Designing & Building Your Colorado Mountain Home: Timing and Major Decisions

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Building your own custom home here in our incredible area of Colorado is an exciting adventure, and at S&T Construction, we’re here to make the process smooth, clear, understandable, and enjoyable! Whether you’re building a family home, a cozy cabin or a spacious mountain retreat, here are a few general basics and what you can expect when building your home with us.

1. Dreaming & Design (3–4 Months and roughly 5% of your budget)

You have land, and are ready to dive in! This is where your ideas start to take shape. You’ll work with one of our excellent architects and possibly an interior designer—and our team—to create a home that fits your lifestyle, your land, and your budget.

• What happens: Design-build contract with S&T, site surveys, floor plans, and early budgeting. Layout, number of bedrooms, architectural style, and big-picture features.
• You’ll decide: Layout, number of bedrooms, architectural style, and big-picture features.
• Mountain Tip: Each lot in the mountains has its own personality — slope, views, and access all influence the design. We help you plan for those details early.

2. Permitting & Pre-Construction (2–3 Months and roughly 2-3% of your
budget)

Once your plans are finalized, S&T Construction handles the details behind the scenes— engineering, permitting, and scheduling. Note – if you already have plans in hand, we can step in here without going through step 1 above.

• What happens: Submitting plans to the appropriate jurisdictions, coordinating utilities,
  and finalizing the construction agreement.
• You’ll decide: Approve your final design, budget, and overall schedule.
• Good to know: Permit costs vary widely by jurisdiction – for example, if you’re building in city limits, we’ll need to pay your water tap fees now! Mountain permitting can also take time, but we stay in touch so you always know where things stand.

3. Site Prep & Foundation (1–2 Months and roughly 8-10% of your budget)

It’s time to break ground! We clear the site, install utilities, pour the foundation, and backfill.

• What happens: Excavation, grading, and foundation work.
• You’ll have decided: Foundation type (basement, crawl space, or slab).
• Mountain note: Rocky soil and slopes can add a little complexity—but this is where our experience really makes a difference.

4. Framing & Exterior (2–3 Months and roughly 35% of your budget)

This is when your home starts to take shape. Walls go up, the roof goes on, and it starts to look like the mountain home you’ve imagined.

• What happens: Framing, roofing, and installing windows and siding.
• You’ll have decided: Roofing color, exterior materials & colors, and window styles.
• This stage is exciting: You’ll be able to walk through and see your design start to come to life.

5. Systems (1–2 Months and roughly 18% of your budget)

Now comes all the “behind-the-walls” work—plumbing, electrical, heating, and insulation.

• What happens: Running utilities, setting up mechanical systems, and passing related inspections.
• You’ll have decided: Lighting layout, plumbing fixtures, and HVAC options (like energy-efficient heat pumps).

6. Interior Finishes (2–3 Months and roughly 25% of your budget)

This is where your home’s personality shines. From cabinets to flooring, each choice adds warmth and character.

• What happens: Drywall, flooring, cabinets & countertops, painting, tile, trim, and fixture installation.
• You’ll have decided: Cabinets, countertops, flooring, tile, lighting, and paint colors.
• Pro tip: When drywall is up, you can really start to see your home coming together! While final finish work can take some time, our team will guide you through each decision.

7. Finishing Touches, site improvements & Move-In (1 Month and roughly 5% of your budget)

We’re on the home stretch! We’ll complete final details, landscaping, and a thorough walkthrough to make sure everything is just right.

• What happens: Final inspections, punch list, and cleanup.
• You’ll decide: Your move-in date and any final tweaks.

Overall, How Long Does It Take to Build a Custom Home in the Rockies?

Because of Colorado’s mountain weather, access, and permitting, custom homes in Chaffee, Lake and Park County Colorado often take a little longer than flatland builds with move in around 12-15 months. But with open communication and good planning, the process stays exciting and enjoyable.

Building with S&T Construction

We’re local to Buena Vista, deeply rooted in the Arkansas River Valley, and known for our integrity, transparency, and craftsmanship.