Building a new home is an exciting journey, but it can also be overwhelming if you don't understand the process. To help you navigate this journey, we’ve created a detailed outline of the residential house building process. This guide focuses on the typical construction elements and the sequence of activities you can expect.

The Building Process

You may not have seen the entire residential house process mapped out before, so we aimed for simplicity while covering the key elements of a typical new home construction. Our process map highlights the typical construction elements, their timing, and how they relate to each other, grouped by contract stage claims.

Contract Stage Claims

Here's a breakdown of the typical stages in a residential building contract (the definitions follow Queensland's standard QBCC contract):

  1. *Deposit stage:* this includes the Preliminary Services Agreement (PSA) and the balance of the deposit to form the total deposit. In Queensland, the total deposit can't exceed 5% of the contract price for contracts of $20,000 or more.
  2. *Base stage:* complete when the slab is poured.
  3. *Frame stage:* complete when the structural frame is finished and has passed the certifier's frame inspection.
  4. *Enclosed stage:* complete when the external wall cladding and roof covering are fixed and the external doors and windows are installed (even if only temporarily).
  5. *Fixing stage:* complete when internal linings, architraves, skirtings, internal doors, cabinets, benchtops and wet area fixtures like baths, basins and sinks are fitted.
  6. *Practical completion stage:* the home is finished apart from minor defects or omissions. Practical completion starts your 12-month defects period (QBCC New Home Construction Contract GC 29.1), so book an independent inspection first.
  7. Handover Stage: The finished home is handed over to you.

Why Detail the Process?

The purpose of this guide is to provide a clear progression of activities from start to finish, giving you a comprehensive understanding of the overall workflow. If you’ve previously spoken with builders or have some construction experience, you may have received only general information. This often leads to numerous questions to fill in the gaps.

Some builders release information stage by stage, which can leave you relying on them for answers. This map shows you what is coming.

Detailed View

The preliminary stage is the most task-intensive for a home-owner because you need to make all your material and colour selections. This information must be included in the building contract and then passed on to subcontractors and suppliers to ensure they install what you have chosen.

The Legend

To help you navigate our process map, we’ve included a legend in the top right corner:

  • Green highlights: our stage checklists, including C5 Pre Pour Slab, C7 Frame, C11 Enclosed, C12 Fixing, C16 Practical Completion Inspection, C17 Handover and C18 6 Month Maintenance
  • Pink: Payment Points
  • Light Blue: Contract Progress Stage Claims
  • Orange: Independent Inspections (the best time to bring in external parties)
  • White: Tasks/Items within a Progress Stage Claim
  • Magenta Arrows: Critical inspection points, which are the most important points in the building process requiring thorough quality management before proceeding.

Explore More

We invite you to explore our detailed process map on Miro. The green highlights line up with our stage inspection checklists.

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