Update to Article How Long Does Remodel Take?
The information presented in our article “How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Really Take?” can be supplemented with results from the 2020 Houzz & Home Survey. This survey was conducted between January 2 and March 5, 2020 and collected information from more than 87,000 homeowners who renovated their home in 2019.
Planning Can Take Twice As Long as Construction
Survey findings show that the planning phase often takes longer than the actual construction work.
Decisions must be made concerning
Most of these decisions need to be finalized before work begins.
Kitchens, the most popular spaces to renovate, took the longest to plan. In 2019 homeowners took an average of 8.3 months to plan their kitchen remodel project. That might seem like a long time, but it makes sense when you consider all that’s involved in a kitchen remodel
- Finding your style
- Which professionals to hire
- Planning the best layout
- Choosing the right cabinetry
- Deciding on all the many finishes, from countertops to cabinet pulls
Caveat
The 8.3 months for planning reported in the survey is an average. The time spent on a project will vary depending on the work being done, the location, homeowners’ participation and the professionals involved.
Construction Time Varies By Room
The time for completion of the construction phase of a kitchen remodeling project done last year was 4.5 months. As with the planning phase, kitchens took the longest.
Again, the time it takes to plan and do any remodel project will vary depending on the work done, the homeowners and the professionals involved.
Keep Your Project on Track
There are steps you can take to help keep your project moving along. Here are three key suggestions from professionals who know what they are talking about:
1. Allow enough time for ordering.
You want to allow enough lead to be sure the products you’ve selected will be where you want them when work begins.
Decide on all the things that have to be ordered in advance of the project beginning. That way, everything is ready so your contractor is not waiting for the tiles or the flooring. That’s what delays the project.
2. Plan ahead, then stick to the plan.
While it may be tempting to rush into demolition before making all the decisions about your renovation, this isn’t the most efficient way to carry out a project. It’s best to have complete decisions made before demo, right down to your hardware.
The more time planning ahead before starting a demo the better. Have everything you’ll need — a demolition plan, an electrical plan, your kitchen layout and cabinetry drawings — before demo actually begins.
3. Trust the professionals you hired.
You hired the general contractor, architect and kitchen designer because you liked their portfolio of work and believed they had the expertise you need to create your dream kitchen.
You have to trust that you’re working with people who know what they’re doing, then let them do their jobs. Trust is important because it keeps you from second-guessing or questioning what is happening with your remodel. And helps keep the project on time.
For example, doing research online to compare suppliers and prices on every suggestion your pro makes can delay decision-making and upset the timeline.
While it may be tempting to search over the internet for sales, it’s probably a to trust your designer. If you’ve hired a good one, he or she is aware of what products are available and has presented the best options to you, including ones for which she gets a sweet trade discount and can get decent pricing.
Remember, the point of hiring a pro is for that person to manage your project so you don’t have to.
A Kitchen Design Partner-recommended designer comes pre-qualified. No need for you to worry about their qualifications and talent. The designers we choose to work with are held to a high standard, so you get the best results. They will guide your selection processes and help you avoid mistakes that may de-rail your remodel project.
Conclusion
What can we take away from the 2020 Houzz survey? A kitchen remodel is a lengthy, time-consuming project, and the planning phase is almost twice as long as the actual construction.
Trust the pros who make up your remodel team, order what you need well in advance and make a thorough plan and stick to it.
