How Long Should Home Improvements Take?

Once you’ve decided to go ahead for your home improvement project be aware that almost all of them, even a basic redecoration of a room, involve disruption to a certain extent.

Understanding how long work will take is important before settling on a start date as the noise, dust, and workmen traipsing through your home could easily become problematic if you’re not prepared. Plus, for example, you might want to avoid a winter project when doors and windows might be open a lot as work progresses.

Some remodeling projects involving structural alterations or major replacements can take weeks – maybe months – compared to some improvements such as installing a prefabricated steel storage shed or larger structure that may only take a matter of hours.

Examples of time taken by improvement type

Here are remodeling projects that involve professional contractors and would take at least a week to complete:

Bathroom

Duration: two to three weeks

Work: even a basic replacement of existing units will likely put the bathroom out of action for a while, so you’ll have to make alternative arrangements unless you have a second or en-suite bathroom.

A more involved bathroom project could involve totally gutting the existing one, especially if you’re looking to upgrade to a spa-style room.

Roofing

Duration: about one week

Work: your living areas shouldn’t be disrupted by workmen needing access but there will be noise and a degree of debris while work is undertaken. You’ll likely have to keep vehicles, children and pets clear of the immediate surrounds of the house in case of falling objects and debris.

Basement conversion

Duration: two to three weeks

Work: if it’s a hollow cellar then mostly contractors will be working in an area likely not used so, apart from noise, it shouldn’t prove too disruptive – especially if they can enter and exit through a dedicated door if you have one.

Creating a new basement through digging up the ground floor is a very different proposition; you’d almost certainly have to move out while this type of project was undertaken and it would likely take several weeks to complete, too.

Kitchen

Duration: a complete remodel such as knocking down dividing walls to create a more open plan area and starting over could take two to three months.

An upgrade (replacing cabinets, new sink, new appliances and flooring and maybe refacing rather than replacing kitchen cabinets) would take from one to two weeks.

Work: a full remodel will put the kitchen out of action for some while so you may find yourself heating food up in the microwave sited elsewhere, and the local takeaway shops may be seeing more of you.

Attic conversion

Duration: around eight or nine weeks

Work: depending what exactly the attic is being converted to will determine overall disruption; if it’s to a home office or small bedroom, then this will be less than if it’s to be another bathroom involving extensive plumbing work.

While there will be some noise and workmen moving through part of your home to access the area, at least most of the work is confined to an unoccupied area.

Decorating

Duration: varies but professionals could complete an average house in less than a week

Work: depending on how many rooms, disruption will vary. If several rooms, then disruption will vary as each room is decorated (although some rooms may be worked on simultaneously).

Garage conversion

Duration: around eight or nine weeks maybe a little less

Work: converting an existing garage to alternative use such as another bedroom, bathroom, den, home gym, office or small workshop.

If an integral garage, then there will be more disruption than if converting a garage separate to the main house – but at least the contractors are working in an area probably not used much.

Checking with your contractors

Part of the agreement when you engage contractors to carry out a home remodeling project is their committing to a time frame for how long the work will take. Overruns can happen but they’d be expected to let you know in good time. Bear these ball park figures in mind when drawing up your home improvement plan.