A realistic construction programme covers the whole project, not just site work: design and approvals, procurement, construction in a logical sequence, inspections, utility connections, snagging and handover. It uses real durations from similar projects, allows for long lead times on items like steel, windows, lifts and transformers, plans around Tanzania's rainy seasons, and includes some float for things that go wrong. A programme built that way may look longer at the start, but it is far more likely to be met.
Step 1: List every stage, not just construction
Owners often think of the time on site only. A full programme includes:
| Stage | Typical duration (mid-size building) |
|---|---|
| Brief, surveys and soil test | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Concept and detailed design | 2 to 4 months |
| Permits and approvals | 1 to 3 months, sometimes longer |
| Tender and contractor appointment | 1 to 3 months |
| Construction | 6 to 18 months |
| Utility connections | Start early; can take months |
| Snagging and handover | 2 to 6 weeks |
These are rough guides. Your project may be shorter or longer. Our post on how long it takes to build a house gives figures for homes.
Step 2: Break construction into activities
List the main activities in order:
- Site set-up and setting out.
- Excavation and foundations.
- Ground floor slab.
- Columns, beams and upper slabs.
- Walling.
- Roof structure and covering.
- Services first fix (conduits, pipes).
- Plastering and ceilings.
- Floor and wall finishes.
- Services second fix (fittings, switches, sanitary ware).
- Painting and joinery.
- External works: drainage, paving, fencing.
- Testing, commissioning, snagging.
Each activity has a duration based on quantities and crew size, not a guess.
Step 3: Link activities that depend on each other
You cannot plaster before the conduits are in, or tile before the plaster is dry. Linking activities shows the critical path: the chain of tasks where any delay delays the whole project. Focus your attention there.
Some activities can run in parallel. External works can start while finishes are under way inside. Upper-floor walls can start while the floor above is being cast.
Step 4: Allow for curing and inspections
Concrete needs time. Slabs and beams stay propped while they gain strength, often around two to three weeks depending on the design and conditions, and cubes are tested at 7 and 28 days. Build in time for engineer's inspections before pours. See curing concrete in hot weather and concrete cube testing.
Step 5: Plan long-lead items early
Some items take weeks or months to arrive:
- Structural steel and roof trusses.
- Aluminium windows and curtain walls.
- Lifts, generators and transformers.
- Imported tiles, sanitary ware and light fittings.
- Specialist doors such as strongroom doors for banks.
Order them early enough to arrive before they are needed. A three-month lift delivery should be ordered while the foundations are going in, not when the shaft is finished.
Step 6: Plan around the rains
Tanzania has long rains (masika) from about March to May, and short rains (vuli) from about October to December in many areas, with regional differences. Heavy rain slows earthworks, foundations, concrete and roofing. Plan:
- Earthworks and foundations in the drier months where possible.
- The roof on before the long rains, so inside work can continue.
- Drainage and site access that cope with wet weather.
See can you build during the rainy season?
Step 7: Add float and be honest
Float is spare time that absorbs small delays. Add some to each stage and keep a contingency of a few weeks at the end. A programme with zero float is a programme that will be late.
Step 8: Use the programme every week
A programme filed in a drawer is useless. Update it, compare planned and actual, and discuss it at every site meeting. Our guide on monitoring construction progress explains how.
Common timeline mistakes
- Leaving out permits and utility connections.
- Assuming materials arrive the day they are ordered.
- Planning foundations in the middle of the long rains.
- Ignoring holidays and the end of year slowdown.
- Planning for a crew size the contractor does not have.
- Late design decisions by the client.
Example: a two-storey office block
A simplified programme for a two-storey office of around 800 m², after design and permits are complete:
| Weeks | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Mobilisation, site set-up, setting out |
| 3 to 7 | Excavation, foundations, ground slab |
| 8 to 15 | Ground floor columns and walls, first floor slab |
| 16 to 21 | First floor columns, walls, roof beams |
| 20 to 25 | Roof structure and covering |
| 22 to 30 | Services first fix, plastering, ceilings |
| 28 to 36 | Floor and wall finishes, joinery, windows |
| 32 to 38 | Services second fix, painting, external works |
| 38 to 40 | Testing, commissioning, snagging, handover |
Roughly ten months on site, with overlaps where trades can work in parallel. A real programme would break each line into more detail and show the links between them.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Gantt chart?
A bar chart showing each activity on a timeline. It is the most common format for construction programmes and is easy to read.
What is the critical path?
The longest chain of linked activities. Any delay on it delays completion, so it needs the closest attention.
How long does a commercial building take in Tanzania?
A two- to four-storey building commonly takes 9 to 18 months on site, plus design and approval time. See commercial building construction.
Who prepares the construction programme?
The contractor prepares the construction programme. The client or project manager prepares the overall project programme including design and approvals.
What software is used for construction programmes?
Microsoft Project and Primavera are common on larger projects. Smaller projects often use simpler tools or spreadsheets. See best apps for construction companies.
Should the programme be part of the contract?
On most projects, yes, or at least the completion date and key milestones. That gives everyone a clear basis for measuring delay.
Need a project planned properly?
Vika Construction plans every project around real durations, lead times and seasons. See our project management services or contact us.
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