Delaying the handover of two new homes was the toughest part of the five-day lockdown for the team at GJ Gardner Homes Warrnambool.
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"We were really disappointed," director Andrew Womersley said.
"We had two house handovers that were supposed to happen - one on Monday and one Wednesday.
"We just felt bad and thought wouldn't you rather be in a new home for a lockdown?"
Mr Womersley said there was confusion after the stage four five-day lockdown was announced on Friday.
"It was quite a surprise when we found out construction was not deemed an essential service like it has before," he said.
"We certainly had a lot of calls from our trades base before people realised the seriousness of it."
Mr Womersley said there would be flow-on effects for the construction industry, with deliveries halted during the lockdown.
Crews are allowed to return to work on Thursday but they may have to wait on items such as bricks, which could further delay projects.
"We will have lost five working days," Mr Womersley said.
He said it was disappointing because it was an extremely busy time for the construction industry in the south-west.
"We had numerous jobs that were at different stages that were due to be completed, which now get pushed out," he said.
Mr Womersley said there was a lot of frustration within the construction industry that the lockdown was statewide.
"It was disappointing, especially since there were no cases in regional Victoria," he said.
Mr Womersley said he was "thrilled" to be back at work.
He said he hoped there would not be another snap lockdown.
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