New Construction

What is new construction?

New construction (also called ground-up or new-build construction) is the process of building a structure from an empty or cleared lot including site work, foundation, framing, and full finishing rather than renovating or adding to an existing building. For homeowners, this most often means a custom single-family home built to your design on land you own or purchase.

Why Choose PrimeStone for Your New Home Construction

Building from the ground up is the most complex project a homeowner will ever undertake. Here is what sets our team apart in the Colorado market:

• Structural engineer–owned: Load paths, foundation design, and framing are engineered in-house critical in Colorado, where expansive clay soils demand serious structural attention.
• True design-build delivery: One team, one contract, one point of accountability for design, engineering, permits, and construction.
• Colorado-specific expertise: We build for expansive bentonite soils, high-altitude snow loads, and wildfire-hardening requirements not generic national specs.
• Full permit management: We handle every permit application and inspection with Denver Community Planning & Development (CPD) and each municipality we serve.
• Transparent, itemized pricing: Clear hard-cost and soft-cost breakdowns before the first shovel hits the ground.
• Licensed & insured: Registered and insured to build across the Denver Metro and Front Range.

Our New Construction Services

We deliver complete ground-up residential construction, including:

Custom Homes vs. Production Homes

A custom home is designed specifically for your lot, lifestyle, and budget every layout, finish, and detail is your choice. A production (tract) home relies on repeated floor plans and economies of scale, which lowers cost but removes personalization. PrimeStone specializes in true custom, ground-up builds where design and structure are engineered together.

How Much Does New Home Construction Cost in Colorado?

Building a new custom home in Colorado in 2026 typically costs between $300 and $450+ per square foot for the construction portion alone (excluding land). For a 2,000-square-foot custom home, that translates to roughly $600,000 to $900,000+, with luxury finishes and mountain sites pushing higher. Production-style and simpler builds can start lower, while resort markets like Aspen and Vail are their own high-cost tier.

Your final cost depends on several Colorado-specific factors:

Every PrimeStone project includes a detailed, itemized estimate separating hard costs (materials, labor) from soft costs (design, permits, fees) so there are no surprises.

How Long Does It Take to Build a New Home in Colorado?

A new custom home in Colorado generally takes 6 to 14 months of active construction, but a realistic full-project timeline from first design meeting to move-in runs closer to 12 to 24 months once design, engineering, and permitting are included. Denver-area permitting is a major variable: the city targets roughly a 6-month window for major residential reviews, and mountain jurisdictions with Design Review Boards can take longer.

Here is a realistic phase-by-phase breakdown:

We build a realistic contingency of 10–15% into every schedule to account for weather, permit backlogs, and material lead times the most common causes of Colorado construction delays.

Colorado New Construction: Codes, Permits & Site Considerations

New construction in Colorado is governed by adopted IBC 2021 and IRC 2021 codes with local amendments. Beyond code, several Colorado-specific realities shape every ground-up build:

• Expansive soils: Bentonite clay across the Front Range can heave foundations. A geotechnical (soils) report and an engineered foundation often drilled piers are standard, not optional.
• Permitting authority: In Denver, all permits run through Community Planning & Development (CPD). Each municipality (Aurora, Lakewood, Boulder, etc.) has its own building department and timelines.
• Snow loads: Foothill and mountain sites require engineered snow-load capacity, increasing roof and structural costs.
• Wildfire mitigation: Foothill and mountain lots increasingly require wildfire-hardened roofing, siding, and vents, plus defensible space.
• Utility tap fees & soft costs: Denver-area utility connections, HOA fees, and review fees add meaningful soft cost budget for them early.

As a structural engineer–owned firm, PrimeStone handles the geotechnical coordination, foundation engineering, and code compliance that make Colorado new construction succeed.

Areas We Serve

PrimeStone builds new construction homes throughout the Denver Metro and Front Range, including:

Denver · Aurora · Lakewood · Westminster · Thornton · Broomfield · Boulder · Golden · Breckenridge · Aspen · Vail

Ready to Build Your New Home in Colorado?

Whether you own a lot or are still evaluating land, PrimeStone’s structural engineer–owned team can guide your new construction project from concept to completion.