Apartment renovation projects are always time-consuming, but they vary greatly in duration depending on the work being done.
Before you start any of your renovation projects, you’ll want to know how long they will take and what you should expect before, during, and after the work is complete.
Keep reading to learn more about how long apartment renovations take so you can start planning accordingly!
Factors That Impact Renovation Timeline
There are several factors that impact how long a renovation project will take. Some of them are within your control, while others rely on other people.
The timeline for an apartment renovation is broken down into four parts:
- Planning
- Preparation
- Construction
- Completion
Within each of these phases, there are also different factors that affect how long it takes. The amount of time spent in planning and preparation depends on you.
Whether you choose to research contractors and pick materials or if you jump right into design decisions without planning properly will have a direct impact on your timeline.
It’s important to do as much research as possible beforehand because that way, you can mitigate risks during construction while also keeping budget constraints in mind from day one.
For example, if you decide to renovate your kitchen but don’t plan ahead and order all of your cabinets before construction begins, then there is a chance that they won’t arrive on time.
This could delay your whole renovation schedule by weeks or even months depending on how long it takes to find new cabinets at an affordable price.
In addition, hiring contractors who specialize in renovations instead of general contractors can help speed up your timeline by giving you access to more specialized workers who know exactly what they’re doing.
Apartment Renovation Steps
1. Planning and Designing Phase
Planning and designing an apartment renovation can take 2 to 3 months. Because it is vital prior to buying any supplies so that you know what you need and how much it will cost.
And if there are any permits involved (there almost always are) it’s best to do them before taking on the project. After all, you can’t build a new bathroom until your plumbing has been updated and redone!
2. Obtain Permits and Approvals
In other words, this is where hiccups or delays may happen, while you’re obtaining permits and getting board approvals.
Don’t let that discourage you though, if you’re considering hiring an expert, that expert will know best and they can advise you on how to take your project on with the least amount of fuss.
3. Material Selection & Procurement
If you have to purchase your own materials, don’t wait until the design is finalized to order. Materials have a very long delivery time and you don’t want to hold up the whole renovation because you’re waiting for one thing.
Rather than worry about supply shortages, be sure to look at what is currently in stock and available to ship.
Speak with your contractor about delaying the product delivery date to coincide with the product installation date.
4. Time for Demolition
With the old stuff all tidied up, now it’s time for your contractor to go grab a sledgehammer. Make sure to protect the belongings that will stay with tarps or plastic and then get to work on removing everything else.
The whole process should take no more than two to five days if your apartment is the average size.
5. Reroute Plumbing and Electrical
Now that you’ve cleared away all the finishes, you’ll be able to run electrical or plumbing pipes through the wall at any time without fear of striking unseen obstacles.
Take a good look around, because now that you can see all the studs, any plans you make now may be impacted by what you find. Reroute plumbing and electrical pipes can take 2 to 4 days.
6. Floor Installation
Apartment renovations can take a long time, especially when your home is on multiple floors. Your floor installation can take 5-12 days and requires multiple individuals for different tasks throughout—such as laying down a vapor barrier and leveling tiles.
If you want a speedy renovation, you should schedule an appointment with several independent contractors at once so they can work simultaneously.
But keep in mind that if your apartment is large or located in an older building, it may still take some time due to work scheduling conflicts.
7. Installation Completion
Installing a new apartment can take anywhere from 10 to 20 days, depending on whether or not you have an old apartment being taken out and if your new apartment comes with appliances.
Install the kitchen this way: start with cabinets, move on to appliances, then finish with cabinet hardware.
Installation in your bathroom can include the tub, vanity, sink, toilet, and any built-in shelving. Tiling, lighting, and hardware typically come last.
If you’re only working on small, simple paint and repair projects in the corridors and bedrooms, the job should take comparatively less time to complete.
However, if you plan to do something like custom shelving or custom paneling in the kitchen or the bath, add a few extra days.
Depending on the site conditions and when the materials are arriving, the time frame can be changed.
8. Clean-Up
This is one of those tasks that we’re sure you forgot about. Be sure to include trash removal, carpet cleaning, and disinfecting of all surfaces in your plan for a healthy apartment.
This could take anywhere from 1 to 2 days depending on how big your space is and how much clutter you have lying around.
Conclusion
A renovation can take anywhere from 1 to 4 months depending on the work that’s being done and how much of the work you want to do yourself.
We recommend that you allow at least 3 months to accommodate any unexpected setbacks, but it may take more than 4 months depending on your apartment complex and any renovations you decide to do.
Consider these general breakdowns:
Minor: 1-2 Months
Moderate: 2-3 Months
Major: 3-4 Months.
Hire VALET WORKS for Apartment Renovation
Hiring VALET WORKS for your apartment renovation project is a great idea. We offer affordable prices, fast and efficient service, and convenient scheduling. It takes a lot of work to transform an apartment into something beautiful. When you hire VALET WORKS, you can rest assured that your home will be renovated with care by professionals. Our workers understand how important your apartment is and they’ll put in their all every day as they work on it.
The result? A beautiful new space that you can enjoy spending time in! Contact us today if you want to know more about our services or schedule a free estimate for your next project.