How Long Does an Interior Renovation Take?
A Timeline for Tampa Bay Homeowners
How long will it take? If you are planning an interior renovation, you've probably asked yourself this question more than once. While the excitement of a home project is great, the uncertainty of the timeline can be one of the most stressful parts of the process. Renovations involve many moving parts—from initial planning and ordering materials to demolition, construction, and final finishing touches. Setting realistic expectations from the start can help ease your mind during those weeks in the middle of the project where things seem to be moving in slow motion.
Planning: 4 to 5 months
The planning phase is where you should start. If you are going to be managing your renovation and have chosen a contractor, stop right there. First, EVERY decision needs to be made about the project. The planning phase is often overlooked as a quick brainstorming session when in fact it needs to be a good chunk of your timeline. At Teresa Cannon Design the Conceptual Design phase, followed by the Detailed Design phase, takes a total of 16-20 weeks. That’s over four months of just planning! This is often the most surprising thing for new clients, but experienced designers know everything that comes after will run smoother and more efficiently if you plan well and thoroughly.
Have a floorplan drawn up complete with furniture selections (so walls and spaces are the right size), where you will need lighting (so electrical and outlets can be placed accordingly), how you want the cabinets, sink, and appliances configured in a kitchen or bath (to make sure there is enough walking room, counter space, storage, etc.), and anything else you imagine in the final product. Don't assume anything will work out until you have it on paper and review it with the contractor. Bonus: This will allow you to get a much more accurate price quote as the contractor can see all the elements that will be needed ahead of time, thus eliminating surprise expenses along the way.
Procurement: 2 to 3 months or longer
The next step is procurement. This is when you have a solid plan, you’ve discussed everything with your trades and contractors, and you can start ordering items that will be needed. Cabinets, tile, flooring, light fixtures, any custom molding, wood panels or stone pieces, countertops, and lots more, should be sourced and ordered. It is not uncommon for some of these items to take many months to be delivered and you want all supplies and fixtures needed to complete the project ready at the start. You don’t want to have a ripped apart home and suddenly find the flooring that was selected is on back order, and now the whole project will be delayed.
If new furnishings are part of the plan, you’ll want to know how long everything takes to be delivered so that it aligns with the completion of the renovation. You may have to arrange for storage of furnishings that come in early until they are ready to be installed.
Construction: 2 to 3 months (smaller projects), 6 months to 1 year (larger projects)
Finally! That’s right, if done properly, half the year has gone by and you are now just seeing some action. But think about what would have happened if your contractor had demo-ed your kitchen on week one. You would be spending a fortune on AirBNB, or worse yet, living through the mess! These are the stories I hear all the time from homeowners whose contractor promised a three month turnaround, only to be sitting in a construction zone months later with no end in sight. Be wary of contractors that tell you the whole thing can be done in 6 weeks unless you have a very small, basic project, because even with all the proper planning, construction takes time. At Teresa Cannon Design, we work with trusted contractors and trades that know how to schedule a renovation properly. But there are those out there that will promise the moon just to get a deposit, so watch out if it seems too good to be true.
There are many trades that need to be managed, from electricians and carpenters, to artisans like tile installers and painters. Obviously the more complex the project, the longer you should expect it to take. Often, renovations take longer than you’d think, so plan accordingly. Another thing worth noting, if a reputable contractor tells you in July that your project will take 8 months, don’t expect it to be done by Christmas. No matter the size of your project, renovations are an investment and you want the outcome to be top-notch. So don’t ask your contractor to sacrifice quality to meet a deadline.
Renovations often take longer than homeowners expect, but the time invested ensures every detail is thoughtfully executed, from design to final installation. Whether you’re working with a designer or managing the process yourself, understanding the timeline helps set realistic expectations—so when the dust settles, you’re left with a space that’s not just finished, but truly feels like home.
If you are interested in luxury residential interior design services in Tampa Bay, including a realistic investment estimate and timeline, contact us here.
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