2026 guide · execution
Apartment finishing stages, in order and on schedule
Most finishing problems come from the wrong order: tiles before the flood test, paint before the gypsum, doors ordered too late. Here's the right sequence, what must be finished before each stage, and what to inspect before moving on.
Prices updated: The same engine as the Tashteeby app150 m² red-brick unit: 12–16 weeks
12–16 weeks150 m² from red brick to handover · standard
Finishing a 150 m² flat from red brick takes about 12–16 weeks (81 working days) with one crew per trade; 9–13 weeks if it's handed over plastered and 7–10 weeks if semi-finished. The order: electrical and plumbing rough-in → plaster → gypsum → tiling and marble → paint → aluminium and doors → electrical and plumbing finish → handover.
Schedule from Tashteeby's engine · 6 working days a weekThe schedule for a 150 m² flat
Many stages overlap: paint starts with putty and sealer during tiling, and aluminium and doors are made in the workshop early on and fitted after the tiles.
Electrical rough-inWeek 1–2 · 7 working days
Plumbing rough-in & waterproofingWeek 1–2 · 7 working days
PlasteringWeek 3–5 · 15 working days
Gypsum board & cornicesWeek 5–7 · 10 working days
Floor & wall tilingWeek 6–10 · 21 working days
MarbleWeek 10 · 4 working days
PaintWeek 8–12 · 23 working days
AluminiumWeek 10–11 · 4 working days · made off site
DoorsWeek 10–11 · 5 working days · made off site
Electrical finishWeek 12–13 · 5 working days
Sanitary fit-offWeek 12–13 · 4 working days
On-site workMade off site, then installed
One crew per trade. In total 81 working days, including 3 days of cleaning and handover — about 3 months. Extra crews shorten it; late material choices stretch it.
The stages in order — and what to inspect at each
1Design and bill of quantities before any workFix the positions of appliances, lighting, kitchen and A/C, and choose materials. Sign off: approved electrical/plumbing layout and a bill of quantities.
2Electrical and plumbing rough-inConduits, boxes, supply and drain pipes, A/C drains. Depends on: the final layout. Inspect: pipe pressure test, cable sizes matched to loads, photos of all routes.
3Plaster (red-brick units)Splash coat, dots and screeds, then base and finish coats. Depends on: rough-in done. Inspect: walls true under a straightedge, square corners, enough curing and drying time.
4Waterproofing and flood testBathroom and kitchen floors waterproofed and turned up the walls. Inspect: a 24–48 hour flood test with no leaks before tiling.
5Gypsum board and cornicesDepends on: plaster, lighting points and A/C drains. Inspect: levels, joints and access panels for A/C units.
6Tiling and marbleDepends on: waterproofing and gypsum (dust). Inspect: levels and falls to drains, straight joints, and a tap test for hollow tiles.
7PaintPutty and sealer during tiling; the final coat after doors and aluminium are fitted. Inspect: a flat surface with no waves under side lighting.
8Aluminium and doorsMade early in the workshop, fitted after the tiles. Inspect: sealing, smooth opening and closing, locks.
9Electrical and plumbing finishSockets, switches, panel, sanitary ware and mixers. Inspect: test every circuit and the earth-leakage breaker, leak-check every water point.
10Cleaning and handoverFinal clean and a snag list — every item fixed before the last payment.
Duration by unit condition
| Condition | Duration | Working days | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red brick | 12–16 weeks | 81 | 774,144 |
| Plastered | 9–13 weeks | 64 | 692,481 |
| Semi-finished | 7–10 weeks | 52 | 536,933 |
| Old finish (renovation) | 10–14 weeks | 73 | 734,104 |
Frequently asked questions
What's the order of finishing stages?
Electrical and plumbing rough-in, plaster, waterproofing and flood test, gypsum, tiling and marble, paint, aluminium and doors, electrical and plumbing finish, then handover.
How long does a 150 m² flat take?
About 9–13 weeks if plastered, or 12–16 weeks from red brick, with one crew per trade.
Gypsum before or after tiling?
Before. Gypsum work is dusty and messy and can scratch or soil finished tiles.
Paint before or after the doors?
Putty and first coats before; the final coat after the doors and aluminium are fitted, so installation marks get covered.
How can I shorten the schedule?
Choose every material before starting, order aluminium, doors and the kitchen early, and run parallel crews in different rooms.
Price your own project
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