Most renovation stress comes from timeline surprises, not costs. Here's a realistic week-by-week map from key collection to move-in for a typical flat.
Before key collection (T-12 to T-4 weeks)
Engage your designer 2–3 months early. Use this runway for space planning, material selection and quotation. Popular firms book out 4–8 weeks ahead — waiting until keys are in hand adds a month to everything.
Weeks 1–2: Approvals and protection
HDB permit or MCST approval submission, hoarding and floor protection, then hacking. Permits take 1–2 weeks; nothing noisy happens without them.
Weeks 2–4: Wet works and rough-ins
Masonry, tiling, waterproofing, plus electrical and plumbing rough-ins. This sequence is hard to reverse — confirm your electrical point layout before this stage, not after.
Weeks 3–7: Carpentry fabrication
Carpentry is built off-site in parallel (3–5 weeks). This is the schedule's long pole; late design changes here cause the classic two-week slip.
Weeks 7–9: Installation and finishing
Carpentry installation, painting, light fittings, glass and doors. Then deep cleaning and your defects walkthrough — document everything before the final payment.
Buffer honestly
Quoted 8 weeks usually means 10 in practice. Material shipping delays and rectification rounds are normal; plan your lease-end or move date with a 2-week cushion.
Starting your journey? Get matched free with firms whose schedules fit your key collection date.