Upgrading your home or office space will increase your comfort, make your clients and guests feel more comfortable and increase productivity.
Before diving in to a new project, you might be wondering how to estimate your renovation time. There are many factors involved with a project that affect its timeliness, but there are some proactive steps you can take to estimate your timeline and minimize delays.
Factor in Prep Time
Even the smallest miscalculation can cause delays to your renovation project. It might be tempting to rush in, but working with your interior designer to accurately measure, develop a budget and draw out plans will save you time in the long run. Prep work, along with requesting and gathering appropriate documents from government agencies average a month or more, and can take up to three months, depending on the project. Architectural construction can last more than a year, due to the extensive documentation required before work can commence. Fixing a mistake can be far more time-consuming than doing things right the first time.
Consider the Scope of your Project
Minor cosmetic changes such as painting can be completed in a day or two, but even small tasks like getting a quote from a contractor will take up to a week or so. Small renovations can take 2 to 3 months and highly customized projects that involve heavy construction and equipment installation can take several months or longer. The average kitchen renovation takes between four and six weeks, for example. Home renovations differ from commercial renovations and so do their timelines.
The size, age and location of your space will also factor in to the time estimate. Unexpected complications often arise during projects that can delay the initial timeline. Moving of electrical and plumbing components and repair to unknown structural damage are among the few reasons for work delays. Collaborate with your designer to develop a timeline that factors in each component of your project.
Communicate with your Interior Designer
An experienced interior designer will give you a good feel for a project’s timeline and also discuss potential complications. Your designer will work with you to determine what needs to be done to avoid delays. This could range from making a tile selection to confirming furniture pieces. Of course, not all delays can be anticipated, so expect to work with your designer throughout the project to update your timeline.
Don’t Skip Steps
All in all, a small-scaled renovation project can take about 2 months, including prep time and the actual renovation process. Larger scope projects may require a bit more planning, and can take up to 3-4 months. Renovation can cause disruption to your household or business, so it’s tempting to skip steps to save time. Working with unlicensed vendors, making last-minute changes and rushing through processes can all lead to mistakes, fees and delays. It’s important to be realistic from the beginning and understand that skimping because of time or budget can lead to costly and time-consuming delays and headaches.
You can add comfort and value to your home or office space with minimal disruption by trusting experts, properly planning and setting realistic goals. Contact Us to learn more about developing a project timeline and creating the home or business that works for you.