How Long Does It Take to Build a House in QLD?

Building a house in Queensland is something millions of people dream about, but it’s not something that happens overnight. If you’re planning to start your own home-building journey, you might be asking yourself: how long does it take to build a house? The answer isn't straightforward, as the timeline will come down to lots of moving parts.

On average, the construction process can take anywhere from 6 to 18 months. The type and size of home you are building, site conditions, location, weather, workers’ availability and several other variables will all play a part. There are also multiple stages involved in the building process, and one hold-up can have knock-on effects for the rest of the build. Here’s what you need to know so you can start setting realistic expectations and make the entire building experience as smooth as possible.

How the Construction Process Works

The construction process in Queensland will unfolds in a number of important stages, but they can generally be categorised as the following three:

1. Pre-construction phase: Step one involves choosing your architect or home builder, finalising your design, getting all the necessary approvals and then preparing the site.
2. Construction phase: Here’s where the actual building begins. It’s an exciting moment, and you’ll start to see your builders work on site preparation before progressing through the various stages until completion.
3. Post-construction phase: When you’re almost ready to move in, you’ll run through the final inspection and then take the keys at handover.

A reliable builder like Brighton Homes will support you through every stage of the home-building process. We make sure everything we do is transparent and openly communicated. With our Breakthrough Collection you'll get to enjoy a speedy build – including 9 days to contract and within 99 days of the slab being laid, you'll be walking through the doors of your new home.

Factors Affecting Build Time

There are lots of different things that can end up influencing the duration of your house build. So, it’s a good idea to wrap your head around the following before construction kicks off:

• Design: Custom homes or highly bespoke designs will – in almost every case – take longer to build than standard project homes. This is due to the process and complexity of the build including the supply of materials.
• Site preparation: The condition of your land, including soil type and whether any swimming pools or      retaining walls are needed, can add some extra time to the site’s preparation.
• Weather: Extreme weather events, such as heavy rains or storms, can cause delays during the construction phase. If you are building in summer, sometimes it might be too hot to build in Queensland.
• Supply chain issues: If there are any delays in getting your materials, especially imported ones, this can increase your initial construction timeline.
• Labour shortages: While not a common problem, be aware that any shortage of skilled workers can slow down the building process.
• Post-contract variations: Any changes you want to make after the contract is signed will usually result in more time (and costs) added to your project.

So, how best to avoid these? Make sure you are always working closely with your building company to help mitigate any potential delays for your new house.

Pre-Construction Planning

Design Phase

This is often the most enjoyable part of the whole process. It’s where your dream home starts to take shape and come to life. In collaborating with your architect or designer, you'll finalise the floor plans and pick out your favourite finishes. For custom homes, be aware that this phase can end up being quite extensive, as you’ll need to go through all the detailed planning to make sure all of your preferences are incorporated.

Soil testing and engineering reports are also a must at this stage, as they will help determine whether the site is suitable for what you want to build, as well as organise any essential preparations. Choosing a house and land package can make this process much more streamlined, as most of the very time-consuming variables have been predetermined.

Approval Process

Before construction gets started, you’ll need to obtain all the necessary approvals from council. This includes building permits and council approvals, which can take several weeks or even months. That’s why we always recommend using a reputable builder, as they will be able to assist you throughout this process and make your life a little less stressful with paperwork.

Be aware that local council rules and zoning restrictions can impact the construction time as well. Be proactive and submit your plans as early as possible and stay on top of things by being a good communicator with the local council to help keep delays to a minimum.

Construction Stage

Once approvals are in place, construction can get underway. During this phase, your builders will tackle:

• Site preparation: Clearing the land, levelling, setting up necessary infrastructure and more.
• Foundation work: Laying the concrete slab or other types of foundation for your home.
• Framing: Putting up the structural framework, which includes all the walls and roof trusses.
• Enclosed stage: Installing external cladding, windows and doors. It’s only at this point your house will be weatherproof.
• Fixing stage: Installing all the internal fixtures (e.g. cabinetry, plumbing, electrical systems).
• Final stage: Painting, flooring and putting all the other finishing touches on your dream home.

Site Preparation and Planning

Proper site preparation involves things like clearing vegetation, levelling the land, making sure there is good drainage and various other jobs. In some cases, retaining walls might be necessary to help manage the possibility of soil erosion or to accommodate for a sloped block.

Early planning and collaboration with your builder are the best ways to make sure that your site is well prepared. Get this stage done correctly and you won’t have to worry about major complications in the future.

Average Time to Build a House

• Project homes: These usually take around 6–12 months to complete.
• Custom/bespoke homes: Whereas more complicated designs can take anywhere from 12–24 months or more.

You’ll also be guided by factors outside of your control like the weather, supply-chain issues, worker shortages and more. Your first job should be to find a reliable, experienced builder who can tackle any planning issues immediately and keep the project on track.

Securing Financing for Your Home Build

Financing your new home is something you need to organise well before the building process can begin in earnest. Working with a reputable builder like Brighton means you can get access to financial solutions like MyChoice Home Loans. The team will guide you through all your loan options, and help you manage your budget and payment schedules.

Building a house in Queensland is a multifaceted process that involves everything from pre-construction planning right through to the final touches. That’s why working closely with a reliable builder and being a good communicator will help turn your vision for your dream home into a reality – all within a reasonable timeframe.

Contact the experts at Brighton Homes today or visit one of our display homes across South East Queensland to get started.