How a 4,700 sfhome gets built
Two stories, from bare dirt to the certificate of occupancy. Every step drawn as the house rises — blue is done, amber is the work happening now.
The build, step by step
Nine stages, in order. Each one passes inspection before the next begins. Percentages are share of total construction cost.
Design & permits
Architectural plans, structural engineering, permit submittal and code review — including Florida’s wind-load requirements. Nothing breaks ground until this is stamped and approved.
Site prep
Clearing, grading, compaction and layout. Crews stake out the exact footprint of the house on the lot and set it to the required elevation.
Foundation — slab
A monolithic or elevated slab is poured — standard in Florida for drainage and flood zones. Plumbing that runs under the concrete goes in now; get it wrong and you’re jackhammering the slab later.
Framing — both floors
Concrete block (CMU) or wood framing for the first floor, the floor deck, the second floor and the roof trusses. This is where the house takes its full shape and volume.
Dry-in
Roofing, house wrap and impact windows go on. The building becomes weather-tight — a major milestone. From here, rain no longer stops the interior work.
Rough-in (MEP)
Plumbing, electrical and HVAC runs get installed inside the walls and floor deck. Everything is inspected before a single wall gets closed up.
Insulation & drywall
Thermal insulation fills the walls, then drywall is hung and finished. For the first time the empty shell reads as actual rooms.
Interior finishes
Cabinets, countertops, flooring, paint, trim, stairs and fixtures. The most expensive stage — and the one that most defines the home’s final value.
Exterior & final
Stucco or exterior paint, driveway, landscaping, then the final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy. Keys in hand.
Where every dollar goes
Typical share of construction cost by category. The two amber bars are the heaviest hitters.
The big number · 4,700 sf
Construction only, land not included. In Florida a two-story custom home usually lands in the mid-to-upper range. South Florida coastal counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach) run much higher on hurricane code.
Rule of thumb: add a 10–20% contingency on top of the base budget. In 2026, change orders and material price swings are the norm, not the exception.
What’s different in Florida
The state code is among the strictest in the country. It raises the base cost, but the house survives storms and lowers insurance over time.
Concrete block (CMU)
Common for the first floor for wind and moisture resistance, versus all-wood framing.
Impact windows
Required or near-required depending on the county. Adds to dry-in cost but it’s a hurricane-code demand.
Elevated slab / flood elevation
The foundation is raised to the flood zone requirement — it drives both site prep and foundation from day one.
2026 price pressure
Inputs up ~5% year-over-year; steel and aluminum pushed by tariffs, plus a tight labor pool. All of it lifts the floor of the budget.
Sources: HomeGuide, iBuyer, Seanote Construction, HCD Group, Pure Equity / NAHB (Florida 2026 data).
Real ranges vary by county, lot, design complexity and finish level.