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Construction Process

The Stages of Construction Explained: From Slab to Handover

December 13, 2022 6 min read By Rajesh Patel, Senior Site Supervisor

Every standard new home construction in NSW follows the same broad sequence. Knowing the stages helps you stay engaged through the process and know what to expect at each progress payment.

Stage 1: Slab

Site preparation, sediment control, bulk earthworks, plumbing rough-in beneath the slab, slab pour with reinforcement. Termite treatment applied. Engineer inspection. Cures for 7 to 14 days before frame work starts. Duration: 3 to 4 weeks.

Stage 2: Frame

Wall frames stood up, roof trusses installed. Lintels, bracing, hold-down bolts. Frame inspection by certifier. Owner walk-through (see our frame stage checklist). Duration: 3 to 5 weeks.

Stage 3: Lockup

External walls cladded (brick veneer typically), roof installed, windows and external doors fitted. House is now weather-tight. Duration: 4 to 6 weeks.

Stage 4: Rough-in

Electrical wiring through walls. Plumbing pipework. HVAC ducts. Insulation in walls and ceilings. Inspections by certifier. Duration: 3 to 4 weeks.

Stage 5: Fixing

Plasterboard, kitchen and bathroom joinery, doors, skirting, architraves. Internal painting begins. Duration: 3 to 4 weeks.

Stage 6: Finishing

Tiling, flooring, electrical fittings installed, plumbing fixtures installed, painting completed, final cleaning. Driveway and basic landscaping. Duration: 4 to 6 weeks.

Stage 7: Handover

Pre-handover walk-through with you. Defects list created. Builder rectifies. Final inspection by certifier. Occupation Certificate issued. Keys handed over. Duration: 1 to 2 weeks.

Progress payment schedule

  • Deposit: 5 percent (legal max in NSW at contract signing)
  • Slab complete: 15 to 17 percent
  • Frame complete: 20 to 22 percent
  • Lockup complete: 20 to 22 percent
  • Fixing complete: 25 to 27 percent
  • Handover: balance to 100 percent

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Answers

The seven typical stages: site prep and slab, structural framing, lockup (cladding and roof), rough-in (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), fixing (joinery and fittings), finishing (paint, flooring, tiling), handover and defects rectification. Each has its own certifier inspection.
Slab: 3 to 4 weeks. Frame: 3 to 5 weeks. Lockup: 4 to 6 weeks. Rough-in and fixing combined: 6 to 8 weeks. Finishing: 4 to 6 weeks. Handover: 1 to 2 weeks. Total typical 6 to 11 months for the construction phase alone.
Each major stage triggers a progress payment claim from the builder under the standard NSW contract. The payment is based on the contract value percentage assigned to that stage (e.g., slab is typically 15 to 17 percent of the contract sum).
The Principal Certifying Authority (your nominated private certifier or council) inspects key milestones: slab, frame, occupation certificate. The builder's site supervisor and engineer inspect daily. You can also engage an independent building inspector to verify quality at each stage.
Construction stops until the defect is rectified and re-inspected. Builders cannot proceed past a failed inspection without exposing themselves to severe liability. Most stage failures resolve within 1 to 2 weeks.

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