Normal slow vs red-flag slow
- Slab to frame - 4 to 8 weeks: Normal. Curing time is real. Red flag: more than 10 weeks with no explanation.
- Frame to lock-up - 6 to 10 weeks: Normal. Weather-dependent. Red flag: no visible progress for 3+ consecutive weeks.
- Lock-up to fixing - 8 to 12 weeks: Normal. Trade coordination is the bottleneck. Red flag: your site is being used to store materials for someone else’s build.
- Fixing to handover - 4 to 8 weeks: Normal. Final defects list + practical completion.
What actually causes slow builds
- Builder over-committed - too many concurrent jobs
- Trade shortage in your postcode (chippies, plumbers, cabinet-makers)
- You changed a selection after the drawing pack was released
- Weather - real, but only accounts for weeks not months
- Cash-flow issue on the builder’s side (worst case)