Markham Builder FAQs: How Long Will My Home Renovation Take?

After you find out how much your Markham renovation will cost, your next question will probably be, “So when will my project be finished?” The length of your renovation project is affected by many factors, including the size of the space, the complexity of the renovation, and the availability of building materials.

Although your renovator will stick to the renovation timeline as closely as possible,  your project should not be rushed and shortcuts that could affect quality should not be taken. Taking a look at these questions and answers will give you an idea of how long it actually takes to complete common renovations.

How Long Will My Renovation Take?

Depending on the extent of the project, home renovations in the Markham area may take two months to one year or longer. The more complicated the project, the longer it will take. Of course, updating your kitchen or building an addition will take much longer than making a few updates to your living room. 

Which Projects Take Longer Than Others?

Generally, projects requiring moving or adding plumbing or electrical lines or adding new features require more time than simple refreshes. Here’s how long you can expect common renovations to take:

• Bathroom Renovations: If you won’t be changing the location of your fixtures, it may be possible to replace your flooring, bathtub, shower, sink, and toilet and paint your bathroom in as little as three to four weeks. Extensive renovations that involve moving plumbing and electrical lines or expanding the size of your bathroom could take five to six weeks.
• Kitchen Renovations: Basic kitchen renovations may also only take four weeks. These renovations don’t change the footprint of your kitchen and only involve replacing cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes and painting the room. If you’ll be gutting your entire kitchen or enlarging it, the process may take six weeks to three months, depending on the size of the room and the features and fixtures you plan to add.
• Adding a Second Story to Your Home: Would you like to turn your bungalow, side split home or an area over your garage into a living space? The conversion process will probably take four to six months. This is a great way to add living space without the excavation and foundation mess. When adding a second story to a home it usually means you will need to make some changes to the existing home, like the staircase location, a new furnace, electrical and plumbing upgrades as well as now moving the bedrooms on the main floor up to the new second floor.
• Attic Conversion: Would you like to turn your attic into a bedroom, office, or craft room? The conversion process will probably take six to 10 weeks. Although an attic conversion may seem like a simple project, your renovator will need to extend electrical lines and connect the room to your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, in addition to insulating the walls and adding drywall. This job will also require major structural changes. 
• Living Room, Bedroom, Dining Room, or Family Room Upgrade: Since these renovations usually don’t require plumbing or electrical work, they can often be finished in one to four weeks.
• Finish Basement: Basements offer plenty of space for new bedrooms and bathrooms, home theatres, and game rooms. The timeline for your basement conversion will depend on whether you’re creating a craft room or turning the space into an in-law suite complete with a kitchen and bathroom. Basement projects can take a few weeks to one to four months or longer. 
• Whole House Renovation: Renovating your entire home may take four to eight months or longer. Of course, your timeline will depend on the size and age of your home and the amount of work each room needs.

What Are the Phases in the Design and Construction Timeline

Your timeline will be affected by how long each of these stages last:

• Design: Before the project begins, you’ll meet with an architectural or interior designer who will create a design that incorporates all the features you want in your renovated space. The design phase may take one to four months.
• Permits and Approvals: If your renovation requires a building permit then your architectural designer will need to obtain permits and approvals before begins. Although this sounds like it should be a short process, municipalities can take a while to issue permits and approvals. It’s a good idea to plan for four to eight weeks, just in case.
• Construction: Construction, the lengthiest phase of the project, may take a few weeks to 10 months or longer. 

What Factors Can Lengthen the Renovation Timeline?

Your timeline may be affected by:

• Change Orders: Making changes to the renovation once construction starts not only delays the completion of your project but also increases your costs. You can help keep your renovation on schedule by carefully considering the features, fixtures, and finishes you want before signing off on the design plan.
• Supply Chain: Most products require time to acquire, plumbing rough-ins can take several weeks, and tiles and hardwood are similar. Cabinets are either off the shelf at a big box store or they can take up to 10 weeks from the day they are ordered from a boutique kitchen supplier.
• Scheduling Issues: Your renovator will most likely need to work with subcontractors, like plumbers, framers, tile setters, and electricians, to complete your renovation. If these tradespeople aren’t readily available or if your contractor lacks efficient organization, your renovation can last longer than anticipated.
• The Weather: Extreme snowstorms and rain can make it difficult for the construction team to reach your home and may extend the estimated completion date.

Want to know how long your renovation will take? Get in touch with us to schedule a consultation.