The realistic stage-by-stage timeline
- Contract to site start: 6 – 14 weeks (finance approval, council, colour selections)
- Slab: 2 – 4 weeks
- Frame: 4 – 8 weeks
- Lock-up: 6 – 10 weeks
- Fixing: 8 – 12 weeks
- Practical completion + handover: 4 – 8 weeks
What makes it drag
- Bad weather at slab or frame stage
- Colour and finishes decisions taking 2+ months
- Variations mid-build (each adds ~2 – 4 weeks)
- Council or utility connection delays
- Builder running too many concurrent jobs