The question we hear right after "how much" is "how long". The honest answer is that the build itself is quick, and most of the time goes on the paperwork and the materials. Here is how a typical patio or carport moves from the first visit to handover, and what speeds it up or slows it down.
Step 1: the on-site quote
A builder comes out, measures up and designs the patio with you. We then send you a fixed price. How quickly that happens depends on the job: a standard attached patio is quick to price, while a sloping block, a deck with stairs or a lot with overlays takes more checking first.
Step 2: plans and engineering
Once you accept, we draw the site plan and the structure, and the engineer designs it for your wind rating and soil and certifies it with a Form 15. Anything we need from you, such as estate guidelines or body corporate approval, is best sorted now, because the approval cannot go in without it.
Step 3: the approval
The plans go to a private building certifier for the building approval. On a straightforward job that meets the setbacks and site cover, this is usually the shorter part of the wait. It takes longer when something needs a referral first, for example:
- A carport or patio inside a setback, which needs council to agree before the certifier can approve it;
- Posts closer to a sewer or stormwater main than the code allows, which needs a build-over application to the council or the water authority;
- A flood, landslide or bushfire overlay that brings extra assessment or reports;
- Estate design approval or a body corporate vote, which runs on the estate’s or the committee’s own timetable.
Every council and water authority works to its own turnaround, so we tell you at the quote if your job needs a referral and roughly what that adds.
Step 4: materials
When the approval is in, we order the materials from Australian suppliers. This takes about 2 to 4 weeks. Insulated panels are made to length for your roof, and the steel, gutters and flashings are cut to suit, which is why we wait for the approval before ordering rather than guessing.
Step 5: the build
Most patios and carports are finished within a few days of starting on site. A bigger job, a deck under the patio or a long run of footings can take longer. We plan the delivery so materials never sit at your place for more than 14 working days.
- Day one is usually set-out and footings: we mark the posts, dig and pour, or fix base plates to a suitable slab.
- Then the posts, beams and roof go up, followed by the gutters, flashings and downpipes.
- Lights and fans are wired by your electrician at the agreed stage.
Step 6: inspections and handover
The certifier inspects at the required stages, usually the footings and the final, and issues the final inspection certificate when it is done. We clean up, walk you through the finished patio, and explain how to look after it.
What causes delays
- Weather. Rain stops footings and roof work, and summer storms can push a build back a few days. We keep you posted.
- Missing documents, such as estate guidelines, a survey or the sewer plan.
- Changes after approval. A change to the size or position can mean amended plans and a new approval.
- Referrals to council or the water authority, which run on their timetable, not ours.
- The busy season. Many people want a patio before Christmas or before summer, so the earlier you start, the better.
How to keep it moving
- Send us your house plans, estate guidelines and body corporate by-laws before the quote if you can.
- Make the decisions on the day: size, roof, colours, lights and fans.
- Tell the neighbours early if the patio is close to the boundary.
- Clear the area before the build: pot plants, furniture and anything stored where the posts go.
- Book your electrician as soon as we give you the date.
Planning for summer
If you want to sit under a new patio by a particular date, such as Christmas or a family event, count back from it. Allow for the approval, the 2 to 4 weeks for materials and a few days on site, and leave a buffer for weather. Starting at the quote a couple of months ahead is far less stressful than hoping for a gap in December.
