Timelines
How long does a
renovation actually
take in Melbourne?
Twelve to twenty-four months from first conversation to handover for a typical extension. Construction is usually the shorter half. Most of the time — and almost all of the slippage — happens before anyone picks up a tool.
The phases
| Phase | What happens | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Concept, developed design, documentation | 3 – 6 months |
| Planning approval | Only if required — longer with heritage or objections | 3 – 9 months |
| Building permit | Private building surveyor, after planning is resolved | 3 – 8 weeks |
| Tender and contract | Quotes, comparison, negotiation, signing | 4 – 10 weeks |
| Construction — ground-floor extension | 40 to 50 m², standard complexity | 4 – 7 months |
| Construction — second storey | Roof off, structural upgrade, weather risk | 6 – 9 months |
| Construction — full renovation | Whole house, services replaced | 7 – 12 months |
Where programs actually slip
Planning, by a distance
The single biggest source of delay, and the one least within anyone's control. Heritage assessment and neighbour objections both add months. Budget for the long end, not the short.
Client decisions
Unglamorous but real. Selections not made on time — tiles, tapware, joinery — stop trades and lose their place in the builder's schedule. Decide early and stick to it.
Variations mid-build
Every change re-prices and re-sequences. A change that seems small at the drawing stage is expensive and slow once framing is up.
Weather on open structures
Second-storey work with the roof off is exposed. A wet fortnight in a Melbourne winter is not a delay anyone can price out.
What it costs you to be slow
Time is a budget line even when nobody invoices for it. If you move out, you are paying rent and a mortgage simultaneously. Construction costs escalate over a long design phase — a project designed in one year and built two years later is being built at different prices. And storage, temporary accommodation and double moves are excluded from every cost guide, including ours.
The practical implication: the cheapest thing you can do for your budget is resolve the design and the approvals quickly, then not change your mind.
Cost first, then timeline
Two minutes for an indicative range — worth knowing before you commit to a twelve-month program.
Common questions
How long does a house extension take in Melbourne?
Twelve to twenty-four months end to end is typical. Design and approvals commonly take six to twelve months, and construction on a 40 to 50 square metre ground-floor extension usually runs four to seven months.
Why does the design phase take so long?
Concept, developed design and construction documentation are separate stages, each requiring client decisions. Planning approval, where required, sits on top and is the least predictable part of the program.
Do I need to move out during a renovation?
For a rear extension, often not. For a second storey or a full renovation with services replaced, usually yes for at least part of the build. Temporary accommodation is excluded from published cost guides and should be budgeted separately.
What is the most common cause of delay?
Planning approval, followed by client decisions on selections. Both are more controllable than weather or trade availability, and both are where most avoidable slippage occurs.
Related
When you are ready to build
AE Index is not a building company. When a project is ready to be priced properly, we pass it to a builder from our verified network — who will walk the site, inspect what is under the floor, and put a fixed price in writing. We are paid a fee by them on work that proceeds, and you are under no obligation to use them.
- Current domestic builder registration, confirmed with the Victorian Building Authority
- Domestic building insurance current and sighted
- Two completed projects contacted directly — not supplied testimonials
- Fixed-price contracts with a written variations policy
- Re-checked annually, and removed from the network on any lapse
Last updated 28 July 2026