"How long will this take?" is one of the first questions we hear from Sunbury and Delaware County homeowners — usually right after "how much?" The honest answer: the build itself is fast, often just 1–2 weeks. It's everything before the first board goes down — design, permitting, and material lead time — that sets your real start date. Here's the full timeline so you can plan around it.
The timeline, stage by stage
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Design & written estimate | About 1 week |
| Delaware County permit + HOA review | 2–4 weeks (HOA can be longer) |
| Material ordering & delivery | 1–3 weeks (color/brand dependent) |
| Construction | 3 days – 2+ weeks |
These stages overlap — we order materials while a permit is in review, for example — so a typical project runs roughly 4–8 weeks from first call to finished deck. Bigger or more custom builds take longer.
Why design comes first
Before anything else we nail down the size, shape, material, and how you actually want to use the space. That drives the drawings the county needs, the exact material list, and the price. Choosing between composite and wood — or among Trex, TimberTech, and Azek — happens here, because some colors and lines have longer lead times than others.
Permits and HOA review: the part people underestimate
A new deck in Delaware County requires a building permit, and most newer Sunbury, Galena, and Powell neighborhoods also require HOA architectural-review approval before work can start. County plan review usually takes a couple of weeks; HOA committees sometimes meet only once a month. We prepare and submit the paperwork for you, but the review clock isn't ours to set — which is exactly why we start it early. Our Delaware County deck permit guide walks through the whole process.
The build itself
Once permits are approved and materials arrive, construction moves quickly: footings, frame, decking, railings, and stairs. A simple rectangular deck can be done in a few days; a multi-level deck, a covered porch, or a combined deck-and-patio outdoor living space takes longer. We pour footings to frost depth and inspect as we go, so the schedule reflects a deck built to last — not a rushed one.
Want an earlier start? Book in the off-season
Spring and early summer are the busiest stretch, so lead times are longest then. Booking in late fall or winter usually means a shorter wait and an earlier spring build — more on the trade-offs in our best time to build a deck in Ohio guide.
Planning a deck in Sunbury or Delaware County? The sooner we start the design and permit, the sooner you're enjoying the deck. Request a free design estimate — or see typical pricing in our Sunbury deck cost guide.