One of the most practical questions homeowners ask — and rarely get a straight answer on — is how long the whole process takes. From deciding to sign, to sleeping in a fully floored home. Here's a realistic timeline for different job types.
The installation timeline broken into stages
Quote to booking: After accepting a quote, most quality installers have a booking lead time of 2–6 weeks depending on their schedule and the season. January and February are peak renovation months in Australia — lead times stretch. Mid-year is typically easier to schedule quickly.
Preparation day: Most jobs begin with a preparation day — removing existing floor coverings, grinding high spots, applying moisture barrier, allowing levelling compound to cure. This typically takes one full day for a standard house.
Installation: This is where the timeline varies most by product and home size.
Installation time by product and size
Hybrid SPC floating (80–100m², single level, flat slab): 1–2 days installation after preparation. A straightforward job in an empty house can be done in a single long day by an experienced team.
Hybrid SPC with complex floor plan, stairs or high-rise access: 2–3 days. Each staircase adds half a day to a day depending on complexity.
Engineered hardwood floating (100m²): 2–3 days including acclimatisation time. The boards need to sit in the space for a minimum of 72 hours before installation — factor this into your planning.
Engineered hardwood secret nail (100m², with subfloor prep): 3–5 days total. Subfloor prep for secret nail is more intensive and the installation itself is slower than floating.
What extends timelines significantly
Tile removal — breaking up and removing existing tiles before installation can add 1–2 full days depending on the area and the adhesive condition. This is the most time-consuming preparation task.
Subfloor levelling compound — once applied, levelling compound needs 24–48 hours to cure before flooring can be installed on top. This extends total project time even if the hands-on work is minimal.
Occupied homes — working around a family's furniture, moving room by room, and working around occupied schedules adds significant time. An empty house is dramatically faster to floor than a furnished, occupied one. If you can vacate for the installation period, do it — you'll get a faster job and a better result.
Total timeline from decision to done
Realistic total timeline for most Australian homeowners:
- Decision → quotes received: 1–2 weeks
- Quote accepted → booking confirmed: 1 day
- Booking → installation start: 2–6 weeks
- Installation: 1–3 days (preparation + installation)
- Settlement/cure time before furniture: 24 hours for most products
Total from "let's do this" to done: 3–8 weeks in most cases.
Plan your flooring project well ahead of any deadline — moving dates, sale settlements or events. Rushing a flooring job increases the likelihood of shortcuts that affect the quality of the result.
Use our Floor Finder to get a full project scope estimate including preparation requirements and timeline implications for your specific home.