If you’re surprised that they finished up on Dec 20 and haven’t been back since then you are unfortunately a bit unprepared for Renovating. It sounds like a substantial project. Did you have any documented timelines? A bit irrelevant now, as you now need to get them back on site. 4-6 week’s overdue is what I would expect. Some trades will be back on Mon, some not until after the Jan long weekend. My best tip is to keep things cordial and communications open and try and be their first job when they come back. Good luck, focus on the long term.

PS if your blinds weren’t made before the Dec cutoff you’ll still need to wait for them to be manufactured before fitting.

You need to communicate more with the person in charge of your renovations. Are there genuine reasons for your build being delayed or are the builders leaving to go to other jobs?
If you didn't know they were breaking over Christmas, why?
Contact the person in charge and clarify when they will be returning, and sit down and do a proper time line of trades with the person in charge. Make your self aware of their expectations, hopefully you can then come to a realistic compromise.
Most businesses will return to work on Monday 6th Jan.

if the work is good then every other challenge will be soon forgotten and we always ask for a good job not a quick one as we find that delays often allow us extra time to make sure that we're happy with results, think about any (hopefully minor) changes, accrue some more savings and decide on last minute colours and allow for delivery delays..good luck with all the final details

I feel your pain. Construction typically shuts for 3 weeks over Xmas. Use the time to have a real think about why there were delays, and why communication is not up to par. Then try and get things back on track, remembering a happy workforce is better than a grumpy one. Good luck.

You are actually lucky. Tradesmen who are rushed to finish a job before Christmas often cut corners. Often better in the long term to take the pre-Christmas pressure off and allow the trades to finish their jobs in the new year after they have had a holiday. I often wonder about the quality of the workmanship and long term durability of the projects on "The Block" where every episode is like a pre-Christmas rush.

Best of luck, and it will be worth it in the end, when you have settled in and forgotten your frustrations,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls

Thanks so much for the feedback and the encouragement! am feeling more positive now. Cheers.

Have you got a contract with a stated timeline? If so, has it delay clauses and penalties? Or, have you a gentleman’s hand shake agreement. Is there a professional project manager? If so, I suggest formally writing and ask why delays, and when will the renovations be completed?

Renovations always take longer than anticipated but it is good that you are happy .Christmas is always hard to get things done . Holidays for construction and most trades and factory close downs . I don’t understand why you have not communicated with your builder as the work was being done .

"Why do renovations take so much longer than promised?"

It's actually unrealistic to "promise" a timeframe on a renovation, simply due to the nature of them. Any timeframe contracted practically is a guide only for these projects. The good/experienced builders will manage expectations well by building in a significant amount of contingency in their scheduling. If all goes well they'll bring the project in sooner. If it goes bad then there is capacity to still bring it in on time. There are so many unknowns and unlimited options of how to go about resolving issues that crop up in the course of a renovation. Anyone going into a renovation needs to understand they are a completely different type of project to say a volume build, which is a tried and tested product that can be delivered for a fixed priced in a relatively fixed timeframe. Renovation are customised in nature and hence involve a different dynamic and a different set of expectations.

Sorry to hear bout your frustrating experience. Best of luck with the project completion

Cheers PD

Nearing Christmas its almost impossible to get deadlines kept at build sites. Most suppliers shut its doors and if they are not open then so are most tradies. Delays are common on reno projects because of juggling schedule between contractors. One tradie delay will push everyone to reshuffle their schedules. Think of multiple domino effect.
Big name builders has more power to push their contractors for priority slot because of the ongoing supply that they have in the pipeline. Renos especially owner builder will find it hard to compete and usually is the least priority in their schedule.