How long it takes to build a high-end house

Updated on 07/06/2026 by EZA Engenharia

How long it takes to build a house is usually the first question from those who decide to invest in a made-to-measure project in Criciúma and the region. And the answer is never a fixed number, because it depends on the size of the house, the complexity of the design and how much planning exists before the first brick is laid. In more than 35 years building high-end houses in the region, EZA Engenharia has followed dozens of real schedules and can point out precisely where a project gains time and where it loses it. In this article we show the average timelines for each stage and what really weighs on your project's calendar.

Average timeframes per construction stage

To properly answer how long it takes to build a house, you need to look at each phase separately, not just the total. Each stage carries its own variables, and a delay in one of them almost always drags through the rest of the schedule.

In general, high-end projects follow a sequence similar to this one, always adjusted to the particularities of each house:

• Architectural design and complementary designs (structural, plumbing, electrical): 2 to 4 months, varying with the level of customization
• Approvals and permits at the city hall and utility companies: from a few weeks to 2 months, depending on the municipality and the regularity of the plot
• Foundation and structure: 2 to 4 months, depending on the size of the house and the soil type
• Masonry, roofing and installations: 3 to 5 months
• Finishes, cladding and made-to-measure joinery: 3 to 6 months, usually the stage most sensitive to customization
• Final inspections, adjustments and handover: 2 to 4 weeks

What speeds up the timeline of a high-end project

Some factors, when well managed, reduce the total time without taking anything away from the quality of the construction. The main one is making design and finishing decisions in advance.

When the client already defines finishes, frames, built-in furniture and joinery during the design phase, the project flows better. The team can schedule purchases and suppliers in advance and avoids stoppages due to lack of material or open specifications.

• Lot with regularized documentation and soil survey done before the project begins
• Scope and finishes settled before pouring the foundation
• Suppliers contracted in advance, especially for imported or made-to-order items
• In-house engineering team following the project closely, with quick technical decisions on the job site

What usually delays the project

On the other hand, some factors show up repeatedly as a cause of delay in high-end projects in the Criciúma region. Knowing these risks helps the owner anticipate them and avoid unpleasant surprises along the way.

A design change during execution is the most common reason. Moving the position of a wall or the layout of a room after the structure is already built generates rework, extra cost and weeks lost. The weather also weighs in, especially in the foundation and roofing stages, when prolonged rain interrupts concrete pouring and waterproofing.

• Undefined finish, forcing a pause until the client decides
• Imported material or furniture with a long lead time
• Lack of financial planning, causing pauses while funds are released
• Soil with special conditions, requiring a more robust foundation than expected

Why planning and construction management make a real difference

The biggest factor in schedule predictability is not in the execution, it is in the planning that comes before it. A well-made physical-financial schedule, with a clear milestone for each phase, lets you bring purchases forward, negotiate deadlines with suppliers and organize the team so that one stage begins exactly when the previous one ends.

That is where the difference lies between hiring a construction company with in-house engineering and hiring fragmented services. One point worth reinforcing: EZA is a construction company, not a real-estate developer. That means the work is conducted from design through to the execution of your specific house, with an in-house technical team following each stage, and not the construction of a development to sell units. It is this way of working that allows for closer project management, with technical decisions made on the job site, without depending on an intermediary.

How to estimate the timeline for your house in Criciúma and the region

There is no single answer to how long it takes to build a house, because the actual timeline depends on variables specific to each project, such as built area, number of floors, level of finish, and the condition of the plot in Criciúma, Içara, Forquilhinha, Nova Veneza, Cocal do Sul, or Balneário Rincão.

The safest path is to talk with an engineering team that assesses the site, understands the project's expectations and puts together a realistic schedule before any decision. That's why cost and timeline should always be handled on request, after a technical analysis, and not estimated generically over the internet.

Every project has its own rhythm, and only a real study of the site and the design reveals a timeline you can trust. It's more than 35 years of EZA Engenharia building high-end houses in Criciúma, Içara, Forquilhinha, Nova Veneza, Cocal do Sul, and Balneário Rincão, enough time to know where a schedule gains or loses a week. Reach our team on WhatsApp (48) 99191-2018, send an email to [email protected], or visit eza.com.br and get an honest timeline assessment for your project.