Question 1

How long does it take to build a house in Nigeria?

Accepted Answer

With steady funding and one normal crew, a 3-bedroom bungalow of about 120 m² takes roughly 5 months from site clearing to handover, a 4-bedroom duplex of about 250 m² takes 8–9 months, and a 3-storey block of flats takes over a year. The real figure depends on the size of the building, your crew, the time of year you start, and above all how steadily the money comes in. Many self-funded homes take 2–4 years because work stops between stages. Enter your own details above to see your timeline.

Question 2

What is the best time of year to start building in Nigeria?

Accepted Answer

In the south, the dry season (November to February) is the best time to start, so the foundation and walls go up and the roof is on before the heavy rains from May. In the north the rains are shorter (roughly June to September), so there is a longer window. The "best month to start" panel compares the next 12 start months for your building and shows how much time rain adds to each.

Question 3

How does the rainy season affect a construction schedule?

Accepted Answer

Rain stops or slows outdoor work: excavation, foundation concrete, blockwork, slabs, roofing and fencing. Trenches can flood and collapse, concrete can't be cast in heavy rain, and sites become muddy. This schedule slows those activities in wet months (up to about 40% in the peak months in the south) while indoor work such as plastering, tiling and painting carries on at a normal pace.

Question 4

How long should concrete cure before building on it?

Accepted Answer

As a rule of thumb, allow about 7 days after casting a suspended slab before laying blocks on it, and keep the props under it for 21–28 days. Allow a few days after the foundation concrete before blockwork, about a week after the top ring beam before the roof goes on, a week between screed and floor tiles, and about two weeks between plastering and painting. The schedule builds these waits in, and an engineer's instructions on your project always come first.

Question 5

Can I plan a build that I will fund in stages?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Choose "I'll fund it in stages" and enter what you have now and what you can add each month. Each activity then waits until there is enough money to start it, so you can see the realistic finish date, where the pauses fall, and roughly how much a month you would need to keep the site moving. While money is coming in, the building is covered before the money goes on the fence and septic tank.

Question 6

How accurate is this construction schedule?

Accepted Answer

It is a planning estimate, not a contract programme. Durations come from typical outputs for one normal-sized Nigerian site crew, applied to your building's quantities (or to your Estimate's actual quantities, if you start from one). Material shortages, labour availability, approvals and changes to the design all move real dates. Use it to plan cash and set expectations, then adjust each task with your contractor.

Question 7

Can I track progress against the schedule?

Accepted Answer

Yes. "Track this schedule" turns it into a Track My Build project. Each task gets its dates, and you or your site manager tick work off as it happens. If a task finishes late, the tasks that follow it move automatically, and the project shows whether you are on track, how many days behind you are, and the expected finish date. Your client can see it too.

Construction Schedule Generator

How the schedule is worked out

Planning around money, not just time

Frequently asked questions