--- title: How Long Do Custom Built-Ins Take? Jacksonville Timeline canonical: "https://kleincarpentryjax.com/how-long-does-a-built-in-project-take-from-start-to-finish/" description: "How long do custom built-ins take? In Jacksonville, plan on 4 to 7 weeks: 2 to 4 weeks in our shop and 1 to 3 days of install. See what changes it." --- # How Long Does a Built-In Project Take from Start to Finish? 1. [Custom Built-Ins](/services/cabinet-maker/custom-built-ins/) 2. › 3. How Long Does a Built-In Project Take? How long do custom built-ins take? For shop-built pieces, plan on four to seven weeks from approved drawing to finished install: two to four weeks of building in our shop, then one to three days in your home. This page expands on the FAQ from our page on [custom built-ins in Jacksonville, FL](/services/cabinet-maker/custom-built-ins/), and walks through where those weeks actually go. **Quick answer:** Most of the calendar is shop time, not time in your house. A typical built-in wall moves through a measuring visit, a drawing and written quote, two to four weeks of shop build, and a one to three day install. Glass doors, specialty hardware, and design changes after approval are what usually add time. ## The Built-In Timeline, Week by Week Stage Typical time What happens Are we in your home? Measure and consult One visit We measure the opening at floor, mid height, and ceiling, check the floor for level, and talk through what the unit has to hold Yes, about an hour or two Drawing and written quote About 1 week You get a drawing and a price; complex projects get a 3D rendering No Revisions and approval Days to 2 weeks Door style, finish, lighting, and layout are settled No Materials and shop build 2 to 4 weeks Plywood cases, face frames, doors, and drawers are built and finished No Installation 1 to 3 days Cases set and leveled, scribed to the walls, doors and drawers hung, then trim and shelves Yes Final adjustments Same day as install Door reveals and drawer fronts tuned, walkthrough with you Yes **Total** **About 4 to 7 weeks** from approved design **Usually 1 to 3 days on site** ## What Changes the Timeline Factor Typical effect How to keep it moving Glass doors Adds lead time for cut glass Choose glass early in the design Specialty hardware (inset hinges, pulls, push latches) Can add 1 to 3 weeks for ordering Pick hardware before approval Integrated lighting Needs an electrician to run wiring before the case goes in Plan LED locations in the drawing Stain grade vs. paint grade Stain grade may take longer to source and finish Decide on finish during design Inset doors Tighter tolerances take more shop time Allow the extra week if you want the look Crooked walls in an older home More scribe work at install Nothing to do: we measure for it up front Changes after shop build starts Can add 1 to 3 weeks Finalize in the drawing phase Wall length A 20 foot wall takes longer than an 8 foot nook Phase large rooms if timing is tight ## Why Most of the Time Is Spent in the Shop Built-ins are cabinets, and cabinets that last in Northeast Florida take care to build. We build cases from plywood instead of particleboard, use poplar or maple for painted frames and doors, and spray a conversion varnish or waterborne coating instead of brushing on wall paint. Sprayed finishes need time to cure before the pieces are wrapped and moved. Rushing that step is how finishes scuff on install day. Shop building also protects your house. Cutting, sanding, and spraying happen in our shop, so the days a crew is in your living room are spent setting, scribing, and trimming. Depending on the project, some pieces are built on site instead, which we explain on our page about whether we build on site or in the shop. ## What the One to Three Install Days Look Like **Day one:** We protect the floors, set the base cases on a shimmed, level sub-base, and fasten them to the wall. On a sloped floor, that level base is what keeps doors aligned later. **Day two:** Upper cases and towers go in. Oversized scribe stiles are cut to the wall, and a top filler is scribed to the ceiling so there are no gaps. Doors and drawers are hung. **Day three (larger walls):** Crown, base, and trim are tied into the room, shelves go in, and doors are adjusted so the reveals are even. Smaller units like a single bookcase or a drop zone are often done in one day. ## How Jacksonville's Climate Fits Into the Schedule Interior humidity here swings hard between a closed-up August and a dry January, and [wood moves with it](https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/62200). The EPA recommends keeping indoor relative humidity [below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent](https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home). Jacksonville's outdoor air averages about [89 percent relative humidity in the morning](https://currentresults.com/Weather/Florida/humidity-annual.php). That is why we install into conditioned space. In a new build, we schedule install after the HVAC is running and the drywall has dried. A house still drying out can move fresh cabinetry, and a week of patience prevents a year of sticking doors. ## Timeline Tips for Common Situations - **Moving into a new build in Nocatee, Bartram Park, or St. Johns:** Book the measure soon after closing. Square new walls mean less scribe work, and flex rooms and drop zones can be ready in about a month and a half. - **Hosting for the holidays:** Count back seven weeks from the date you need the room, plus time for decisions. - **Older home in Riverside, Avondale, or San Marco:** The timeline is about the same, but plan for a full install day of scribing. See our guide to built-ins in older homes with crooked walls. - **Built-ins plus trim in the same room:** One reviewer's whole-room trim renovation took "about two months" from bid to final nail. Combining scopes takes longer, but the room gets finished once. For timelines on trim, ceilings, and other carpentry, see the usual duration of a carpentry project. ## Why Choose Klein Carpentry for Your Built-Ins Timeline ### A drawing and a date before you commit Every built-in project starts with a measure, a drawing, and a written quote, plus a 3D rendering when the project is complex. You know what you are getting and roughly when, before the shop starts building. Decisions about glass, hardware, and lighting get made on paper, which is where they cost the least time. That front-loaded planning is why our installs run one to three days instead of dragging on. ### Built to finish on time Reviewers mention it directly. Laureen R. wrote that Ray and Nathan "went above and beyond to ensure that my built-ins were completed on time," and Sam S. said the work was "completed on time and within budget" on a 20 foot built-in shelving unit with crown molding. We hold a 4.8-star rating from 51 Google reviews from Jacksonville homeowners. ### Short time in your home Because cases, doors, and drawers are built and finished in our shop, the dusty part of the job happens away from your living room. Install days are spent setting, scribing, and trimming, and we clean up as we go. One reviewer noted Ray kept "the working area tidy at all times." ## What Jacksonville Homeowners Say 4.8from [51 Google reviews](https://maps.google.com/?cid=7803379908473648836&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA) - > I reached out to get an estimate on building a wet bar to put in the mudroom of our home. Ray sent me a work up and it looked great, so we moved forward. Their craftsmanship is flawless, and they truly went above and beyond to ensure we were happy with the work. Would highly recommend if you’re looking at home projects [Josh G](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/104561311377366249758/reviews) · a year ago on Google - > Absolutely recommend! 5 Star experience all around. Pricing was extremely reasonable and fair and the results of the work was spectacular. I had a window frame and siding that needed to be replaced due to water damage. The end result was nothing short of excellent. I will be definitely be using them again going forward and will be letting others know to use them as well. [Gregory Brown](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/117935910804887413935/reviews) · a year ago on Google - > If I could give Klein Carpentry 10 Stars I would. Ray and Nathan are First Class Carpenters and throughout the whole process their attention to detail was beyond our expectations. We had Shiplap installed in our Cafe/Dining Room and Board&Batten throughout the Foyer. Through the start of installation the communication, cleanliness and putting up a plastic wall to exhaust the dust outside was a Plus because going through renovations can be stressful but they made it perfect. We are so impressed that they are coming back to do built-ins on each side of the fireplace. ⭐️⭐️Update Second Review⭐️⭐️ Ray and Nathan has exceeded our expectations again. Just Wow!!! They designed our 10 ft Built Ins here in Marshes of Maderia by Master Craft Homes. We absolutely love the Reeded Door and Drawer Panel design with Lights looks so Sophisticated and Timeless . Now our New Home looks complete ❤️ [Stacy Johnson](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/116242983541495512466/reviews) · a year ago on Google Reviews from Google ## Get Your Built-In Timeline Call **[(904) 759-4988](tel:+19047594988)** and we will look at the wall, take measurements, and give you a drawing, a number, and a schedule. Or request a no cost built-in quote online. **Klein Carpentry** · 12466 Blueberry Woods Cir E, Jacksonville, FL 32258 · (904) 759-4988 · Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ### More Custom Built-In Questions - Should I use MDF or plywood cases in Florida? - Do you build the cabinets on site or in a shop? - Will built-ins work in an older Jacksonville home with crooked walls? - Can you match my existing trim and cabinets? Get A No Cost Quote Today