Construction Schedule

Items like windows, doors, sill pans, framing materials, shower pans, and specialty plumbing fixtures will be ordered during this phase. Some of these items have long lead times, so ordering early keeps us on schedule.

You might notice deliveries showing up at your property. We coordinate this carefully, but if anything seems out of place or is blocking access, just give us a text and we’ll sort it out.

If there are any final decisions on finishes or fixtures that haven’t been locked in, this is the time we’ll reach out. Quick responses help us stay on track with ordering.

Most of this work happens behind the scenes, so your day-to-day won’t be disrupted yet. We’re simply getting everything queued up so construction can start smoothly.

Before a single shovel hits the dirt, we’ll walk the property with you to review the plan, answer questions, and make sure everyone is aligned. This is a great time to point out any concerns about access, landscaping, or neighbors.

You’ll see a porta potty, signage, cameras, and a job box appear on-site. These are standard construction setup items. If anything is placed in a spot that causes an issue for you, let us know and we’ll adjust.

Excavation, demolition, and trenching involve heavy machinery and can be loud. Work typically happens during standard business hours on weekdays. If you have sensitivities or special timing needs (like a work-from-home schedule), text us so we can coordinate.

Excavation and trenching generate a lot of displaced soil. We do our best to manage it, but if dirt or debris is piling up in a way that blocks access or causes an inconvenience, just text us and we’ll organize a cleanup.

Before we dig, we’ll have underground utilities marked. You may see spray paint or flags on your property—this is standard safety procedure and temporary.

If you’d like, we can provide a brief note to share with your neighbors to let them know about the project. We would also be happy to communicate them with directly on a shared email. A heads-up goes a long way in maintaining good relationships during construction.

Once the site is excavated and ready, we’ll send Invoice 02 per your contract’s payment schedule.

The city and our structural engineer will visit the site several times during this phase to inspect formwork, underground utilities, rebar placement, and the pre-pour setup. These inspections are required before we can pour concrete and occasionally cause brief scheduling pauses while we wait for inspector availability.

When our plumber is doing the below-ground rough-in, they may need to shut off your water supply for a few hours. We’ll notify you as far in advance as possible, but please text us if the timing causes any issues and we’ll work around your schedule.

On pour day, you’ll see concrete trucks arrive. This can be loud and may temporarily affect street parking or driveway access. We’ll give you a heads-up on the scheduled pour date so you can plan accordingly.

After the pour, the concrete needs time to set and cure properly. You’ll see the forms stay in place for a bit before they’re stripped. Please keep people and pets away from the fresh concrete—it looks solid before it’s fully cured.

A French drain and drywell may be installed after the foundation is poured. This involves additional trenching near the foundation, so expect a bit more ground disturbance before we move on to framing.

Below-ground sewer rough-in involves opening sewer lines, which can occasionally produce odors. This is temporary and typically resolves once connections are sealed and inspected.

The foundation is methodical by design. Weather and inspector availability can shift the timeline slightly. We’ll keep you informed of any changes.

Once the foundation is complete, we’ll send Invoice 03 per your payment schedule.

This is one of the most exciting milestones because you’ll see your project go from a flat slab to a three-dimensional structure. Feel free to visit (safely!) and take photos—just let us know when you plan to stop by.

Lumber, sheathing, and other framing materials will be delivered. This can temporarily take up driveway or yard space. If access is a concern, text us and we’ll coordinate delivery timing.

Framing is one of the noisier phases. Crews will be cutting lumber and using nail guns throughout the work day. If you have meetings or events at home, let us know in advance and we’ll see what we can do.

The structural engineer will do a framing special inspection, and the city will inspect shear, roof nailing, and the frame. These are standard checkpoints that ensure structural integrity.

Before rough-in begins, we’ll take precise measurements of all framing openings and verify the cabinetry layout. If we have questions about your selections or layout preferences, we’ll reach out to confirm.

Once the roof structure is sheathed, we order roofing materials including gutters, downspouts, and gutter guards. You may see additional deliveries arrive.

Framing moves quickly once it starts, but inspections and weather can introduce short pauses. We’ll keep you updated on progress.

Once framing is complete and inspected, we’ll send Invoice 04.

Roofers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, window installers, and sheetrock crews will all cycle through during this milestone. You’ll see a lot of different faces and vehicles. This is normal and means progress is happening on multiple fronts.

The above-ground plumbing and electrical rough-ins may require brief service interruptions to your main house. We’ll always try to give you advance notice. If any interruption is causing a problem, text us right away.

Roofing, house wrap, windows, doors, and flashing will all be installed. Your ADU will start looking like a finished building from the outside. Siding is typically installed during or shortly after this phase.

The city will inspect the rough mechanical work (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), exterior waterproofing, and sheetrock screws. Each inspection must pass before we can proceed to the next step. Occasionally, an inspector may require a minor correction, which is routine.

Hanging and finishing sheetrock generates fine dust. We take precautions to contain it, but some dust may drift beyond the construction area. If it’s affecting your main home, let us know and we’ll take additional measures.

After the sheetrock is hung, the taping, mudding, and finishing process takes about 10 working days. Each coat needs to dry before the next can be applied. The space will look rough during this process, but the end result is smooth, paint-ready walls.

During this phase, we’ll sit down with you to finalize any landscaping, hardscaping, deck, or fencing plans so everything is ordered and scheduled in time for the final phases.

Per state regulations, you’ll receive a notification about material liens related to your windows and doors. This is standard procedure and protects both you and the suppliers.

This is the longest milestone because so much happens. Weather, inspector availability, and material lead times can all affect the timeline. We’ll provide regular updates.

Once sheetrock is complete, we’ll send Invoice 05.

This is the most visually rewarding phase. Each day brings noticeable progress as paint, flooring, cabinets, countertops, and fixtures transform the space. We love sharing progress photos during this time!

Interior and exterior painting happens early in this phase. While we use standard-grade paints, some odor is unavoidable. Keep windows in your main home closed if it bothers you, and let us know if you have any sensitivities.

Flooring materials often need to acclimate to the space before installation. You may notice materials sitting in the unit for a day or two before the installers arrive—this is intentional and ensures a quality result.

Cabinets go in first, followed by countertops. There’s typically a gap between the two while countertops are fabricated to fit. This is normal and not a delay.

Sinks, faucets, toilets, light fixtures, outlets, and switches are all installed during this phase. If you have any last-minute questions about placements, now is the time to ask.

Your heating and cooling system will be turned on and tested. We’ll verify it’s working correctly before moving to the final phase.

Our team conducts a detailed post-sheetrock punchlist to catch any imperfections—paint touch-ups, trim adjustments, hardware alignment, etc. This review takes about a week and ensures everything meets our standards before your walkthrough.

There are many sequential tasks that can’t overlap, so this phase takes a while even though the work moves steadily. We’ll keep you updated on progress.

Once all millwork and trim is complete, we’ll send Invoice 06.