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
Where these timings come from
These are planning ranges, not a promise. They reflect ABS build-time data (detached-house completion times have stayed elevated since the 2022 cost spike) and HIA industry reporting, cross-checked against what Adelaide and Melbourne builders are quoting in 2026. What actually binds your builder is the building period written into your contract and the extensions it allows, so verify against your own fixed-price contract rather than a brochure. Sources: ABS Building Activity and HIA. Last verified June 2026.