If you’re planning a steel building project, the timeline question is usually one of the first ones buyers ask, and one of the hardest to get a straight answer on. Some suppliers throw out vague ranges. Others quote a fast production time but leave out the permitting, foundation, and erection phases that add real weeks or months on either side.
At Mason Steel Buildings Corp., transparency runs through every part of the process, including timelines. Here’s a complete, honest breakdown of how long each phase actually takes, what can speed it up, and what can slow it down. Use this to plan your project realistically from the day you request a quote to the day you start using the building.
Phase 1: Quote, Design, and Order (1 to 3 weeks)
The clock starts the day you reach out for a quote. Here’s what happens in this phase:
- Request a quote. You submit your size, location, and intended use through the quote request form or by calling 877 76 STEEL.
- Consultation. A Mason Steel Buildings Consultant walks you through your options, confirms pricing, and answers questions about customization, doors, windows, insulation, and color choices.
- Design refinement. You finalize building dimensions, framed openings, accessory selections, and any modifications. Mason Steel’s in house design and engineering teams build out a quote based on your exact specifications.
- Order placement. Once you approve the quote and submit your deposit, the order moves into engineering.
This phase typically takes 1 to 3 weeks depending on how quickly you finalize your design choices. Buyers who come in with a clear idea of what they need move faster. Buyers exploring options take a little longer, which is fine. Mason Steel is a pre-engineered steel building manufacturer, not a high pressure sales operation, so the design phase moves at your pace.
Phase 2: Engineering and Permit Drawings (2.5 to 3 weeks)
After your order is placed, Mason Steel’s engineering team produces the stamped drawings your county building department needs to approve your permit. According to Mason Steel’s published timeline, permit drawings are typically ready in approximately 2.5 to 3 weeks.
These drawings are not generic templates. Each set is engineered specifically for your zip code, certified to meet your local wind, snow, and seismic load requirements, and stamped by a licensed engineer for your state. Mason Steel coordinates directly with your designated county building department to support the permitting process.
What can stretch this phase: complex customizations, unusual site conditions, jurisdictions with longer review queues, or counties that require additional documentation beyond the standard stamped drawings.
Phase 3: Permit Approval and Foundation (Varies by Jurisdiction)
This is the phase that’s hardest to predict because it’s not in Mason Steel’s control. Permit timelines depend entirely on your local building department.
- Permit submission. Once your stamped drawings are ready, your local contractor or you submit them to the county.
- Permit review. Approval can take anywhere from a few days in fast moving rural counties to 4 to 8 weeks or more in busy metropolitan jurisdictions.
- Foundation work. While you’re waiting for permits or right after they’re approved, your local concrete contractor pours the foundation. Mason Steel recommends a concrete slab with perimeter footings. A 30×40 slab might cost $6,000 to $10,800 depending on soil, thickness, and site prep, and pour to cure typically takes 2 to 4 weeks.
- Anchor bolts. Mason Steel provides the anchor bolt plans and size requirements. Your concrete contractor supplies and sets the bolts during the foundation pour, allowing time to cure before the building ships.
Plan for 4 to 10 weeks total for this phase, though it varies widely. The smartest way to compress your timeline is to start the permitting process as soon as you have your stamped drawings, so this phase runs in parallel with Mason Steel’s production.
Phase 4: Production and Shipping (6 to 16 weeks)
Once your order is in production, Mason Steel fabricates your kit at the appropriate factory and ships it from the nearest of 20 factory and distribution hubs nationwide.
- Production. Typically takes 6 to 16 weeks depending on building complexity and time of year.
- Peak season. May through September is peak building season and typically has the longest lead times. Order in winter or early spring to avoid the queue.
- Shipping. Free with every Mason Steel kit. Your building ships directly to your property from the nearest factory.
The biggest variable here is timing your order. A buyer who orders in January for a summer build will move through production faster than someone placing the same order in May.
Phase 5: Erection (1 to 8 weeks)
Once the kit arrives, the building goes up. Mason Steel does not provide in house erection, but every kit includes detailed assembly instructions, and Mason Steel can recommend experienced local contractors familiar with steel building assembly.
- DIY assembly. A large portion of Mason Steel customers erect smaller buildings themselves, especially garages, workshops, and agricultural structures up to roughly 40×60. Expect 2 to 4 weeks for a typical DIY build with a small crew.
- Professional erection. Larger or more complex structures benefit from a professional crew. Most professional erection takes 1 to 4 weeks for buildings up to 5,000 square feet, and 4 to 8 weeks for larger commercial or industrial structures.
- Equipment. Smaller buildings typically need basic tools like drills, wrenches, a scissor lift, and a bobcat. Larger components may require a crane or forklift.
Phase 6: Finish Work (Project Specific)
If you’re using the building as a shell, like a garage or storage facility, you might be done. If you’re finishing the interior for residential, commercial, or barndominium use, plan for additional time:
- Insulation. 1 to 2 weeks
- Electrical, plumbing, HVAC. 2 to 6 weeks depending on complexity
- Drywall, flooring, finishes. 4 to 12 weeks for full residential finish
For a barndominium or full residential build, the finish phase can take longer than the building shell itself.
Total Timeline at a Glance
For a typical Mason Steel building project, here’s what to expect from start to finish:
- Quote, design, and order: 1 to 3 weeks
- Engineering and permit drawings: 2.5 to 3 weeks
- Permit approval and foundation: 4 to 10 weeks (often runs parallel with production)
- Production and shipping: 6 to 16 weeks
- Erection: 1 to 8 weeks
- Finish work (optional): Varies by scope
Realistic shell to shell timeline: 4 to 8 months from your initial quote request to a finished, locked up building, depending on size, complexity, season, and how fast your local jurisdiction moves on permits.
That’s significantly faster than traditional stick built construction, which can take 9 to 18 months for a comparable structure. Pre engineered steel cuts months off the schedule by shifting design and fabrication into the factory, where conditions are controlled and timelines are predictable.
How to Speed Up Your Project
A few moves that consistently shorten the total timeline:
- Order in the off season. Winter and early spring orders move through production faster than peak season orders.
- Start permits early. Submit your stamped drawings to the county the moment they’re ready, not after your foundation is poured.
- Pour the foundation while production runs. These two phases should overlap, not happen in sequence.
- Have your erection crew lined up. Whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring local pros, have the team scheduled before the kit arrives so you’re not waiting on labor.
Get a Real Timeline for Your Project
Every project is different, and the only way to get an accurate timeline for your specific build is to start the conversation. Mason Steel has shipped thousands of buildings across all 50 states, and every kit comes with the 60 year structural warranty, free shipping, and stamped engineering ready for your local building department.
Ready to get started? Request a free quote and a Mason Steel Buildings Consultant will walk you through realistic timelines for your size, location, and project type.
Phone: 877 76 STEEL (877 767 8335)
