Custom Home Build Timeline: Week by Week from DA to Handover

"How long will it take?" deserves a better answer than "about a year". Here's the real sequence of a Sydney custom home, stage by stage, with honest durations — including the waiting you can't see from the street.

Before the Slab (Weeks 1–8)

Weeks 1–4 — Pre-construction: construction certificate, contract signing, insurance, site survey, service connections ordered. Boring but critical — most "slow builds" actually lose their time here.

Weeks 5–6 — Site establishment: fencing, sediment control, demolition complete (on a KDR), site cut and level.

Weeks 7–8 — Footings and slab: piering if required, plumbing rough-in under slab, pour and cure. Weather-dependent — rain here costs whole weeks.

The Structure Rises (Weeks 9–20)

Weeks 9–14 — Frame: wall frames and roof trusses up. The exciting phase — the house appears in a fortnight, and owners often assume it's nearly done. It's about 30%.

Weeks 15–20 — Enclosed stage: roof cladding, windows, external doors, brickwork or cladding. The home is now "locked up" — weatherproof and secure.

The Long Quiet Middle (Weeks 21–34)

Weeks 21–26 — Rough-ins: electrical, plumbing, air-con ducting through the open frame, then insulation and plasterboard. Progress looks invisible from outside. It isn't.

Weeks 27–34 — Fixing stage: internal doors, skirting, architraves, kitchen install, waterproofing and tiling. The phase with the most trades on site and the most coordination risk — this is where builder-led management earns its keep.

The Finish (Weeks 35–46)

Weeks 35–40 — Fit-off and finishes: painting, fixtures, benchtops, appliances, flooring.

Weeks 41–44 — External works: driveway, fencing, landscaping to occupation certificate requirements.

Weeks 45–46 — Completion: final inspections, defect walk-through, occupation certificate, handover.