For what it's worth: a timeline to date (with pictures)

I thought I'd document my building process so far. I'm sure no two builds are similar so this isn't meant to serve as the definitive record of building a house in Edmonton these days. In fact, check out this blog for another example.


One other quick note: My intention is to document the process, not complain, and so I'm not going to go out of my way to identify the builder I'm using. Apart from a couple of incorrect windows, the house itself looks pretty good. When the delays started to get me frustrated, I looked back and wished I'd had a pool of knowledge from recent home buyers that would have given me an idea of what to expect. The more information the better, I figure, so this is my drop in the bucket.


June 2009

I looked at dozens of showhomes, and both mortgage rates and housing starts were low. Decided to build from scrath rather than buy a partially completed spec home so we could make modifications to the floorplans and choose all interiors. I thought, what's the difference between 2-3 months and 6-7 months? Signed the building contract. I was given a verbal, completely non-binding guesstimate of a late-December completion date.


July 2009

Mortgage approved and financial condition removed from building contract


The lot in July 2009 (just starting):

August 2009 (+1 month)

Made selections at the builder's design centre before going on vacation. This was pretty exciting, and we breezed though it in a little over an hour. I'd recommend taking you camera (and not just the blackberry, like I did) since it could be a while between when you pick things out and when you move in. I'm mlloking at 10-11 months between selection and move-in, and remembering the exact tint of the interior paint, let alone the cabinet hardware, can be a challenge.



August 2009 (+1.5 months)

I was hoping to come back from the east coast and find a hole. No luck, but the lot had been surveyed.

October 2009 (+3 months)

After a few weeks of driving by the same old surveyed lot, the digging began in early October. By the end of the month the basement was poured and the pads were in.

January 2010 (+7 months)

The first floor is finally rounding into shape. Three months from basement to first floor struck me as a long time. The house in on my way home and so I'd drive by a couple of times a week. To my untrained eye there were long stretches where material wasn't being touched for days or weeks at a time. You can see to the right a house going up - it's frustrating watching other houses on the block make such good progess, especially ones that started weeks or months after mine. On the plus side, I had to run out on Christmas Day and much to my surprise, there were framers on site. I wanted to pick them up some coffee but nothing in the area was open.

By the end of January the second floor was being framed.

February 2010 (+8 months)

The roof was going on and most of the windows were in.

March 2010 (+9 months)

I haven't taken any pictures since. As of mid-March the plumbing, electrical, gas and HVAC were roughed-in. Apprval on the framing inspection was delayed by about 6 weeks as there were no plans on site. That's now been corrected and insulation is underway, followed by drywall and taping that should extend into April. The latest update was another three months, making for a mid-June posession. Fingers crossed.