When you’re considering renovating your house, one of the major criteria you’ll be considering is the answer to this simple question: “How long will it take?”
The trick here is, answering that question is a lot more complex than you might think. There are many factors to consider before offering a timeline estimate for a house renovation project, and even then a project might require some extra time to be properly done.
So how much time are we talking?
Each individual home renovation project is a one-of-a-kind project, depending on the remodeling scope and the variables specific to it. That means that the time your renovation will take will depend on what you want done.
Here’s where experienced builders from home renovation companies come in handy; they should be able to give you a reliable idea of how long your renovation might take after visiting the space and hearing the changes you have in mind. That would be your first broad estimate regarding timeline.
However, to give you an idea of what kind of timeframes you can expect, here are some estimates that approximate the time-frame you can expect depending on the scope of your home remodel.
With a cosmetic change to your house, such as new countertops, flooring replacement or having the walls painted, you can expect the whole job to be done within a week or two.
A bigger project, such as a full kitchen remodel, adding an annex room to your building or having a new fireplace installed could take between 6 weeks and 5 months.
Anything bigger than that, such as foundation or structural repairs, house lifting or a second story addition will take at least between 6 months and a year.
What affects my home renovation timeline?
There are a lot of variables to factor in when drafting an estimated timeline for a house renovation project.
Here are some factors that affect how much time it would take to renovate your home:
- The size of your home: It’s simple, the bigger the space, the longer it will take to remodel.
- The scope of the renovation: What rooms are included in the renovation and the nature of these changes affects how long it will take to get the job done.
- Weather impact: Windy storms, temperature variations, and rain or snow can all halt work for undefined lengths of time.
- Construction Permits and HOA delays: Whether it’s because the permitting office is dealing with a backlog, or because someone on the Homeowners Association board is unavailable for a period of time, delays may happen.
- Uncovering issues with current structure: sometimes issues emerge as construction is taking place, like mold, water damage or cracked foundations, which needs addressing before continuing with the renovation.
- Changes in design: Sometimes, you change your mind, and your renovation company should be flexible enough to roll with it. However, design changes will delay the completion of your renovation project.
So what can I do to make sure it doesn’t take forever?
There are a few steps you can take to lower the likelihood of delays and missteps:
- Choose the right renovation contractor.
- Stick to original renovation plans and trust your builder.
- Have regular project meetings with your renovation contractor.
- Include a margin in your budget for extra remodeling expenses.
- Keep in mind that delays are common for large house renovation projects.
- Sign a contract that protects both you and the construction firm from unnecessary delays and/or expenses.
Hopefully we’ve helped you wrap your head around how long it might take you to complete your house renovation, and to understand everything that goes into that timeline estimate.
