02 October . 2026
New Home Construction 101: Warranties, Timelines And What First-Time Buyers Should Know
Most new homes in Texas come with a builder's limited warranty, and the most common setup is called 1-2-10: one year on workmanship and materials, two years on major systems, 10 years on structural parts. Building a home from the ground up takes about six to nine months on average. The fine print changes from builder to builder, so it pays to read it closely.
That last point matters here. Each builder at Elyson runs its own warranty program, and there isn't a community-wide warranty layered on top. So the right way to compare homes is to compare the builders' warranty documents too, not just the floor plans.
What a new home warranty covers
Here's how the 1-2-10 structure usually breaks down, using Brookfield Residential's new home warranty guide as a reference point. (Brookfield is one of the builders at Elyson, but other builders' terms will differ.)
- Year one covers workmanship and materials: drywall, paint, trim, cabinets, doors, flooring and roof leaks caused by installation errors. Brookfield schedules a service review near the end of that first year.
- The systems tier covers the electrical, plumbing and HVAC equipment in your home, as it relates to installation and how those systems work.
- The 10-year tier covers structural parts: load-bearing walls, framing, foundation elements and the major load-bearing parts of the roof.
What's usually not covered: normal wear and tear, damage from accidents, landscaping, cosmetic damage after move-in, and appliances that carry their own manufacturer warranty. A warranty also doesn't replace routine upkeep. You'll still change the HVAC filters and touch up the caulk.
When something does come up, the process is simple. Take photos, note the date, and submit a request through the builder's online portal or customer care team. Urgent problems (think no AC in August) typically get faster attention than cosmetic ones.
Texas doesn't require a warranty. Builders offer one anyway.
Texas law stopped requiring builder warranties when the Texas Residential Construction Commission Act expired on September 1, 2009. Most builders still include a written limited warranty in the purchase contract. That written warranty generally takes the place of the broader "good workmanship" standard Texas law would otherwise apply, which is one more reason to read it before you sign.
If a serious defect ever turns into a dispute, Texas's Residential Construction Liability Act requires homeowners to send the builder written notice at least 60 days before filing a lawsuit, which gives the builder a chance to inspect and offer a repair. Most warranty requests never get anywhere close to that point, but it's good to know the process exists. (For anything contract-specific, a real estate attorney is the right person to ask.)
How long does it take to build a house?
About 8.8 months from permit to completion, on average, according to the National Association of Home Builders' analysis of 2025 Census data. That's a national figure. Your builder's schedule for your specific home is the one to plan around.
A build usually moves through these stages:
- Signing the contract and choosing a lot and floor plan
- Making selections at the builder's design center (flooring, cabinets, fixtures)
- Permits and site prep
- Foundation and framing
- A pre-drywall walkthrough, when you can see the wiring, plumbing and insulation before the walls close up
- Interior and exterior finishes
- A final walkthrough, where you and the builder note anything that needs fixing before closing
- Closing and move-in
Weather, permitting and material availability can all shift the timeline. If you need to be moved in by a firm date, like when a lease ends or before a new school year starts, a quick move-in home takes most of the guesswork out. Those homes are already under construction or finished, and they come with the same builder warranty as a home built from scratch. Ask your builder when coverage begins, since it's often tied to your closing date.
Questions to ask every builder
Bring these to each model home you tour, and ask for a copy of the warranty document to take home:
- Does the builder handle the 10-year structural coverage directly, or does a third-party warranty company?
- When does coverage start: at closing, or at another date?
- How do I submit a warranty request, and how quickly do urgent issues get a response?
- Is there a scheduled review before the first year ends?
- Can I bring my own inspector to the pre-drywall and final walkthroughs?
- Which appliances and equipment fall under manufacturer warranties instead of the builder's?
Our take
"The Brookfield warranty process was simple and stress-free. It gave us confidence that our home was built with quality and care. Brookfield's responsiveness and support exceeded our expectations."
For a first-time buyer, the warranty is easy to skim past. It's a stack of pages that arrives while you're busy picking countertops. We'd suggest flipping that order: read each builder's warranty early, while you're still deciding between builders, and bring an independent inspector to the pre-drywall and final walkthroughs even though the home is brand new. Before the walls close is the easiest time to fix almost anything.
With a long list of homebuilders at Elyson, you have plenty of warranties to compare side by side. Tour the model homes, grab those warranty documents, and stop by the Welcome Center with your questions. We're happy to point you to the right builder.