At Bon Ton Builders, every home we build is one of a kind. From the foundation to the final brushstroke, your home is crafted with precision, attention to detail, and pride. Unlike large-volume builders who repeat the same plans and finishes hundreds of times a year, we focus on creating custom homes. Homes designed around your lifestyle, your family, and your vision.
Because of that commitment to quality and individuality, our process takes time. The average Bon Ton home takes roughly 200 working days, about 9 to 10 months, to build once your building permit is issued. Each day represents real people, skilled trades, and layers of craftsmanship coming together to bring your dream home to life.
This guide is meant to help you understand that process: what happens, why it takes time, and what you can expect as we move from permit to finished home.
Why Our Homes Take Time
(and Why That's a Good Thing)
Good things are never rushed. A Bon Ton home isn’t a production-line build.
Each project moves through hundreds of custom steps, many of which require coordination between our design team, engineers, foremen, and a network of skilled craftspeople. Materials are ordered to your specifications, cabinetry is built to fit your plan, and finishes are chosen to reflect your style, not someone else’s template.
Every foundation we pour, wall we frame, and fixture we install is done by professionals who take pride in their work. That care takes longer, but it’s also what gives your home its quality, its durability, and its value for generations to come.
Below is a broad outline of what happens after your building permit is issued. Actual timelines can vary depending on weather, trade availability, and customization level, but this gives you an honest picture of the flow and pace of construction.
| Phase | Description | Estimated Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Site Preparation & Foundation | The lot is excavated, footers and foundation walls are poured or blocked, waterproofing and drainage are installed, and backfilling occurs once inspections are approved. | 3–4 weeks |
| 2. Framing & Shell Construction | The home’s skeleton comes to life: walls, floors, trusses, and roof sheathing are assembled. Windows, doors, and roofing follow. | 4–6 weeks |
| 3. Mechanical Rough-Ins | Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems are installed inside the framed structure. This is one of the most complex coordination stages. | 3–4 weeks |
| 4. Insulation & Drywall | After inspections, insulation is installed and drywall is hung, taped, and finished. The home starts to look like a real interior space. | 3 weeks |
| 5. Interior Finishes | Trim, cabinets, tile, flooring, and hardware are installed. Painters, finish carpenters, and detail crews work simultaneously to bring the design to life. | 6–8 weeks |
| 6. Exterior Finishes & Utilities | Siding, stone, gutters, porches, and decks are completed. Final connections for electric, gas, water, and septic/sewer occur. | 3–4 weeks |
| 7. Final Details & Quality Checks | Fixtures, appliances, and mirrors are installed. The home is cleaned, touched up, and inspected for quality control. | 2–3 weeks |
| 8. Homeowner Walkthrough & Settlement | Together we complete a detailed walkthrough, create a punch list, and prepare for your final closing. | 1 week |
Total Construction Duration: Approximately 200 working days (40–45 weeks) from the date of permit issuance.
Your Home, Your Pace, Our Promise
Throughout the building process, you’ll see the rhythm of progress: busy days of visible transformation followed by quieter weeks where behind-the-scenes work happens. Engineering checks, material lead times, or inspection coordination. These pauses are not delays. They’re part of what ensures that every detail of your home meets our standards and yours.
We encourage homeowners to remember that a custom home is a journey, not a race. Chain builders may deliver houses in half the time, but they’re delivering the same house to everyone. You chose Bon Ton Builders because you wanted something different, something built with care, not speed.
How You Can Help the Process
- Stay Engaged, Not Anxious: We’ll communicate major milestones and updates. Trust that progress is always happening, even when you can’t see it.
- Selections and Approvals: Making timely choices for finishes and colors helps us stay on track.
- Patience During Inspections or Weather Delays: These pauses ensure compliance, safety, and long-term performance.
- Ask Questions: We’re here to help. No question is too small, and no concern will go unheard.
When you walk through the front door of your finished home (the lights on, the paint gleaming, the floors polished), you’ll understand why we take the time we do. Every detail will reflect not just your taste, but the dedication of every person who helped build it.
Bon Ton Builders doesn’t just build houses. We build homes worth waiting for. Homes that stand out because they’re built right, not rushed. And when that final day arrives, you won’t remember the waiting. You’ll remember the feeling of stepping into your dream, made real.
- adminexec@bontonbuilders.com
- 717-637-4136
- "We don't just build houses — we craft the dream you call home."