Every maker meets a delay sooner or later: timber that arrives late, a power cut that lasts a week, a finish that needs longer to cure. What matters is how you handle it.
Ask early
The best time to ask for more time is as soon as you know you'll need it. Your project lead can plan around a delay they hear about early. One they hear about on the due date is much harder.
How much you can ask for
An extension can move the due date by up to 20% of the job's original length. For a 30-day job, that's up to 6 more days. You can have one request waiting at a time, and your project lead approves or declines it.
Give a clear reason
"Timber delivery moved to Thursday" helps your lead decide quickly. "Running late" doesn't. A photo of where the work stands can help too.
Time you get back without asking
Your lead has 24 hours to review each stage (Sundays don't count). If a review of the Design to Finishing stages runs late, you automatically get 1 extra day for every 12 hours it's late.
What it means for your bonus
The 5% on-time bonus depends on finishing by the due date. Plan with a buffer, and you'll rarely need to ask at all. More in How do I ask for more time on a job?.
