The most common question we get before a contract is signed: when does the shop open?
The honest answer is that the contract duration and the realistic duration are two different things. A contract is written with a safety margin. The realistic date is what we target internally. On a mid-sized retail project the contract might say three months while the internal target is shorter.
The phases
- Design and drawing approval. Nothing starts on site before final drawings are signed off. Every change after approval costs days.
- Demolition and strip-out. Visually the fastest phase, and the one that uncovers surprises.
- MEP — electrical, plumbing, HVAC. Executed before finishes. A mistake here means reopening what was already closed.
- Gypsum, ceilings, paint. These need drying time that cannot be compressed.
- Joinery and decorative works. Fabricated in the workshop in parallel with site works — this is where real time is saved.
- Lighting, final fixtures, handover.
What actually causes delay
Rarely labour. Usually: late client approval on drawings, material changes after work has started, a delayed imported item, and mall or authority requirements.
How we compress it
We start workshop fabrication while base works run on site, and we lock the material list before demolition, not after.
Planning an opening in Kuwait? Contact Luxe Line for a realistic programme for your space.