TL;DR: Block work is finished on this Carolina Forest custom home, but weekend storms and a backed-up dirt-delivery schedule pushed rough plumbing back a few days. Framing kicks off once lumber drops on September 23, with slab work and county inspection scheduled in between.
Custom home construction in the Grand Strand rarely moves in a straight line, and this week's Carolina Forest build is a good example. Block work wrapped up, which is a real milestone — but a run of heavy weekend storms delayed the dirt delivery crews, which pushed the plumbing subcontractor's start date back as well. None of this is unusual for Horry County builds during the fall rainy season, but it's the kind of detail that often surprises first-time buyers watching a build from the outside. Here's what actually happened on site this week, why the schedule shifted, and what's coming next before framing begins.
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Block Work Wraps Up Despite Storm Delays
The biggest update this week: block is done. Crews worked through the weekend to finish it after storms rolled through the Grand Strand — fast-moving but intense enough to disrupt the dirt delivery schedule for several building sites in the area, not just this one. That domino effect is common in Myrtle Beach and Horry County during storm-heavy stretches, since a handful of dirt and grading crews often serve multiple active builds at once.
Because dirt delivery slipped, plumbing rough-in also moved. The original plan had the plumber starting earlier in the week; instead, that subcontractor is now booked out until the following Monday. It's a short delay — a couple of days here and there — but it illustrates something worth repeating: a custom build's timeline is only partly under the builder's control. Weather, subcontractor availability, and site conditions all interact, and a few days' shift early on can ripple through the following week's schedule.
Labor Day also factored in, since crews didn't work that day, adding one more non-build day to the calendar. None of these delays are structural or budget concerns — they're scheduling friction, which is a normal part of any custom home build in this market.
What's Next: Rough Plumbing, Slab, and the September Lumber Drop
With block complete, the site is entering a run of closely sequenced next steps. Rough plumbing begins Monday, the county building inspection is expected Wednesday, and if that inspection passes, the concrete slab is tentatively planned for Thursday or Friday.
Here's how the next phase is currently sequenced:
| Timing | Milestone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Tuesday | Rough plumbing | Pushed back from earlier in the week after dirt delivery delays |
| Wednesday | County inspection | Must pass before slab work can begin |
| Thursday–Friday | Concrete slab pour | Contingent on a passing inspection |
| September 23 | Lumber drop | Start of framing — the build begins to look like a house |
Next-phase build schedule for this Carolina Forest custom home
Framing brings its own sequence of frame checks and rough trade work, since several trades need to move through the structure in a specific order once walls go up. As with earlier stages, these dates could shift depending on inspection results and weather — but the sequence itself (rough plumbing → inspection → slab → framing) is standard for new construction in Horry County.
What a Custom Home Build in Carolina Forest Looks Like Week to Week
Not every week of a custom home build looks dramatic. Some weeks bring visible milestones — block going up, framing appearing almost overnight. Other weeks are slower, with progress happening underground or in scheduling logistics that aren't visible from the street.
This week also included behind-the-scenes work that's easy to overlook: double- and triple-checking interior measurements before the next phase begins. Getting dimensions confirmed before plumbing and framing start is a routine but important step — it's far easier to catch a measurement issue now than after concrete or framing lock it in.
The practical takeaway for buyers watching a Myrtle Beach or Horry County custom build is to expect this rhythm: bursts of visible progress followed by quieter stretches focused on inspections, measurements, and coordination between trades. A build that looks stalled for a few days is often just waiting on the next scheduled trade.
If you're weighing the timeline for a custom build of your own in Carolina Forest or elsewhere in the Grand Strand, questions about how weather, permitting, and trade scheduling affect a realistic completion date are worth asking early. Reach out and we can walk through what a similar build timeline might look like for your property.
FAQ SECTION
Why do custom home builds get delayed in Myrtle Beach and Horry County?
Weather is one of the most common causes, especially during the fall rainy season when storms can disrupt dirt delivery, grading, and outdoor trade work. Subcontractor scheduling is another factor — many crews serve multiple active builds at once, so a delay on one site can shift availability for others. These delays are typically measured in days, not weeks, and don't usually affect the overall structural timeline.
What happens during the rough plumbing stage of a new build?
Rough plumbing involves installing the pipes and drain lines that will run beneath the slab and through the walls before those areas are covered. It has to happen after block work is complete and before the concrete slab is poured, since the plumbing lines typically run underneath it. County inspection usually follows shortly after rough plumbing is finished.
When does slab work begin after block is finished?
Slab work generally follows rough plumbing and a passing county inspection. On this build, that means plumbing Monday and Tuesday, inspection Wednesday, and a slab pour Thursday or Friday if everything passes. Any delay in plumbing or inspection pushes the slab date back correspondingly.
What should buyers expect once framing starts on a new construction home?
Framing is often the most visually dramatic stage of a build, since walls and structure appear quickly once lumber arrives on site. It also brings a series of frame checks and rough trade work — electrical, HVAC, and plumbing rough-ins that need to happen in a specific sequence before drywall goes up.
How long does it typically take to go from block to framing on a custom home?
The gap between finishing block and starting framing usually spans a few weeks, since rough plumbing, inspections, and the slab pour all need to happen in sequence first. On this build, block finished in early September with lumber scheduled for September 23. Weather and subcontractor availability can extend that window.
