# How to build a renovation timeline

Source: https://archiboard.design/help/how-to/renovation-timeline

The timeline shows the whole renovation on one time scale: when each construction phase starts, when to order materials, when they arrive and when to pay the supplier. You immediately see which product could delay the schedule and what needs to be ordered first. Estimate items are assigned to phases automatically — lighting to electrical, tiles to finishing.

1. **Create phases.** Open the project → «Timeline» → «Add Phase». Enter a name, for example «Electrical» or «Finishing». Set the dates with the keyboard or drag the edge of the phase bar. Duration is counted in working days.
2. **Link phases.** If one phase can't start before another, connect them with an arrow. A link can have an offset in days. When you move a phase, the phases that depend on it move automatically.
3. **Assign items to phases.** Estimate items are placed into phases automatically by category. To change this, drag an item to another phase or click «Move to phase…». A manual assignment overrides the automatic one.
4. **Track logistics and payments.** Each item shows segments: order → waiting → delivery → acceptance, supplier payment, measurement 📐, installation and actual dates. Logistics segments with 🔒 are calculated from the estimate — change them in the item card, not on the scale.

- The «Upcoming purchases» block shows what to order first, by order deadline.
- If the planned delivery date has passed and the product hasn't arrived, the waiting bar extends to today, and ArchiBoard creates a task to ask for a new delivery date.
- Click an item on the timeline to open its card.
- «Expand all» / «Collapse all» open or close the whole tree of phases and items.