maintain clear communication about inspection schedules and any items that could delay certificate issuance. This dependency makes milestone tracking essential for accurate closing predictions.
Conclusion And Next Steps
Set your San Antonio construction time estimate by phasing the work, applying three-point duration estimates, and adding a risk-based contingency. This systematic approach provides optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic scenarios for each activity and builds in schedule float for identified risks. Use local timelines as a guide: 6–9 months for many production builds and 12–18 months for custom homes, plus time for closeout.
Expect schedule growth from permits, site conditions, and weather, and tie the plan to key inspections and the certificate of occupancy. Regional data shows public and military projects often see significant extensions, with some Joint Base San Antonio work averaging more than 300 additional days. Keep assumptions and reviews documented at every milestone to keep stakeholders aligned and ensure the estimate remains auditable throughout project development.
Ready to develop a risk-aware construction schedule for your San Antonio project? Contact EB3 Construction to discuss your timeline and phasing needs.
