Renovating a home can bring both excitement and stress, especially with the uncertainty of what lies ahead. It is essential to thoroughly understand the renovation process's typical stages and timelines to manage your expectations and plan your life and work at home accordingly. Let’s review five stages of home renovation.
1. Planning
Thoughtful, experience-based planning sets the foundation for a successful project. Homeowners often underestimate costs and rush through planning, leading to hiring the wrong contractors for the job. To avoid these pitfalls, it is crucial to do the research, establish a realistic budget and work with credible contractors. Of course, we advocate working with a knowledgeable designer from the outset to ultimately save you time, money and stress! Being proactive and planning for contingencies can mitigate the probability of setbacks and delaying the project. The planning stage may take between four weeks to six months, depending on the project's complexity.
2. Design
The design stage follows the planning stage and typically lasts two to six months, depending on the project's size and scope. At this stage, interior designers or architects (or some combination) lead a team to create drawings and technical specifications for your renovation project. It is essential to be involved in the design process to ensure that it reflects your preferences and meets your needs. This stage can involve several iterations until the final design is approved and may present challenges such as delayed material delivery or sourcing materials that are not readily available. To avoid any unnecessary delays, it is crucial to research materials and finalize design plans before starting the project.
3. Permitting
After your designs have been solidified, it is time to obtain your permits. While many people consider this to be a painful part of the process, it is an advisable one and can take several weeks, depending on the project's location and extent. For construction and renovation, you must obtain permits before starting in most towns and municipalities. This is especially critical for a smooth future resale and most homeowners like the security of knowing that plumbing, electrical and engineering has been done correctly and is up to code.
4. Demolition
Hardhats, sledgehammers and releasing frustration! It is demolition time, which clears the way for new construction. As much fun as smashing through a wall can be, this phase can also reveal any unexpected structural damage or safety concerns. Hiring a reputable contractor can help spot potential issues before they become a significant problem. Considering possible contingencies and adding a buffer to your timeline and budget can avoid unnecessary delays.
5. Construction
This is where ideas come to life and all the prep comes to fruition. Of course, the construction process has many elements and can last months or even years, depending on the scale of the project. (Think framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, carpentry, flooring, tiling, appliance installation, painting, plus all the finish work.) When unforeseen complications arise (e.g., weather delays, supply chain interruptions, subcontractor backups) it is helpful to have contingency plans in place, maintain open communication with the contractor and design team, and to stay informed. At the end of the process, with any obstacles overcome, it is doubly rewarding to move your dishware into those beautiful new cabinets, luxuriate in a spa-like bathroom or simply admire how crisp new bed linens offset your paint color.
