How long does it take to build a house?

A normal two-floor house usually takes many months, and the time depends on design, labour, weather and how quickly materials and approvals are in place. Ask your contractor for a stage-wise schedule.

When should I order the steel?

Order it a little before the stage that needs it, per the bar schedule, and store it off the ground and covered to avoid rust.

How long should a slab be cured?

At least 7 days for OPC and 10 days or more for PPC, keeping it wet throughout.

Which stage uses the most cement?

Structure and masonry with plaster take most of it. Our cement calculator helps you estimate each part.

House construction steps in order: from foundation to finishing

1. Planning, approvals and site marking

Finalise the drawings with an architect and a structural engineer, get local authority approval where required, and test the soil. The engineer's drawing sets the footing size, column layout and bar schedule that all later orders follow.

2. Excavation and foundation

Dig to the depth in the drawing, lay a plain cement concrete (PCC) bed, then place bar cages and cast the footings. Materials: TMT bars, cement, sand, stone aggregate (gitti) and cover blocks to keep bars off the soil.

3. Plinth and columns

Columns rise from the footings to plinth level, with a plinth beam tying them. Materials: ductile TMT bars (Fe500D or Fe550D in seismic zone IV), binding wire, cement, sand, aggregate and shuttering.

4. Masonry and the slab

Walls go up in bricks or AAC blocks with mortar. Then beams and slab are shuttered, the bar mesh is tied with cover blocks, and the slab is cast in one go and cured for at least 7 days. Materials: bricks or blocks, cement, sand, TMT bars, binding wire, cover blocks and slab casting blocks.

5. Repeat for upper floors

Each upper floor repeats columns, masonry and slab. Column bars are left projecting from the lower floor so that they can be lapped with the next.

6. Plaster, roof treatment and services

Plastering, electrical conduits and plumbing lines are laid in the walls. The terrace gets waterproofing before the monsoon. Materials: cement, sand, pipes, conduits and waterproofing chemicals.

7. Flooring, doors, windows and finishing

Flooring, putty and paint, door and window frames, grills, gates and fixtures complete the house. Fabrication such as gates, railings and shed roofs uses MS pipe, angles, flats and sheets.

Materials by stage at a glance

What to order at each stage
Stage	Main materials
Foundation	TMT bars, cement, sand, aggregate, cover blocks
Columns and plinth	TMT bars, binding wire, cement, aggregate
Masonry	Bricks or AAC blocks, cement, sand
Slab	TMT bars, cement, aggregate, cover and slab casting blocks
Waterproofing	Terrace waterproofing products
Finishing and fabrication	MS pipe, angles, flats, sheets, wire and mesh

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to build a house?: A normal two-floor house usually takes many months, and the time depends on design, labour, weather and how quickly materials and approvals are in place. Ask your contractor for a stage-wise schedule.
When should I order the steel?: Order it a little before the stage that needs it, per the bar schedule, and store it off the ground and covered to avoid rust.
How long should a slab be cured?: At least 7 days for OPC and 10 days or more for PPC, keeping it wet throughout.
Which stage uses the most cement?: Structure and masonry with plaster take most of it. Our cement calculator helps you estimate each part.