When exactly does construction start?

According to the contract, construction end is 6 months after construction start. But the construction company says foundation slab. That makes 3 weeks difference.

if the contract states after the start of construction, then after the start of construction, not somewhere in the middle

Hello,

for me, it also starts with the foundation slab. But the excavation is not included in the house price for me, so it does not count as the start of construction. However, it was only 3 days.

Now it is settled:

Construction begins with the first groundbreaking!
Excavation was included in my contract.

Basically, I can understand the question "When exactly does the construction start?"
In my contract it says: "The construction period is...5 months...plus 4 weeks planning time. The period begins with the submission of the building permit, contractual clarity...(etc.). In the event of exceeding the completion date...a lump-sum compensation... is agreed upon."
Until today I have not received a construction schedule. For me, the earthworks are exclusive and the foundation slab inclusive. I have already completed the earthworks (after being requested by my site manager), now my developer is not bringing the foundation slab.

Therefore, I see the construction start as the point in time after I have fulfilled all contractual requirements, plus the 4 weeks planning time, as well as weather-related delays.

This is important to me because later claims for damages can be calculated in terms of time. If it were up to my developer, the construction start would be the day the foundation slab is poured.

I'm curious how my developer will respond to this.

It is different for me. The earthworks are included in the contract. Therefore, it starts with the "first spade cut" as the "start of construction." The construction company tries to argue that it only begins with the base slab. However, that is not correct.