A typical full renovation, week by week
This is a typical plan for a full HDB resale renovation based on industry experience. Your timeline will depend on the scope, the ID's workload, material lead times and public holidays.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1–3 | Design, 3D drawings, material selection |
| Week 3–4 | HDB renovation permit (if your works need one) |
| Week 4–5 | Hacking and demolition |
| Weeks 5–7 | Plumbing, electrical and tiling |
| Weeks 7–10 | Carpentry fabrication |
| Weeks 10–12 | Painting, flooring, installation, cleaning and handover |
Carpentry is fabricated off-site after measurements are taken, so delays in earlier stages push everything after them.
BTO vs resale: what's different
| New BTO flat | Resale flat | |
|---|---|---|
| Hacking | Usually less | Often more (old finishes, layout changes) |
| Toilets | Wall and floor finishes can't be removed for the first 3 years; overlay instead | Can be replaced, with waterproofing |
| Defects | Report to HDB within the 1-year Defects Liability Period, ideally before renovation starts | No HDB defects period |
| HDB's completion guide | Within 3 months | Within 1 month |
See our BTO renovation checklist for the full key-collection-to-move-in plan.
HDB rules that affect your schedule
| Type of work | When it's allowed |
|---|---|
| General renovation works | 9am–6pm, Monday to Saturday |
| Noisy works (hacking, removing wall or floor finishes, tile cutting, heavy drilling) | 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday only |
| Noisy works on eves of major public holidays | Not allowed |
| Any renovation works | Not allowed on Sundays and public holidays |
Your renovation contractor must be listed in HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors, and some works need an HDB permit (for example, removing or replacing floor finishes, hacking walls, or changing bathrooms). Always check HDB's latest renovation guidelines before you plan.
What usually causes delays
- Late decisions on materials, colours or layouts
- Material lead times, especially imported tiles, stone tops and appliances
- Waiting for a permit or PE endorsement
- Variation orders added mid-project
- Public holidays and festive periods, when workers take leave
- One trade finishing late and pushing the next (e.g. tiling before carpentry)
How to protect your move-in date
- Get start and completion dates in writing (the CCCS fair trading guide recommends it)
- Ask what happens if the project runs late
- Plan in working days, not calendar days: noisy works are weekdays only
- Add buffer weeks around public holidays like Chinese New Year
- Confirm material choices early so orders aren't delayed
- Ask who applies for the HDB permit, and when
- Agree a weekly progress update, with photos
Related: how to choose an interior designer.
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