Our Custom Home Building and Renovation Process

From the first site visit to the final walkthrough: how a Mighton project runs, what it costs, how long it takes, and what we need from you at every stage.

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Our custom home building process runs from a first meeting at your property through permits, open-book construction and a careful handover. We have refined it over more than 30 years of building in Wasaga Beach, Collingwood and across South Georgian Bay, and the same stages apply whether you are building a custom home, a waterfront cottage, an addition or renovating the home you already own.

Below you will find each stage in order, what happens in it, what we ask of you, and realistic timelines and costs for our area. If you only want the short version, jump to the process at a glance, the timeline table or the pricing section.

The Custom Home Building Process at a Glance

Discovery & Site Visit

We meet at your property, assess the site, and align on how you want to live, a realistic budget, and a timeline.

Concept & Design

With your architect or one of our design partners, we shape a concept that fits both the vision and the budget.

Specifications & Open-Book Budget

Finishes and systems are locked in, so the home is fully defined and priced before construction starts.

Permits & Approvals

Building permit, conservation authority, septic and site plan approvals are prepared and managed for you.

Construction

Our crew builds from foundation to finishes, with Jeff and Adam on site and regular progress updates.

Handover & Support

A thorough walkthrough, a punch list completed, a full accounting, and support after you move in.

How we build a custom home, step by step

This is the full process for a new custom home or cottage. Renovations and additions follow the same logic with an assessment of the existing building at the start; they are covered further down this page.

1. Discovery and site visit

Every project starts with a conversation at the property. We walk the lot, look at access, grade, trees, services and shoreline, and talk through how you want to live in the home: how many people, what matters most, what you have seen and liked. We also have the money conversation early, because a realistic budget shapes every design decision that follows.

What you bring: your wish list, any inspiration images, your lot (or the lot you are considering) and a rough budget range. If you are still choosing land, talk to us before you buy: access, septic, well, setbacks and conservation limits can change what a lot is worth to you.

2. Concept and design

We shape a concept that fits both your vision and your budget, working with your architect or one of our trusted local architects and designers. If you already have drawings, we build from them. If you do not, we coordinate the design through to construction, which is why the role of the architect is worth understanding before you start.

Detailed design and pre-construction planning are a paid service. That is deliberate: it lets us put real numbers against real drawings, so the budget you commit to is not a guess.

3. Specifications and the open-book budget

Before anything is built, we refine every detail, select finishes and systems, and lock the specifications so the home is fully defined and priced. We then finalize an open-book, cost-plus budget: you pay the actual cost of materials, labour and subcontractors plus a transparent management fee, and you see every invoice.

This is also the stage to line up financing. Lenders want drawings, a detailed budget and a credible builder, and our custom home financing guide explains how construction (progress-draw) mortgages work so your draw schedule matches the build.

4. Permits and approvals

We secure the building permit and coordinate engineers. On waterfront and rural properties in South Georgian Bay, a municipal permit is often only the start: conservation authority approval (Nottawasaga Valley or Grey Sauble), a site plan, setback review and septic approval may all apply. We identify which ones your lot needs at the discovery stage and manage them in parallel, so the schedule does not stall waiting on a single agency.

Requirements differ by municipality. See how it works where you are building: Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Blue Mountain, Clearview Township, Tiny Township and Springwater.

5. Construction and project management

Our in-house crew manages every phase from foundation to finishes. We schedule and coordinate the trades, book inspections, solve problems as they come up and keep you informed through regular progress updates and site meetings. Jeff and Adam are personally on site, because we limit how many projects we take on at one time. You can read about the people behind Mighton Construction on our about page.

Foundation choices matter here. If you are weighing conventional framing against insulated concrete forms, see our ICF construction service, and for the detail of how a build is sequenced, our custom home project workflow guide walks through each phase.

6. Handover and ongoing support

At completion we do final inspections, walk the home with you, and work through a deficiency (punch) list until every detail is right. You receive warranty documentation and a complete accounting of the project costs, and we stay available after move-in to stand behind our work.

Ask about new home warranty early. New homes built by a registered builder in Ontario carry statutory warranty coverage administered by Tarion, and enrolment obligations differ between a home built for sale and one contracted on land you already own. Raise it in your first meeting so there are no surprises at handover.

How long each type of project takes

These are the timelines we plan around in South Georgian Bay. Seasonal conditions matter: our building season is shorter than in the south of Ontario, so the start date can move the finish date. For a deeper breakdown, read how long it takes to build a custom home or our guide to construction timeline essentials.

Project	Typical timeline	Before construction
Custom home	10–14 months of construction	3–6 months of design and permitting
Single-storey addition	4–6 months	Permitting typically adds 4–8 weeks
Second-storey or larger addition	6–10 months	Permitting typically adds 4–8 weeks
Whole-home renovation	6–12 months, longer with structural changes	Detailed schedule provided before work begins
Kitchen renovation	About 10 working days on site; roughly two weeks without a functional kitchen	Standard cabinet lines take 4–6 weeks to arrive; custom cabinetry takes longer

How pricing works through the process

We work on an open-book, cost-plus basis. You pay the actual cost of materials, labour and subcontractors plus a clearly defined management fee, and every invoice is shared with you. Because we do not profit from the gap between what a trade charges and what you are billed, our interests stay aligned with yours. The general contracting page explains the model in more detail.

As 2026 planning ranges, custom homes start around $400 per square foot and most land between $400 and $700+ per square foot, additions typically run $350–$650+ per square foot, and whole-home renovations range from roughly $150,000 to $750,000+. Final numbers depend on site work, foundation type, architectural complexity and finishes, and a detailed budget is set before construction begins. Land, servicing and soft costs sit on top; see soft costs in Ontario home building and our guide to the cost to build a custom home in Ontario.

To get a number before you call, try the custom home cost calculator, the home addition cost calculator or the renovation cost calculator. They use the same ranges we use in real budgets.

How the process differs for renovations and additions

Working on an existing home starts with an assessment instead of a blank lot. We evaluate the structure, foundation, mechanical systems, insulation and building envelope to identify what to replace, upgrade or preserve, and for additions we review zoning setbacks, lot coverage limits and septic capacity before any design is drawn.

Additions and garages

On-site assessment of structure, foundation, mechanicals, zoning and septic
Design and engineering that integrates with the existing home
Permits, conservation approvals and any site plan or committee of adjustment process
Construction that protects your existing living space
Integration and completion, matching rooflines, siding and interior finishes

Home additions and garage builds, detached garage builder

Whole-home renovations

Comprehensive assessment of structure, systems and envelope
Design and scope development with a detailed budget
Permitting and coordination with engineers and inspectors
Selective demolition, including safe handling of materials such as asbestos or lead paint if present
Rebuild and finishing, with every trade coordinated by our team

Whole-home renovations, home renovations

For single-room projects the sequence is shorter but follows the same discipline: scope, budget, ordering long-lead materials, permits where required, demolition, build and a final walkthrough. See how it works for kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations and basement renovations, and read our homeowner's guide to preparing for a major renovation and Wasaga Beach renovation guide.

What we ask of you, and how to check any builder

A smooth project is a shared effort. The most useful things you can do are decide early, review the budget and invoices as they arrive, and make selections on the schedule we agree rather than at the last minute, because a late selection is the most common cause of avoidable delay. Our remodeling project manager guide explains who does what on a project, and the owner-builder checklist is useful if you are weighing managing a build yourself.

Whoever you hire, verify them. In Ontario a residential builder needs an HCRA licence and, for new homes, Tarion registration, and you can confirm both in minutes. We cover exactly what to check, and the questions worth asking, in how to choose a builder for your custom home. Our work has also been recognized locally: we were named the 2026 Custom Home Builder of the Year by the South Georgian Bay Building Association.

Where we use this process

We are based in Wasaga Beach and build throughout South Georgian Bay. The same process applies in each community, adjusted for local permitting and site conditions:

See the finished results in our project portfolio, or browse all service areas.

Questions about our building process

What is the process for building a custom home in Ontario?

A custom home moves through six stages: a discovery meeting and site visit, concept and design, specifications and a detailed open-book budget, permits and approvals, construction, and handover. In South Georgian Bay, waterfront and rural lots often add conservation authority and septic approvals, so those are identified at the start rather than discovered halfway through.

How long does it take to build a custom home in South Georgian Bay?

Most of our custom homes take 10–14 months from breaking ground, depending on size, complexity and time of year. Design and permitting typically add 3–6 months before construction begins. Our region has a shorter building season, so when you start matters as much as how big the home is.

How does Mighton price a project?

We build on an open-book, cost-plus basis: you pay the actual cost of materials, labour and subcontractors, plus a transparent management fee, and you see every invoice. As a 2026 planning range, custom homes start around $400 per square foot and most land between $400 and $700+ per square foot depending on finishes, site conditions and complexity. Additions typically run $350–$650+ per square foot.

Do I need an architect before I contact you?

No. We are glad to build from completed drawings you already have, or to connect you with one of our trusted local architects and designers and coordinate the design through to construction. Detailed design and pre-construction planning are handled as a paid service, which is what allows us to give you an accurate budget before you commit to building.

Who handles permits and conservation authority approvals?

We do. We prepare and submit the building permit application, coordinate with engineers, and manage conservation authority submissions (Nottawasaga Valley or Grey Sauble, depending on the property), site plan and setback reviews, and septic approvals. Municipal timelines vary; for additions, permitting typically adds 4–8 weeks.

How involved will I be during construction?

As involved as you want to be. You receive regular progress updates and site meetings, you see every invoice because the pricing is open-book, and you make the finish and layout decisions that were scheduled in advance so they never hold up the crew. Jeff and Adam are personally on site, because we limit how many projects we take on at one time.

Can I stay in my home during an addition or renovation?

For most additions, yes: we isolate the construction area from your living space. For a whole-home renovation, where mechanical systems are replaced and walls are opened, we recommend temporary relocation because living on site is impractical and can slow the project. For a kitchen, plan on roughly two weeks without a functional kitchen when using standard cabinet lines.

What happens at the end of a project?

We complete final inspections, walk the home with you, work through a deficiency (punch) list, provide warranty documentation, and give you a complete accounting of the project costs. We also stay available after move-in to stand behind our work. If you are building a new home, ask early how Ontario new home warranty coverage applies, because it differs between a home built for sale and one contracted on land you already own.

How is the renovation process different from building a new home?

The stages are the same, but renovations start with an assessment of what already exists (structure, mechanical systems, insulation and envelope) and often involve selective demolition before rebuilding. Timelines are shorter: whole-home renovations typically take 6–12 months, and single-storey additions 4–6 months, compared with 10–14 months of construction for a custom home.

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