The Real Timeline for a Home Renovation (and How to Prepare for It)

Let’s be honest—renovation timelines rarely go as planned. Between backordered materials, last-minute design tweaks, permit delays, and the occasional “we found mold behind the walls,” it can feel like your renovation is more of a marathon than a sprint.

But with a bit of foresight (and a lot of patience), you can set realistic expectations and move through the process with confidence. Whether you’re remodeling your kitchen, updating a bathroom, or doing a full home overhaul, understanding the flow of a typical renovation—plus giving yourself buffer room—will help you breathe easier through every stage.

This is your step-by-step renovation roadmap, updated to reflect how long it really takes.

Phase 1: Planning + Pre-Construction (Weeks 1–8+)

Weeks 1–2: Define Your Vision

Start by dreaming. Do you want to update the look of your space? Improve how it functions? Add more room or just refresh what you already have? Make a list of your goals, must-haves, and deal-breakers.

This is also the time to start collecting visual inspiration. Create mood boards, save images, and figure out what styles and layouts appeal to you most. Clear vision now saves confusion later.

Weeks 3–4: Set a Budget (With a Cushion)

Get real about the numbers. Renovations almost always cost more than expected—so build in a 15–25% buffer. Do your research on material and labor costs in your area, and start sourcing estimates.

Your budget should include:

• Labor and materials

• Design or architectural fees

• Permit costs

• Temporary living or storage needs

• Emergency fund for surprises (like plumbing issues or wood rot)

Keep track of everything in one place—Google Sheets, Trello, or a printed binder all work.

Weeks 5–6: Build Your Team

Now’s the time to lock in your contractor, designer, architect (if needed), and any specialty trades.

Vet carefully—ask for references, verify licenses and insurance, and make sure their availability matches your timeline. It’s not uncommon for great teams to be booked 2–3 months out. This is why adding lead time in the planning phase is crucial.

Depending on your renovation scope, your team might include:

• Interior designer or design-build firm

• General contractor

• Architect or engineer

• Electrician, plumber, painter, tile setter, etc.

Weeks 7–8+: Finalize the Design & Order Materials

Be ready to make decisions here. Finalize your floor plan, select finishes, and start placing material orders. Lead times for tile, custom cabinets, appliances, and stone can range from 4 to 12+ weeks, so the sooner you order, the better.

Your contractor may also begin pulling permits, which can take anywhere from 2–8 weeks, depending on your municipality and scope of work.

Phase 2: Prepping Your Home (Weeks 9–10)

You’re getting close to demo—but don’t skip this essential prep time.

Week 9: Pack Up, Set Up, Clear Out

If you're renovating a major space like a kitchen, bath, or main living area, start packing. Store your essentials safely, relocate fragile items, and clear out closets and surfaces.

Plan alternate spaces for living and eating, or decide if it makes more sense to temporarily move out. It may sound dramatic, but for full-home or major kitchen renovations, moving out reduces stress and dust exposure.

Week 10: Protect Your Space

Protect non-renovated areas of your home from dust and damage. Your contractor should seal off spaces, lay floor protection, and prep for demolition.

Use this week to triple-check that all materials are ordered and deliveries are scheduled. A delay now could snowball into longer hold-ups later.

Phase 3: Demolition (Weeks 11–13)

This is where it gets messy—but it’s also where the transformation begins.

Weeks 11–13: Out With the Old

Walls come down, floors get ripped up, and old fixtures are removed. Expect dust, noise, and chaos—and yes, some surprises.

This is also when hidden issues often surface: plumbing leaks, electrical that's not up to code, pests, or structural concerns. Keep your contingency budget close, and be ready to make some quick decisions.

Pro Tip: Snap photos of what's behind the walls (pipes, wiring) before they get closed up again—it

might come in handy later.

Phase 4: Rough Construction & Systems (Weeks 14–18)

This phase takes longer than most people expect—and it’s the most critical behind-the-scenes work.

Weeks 14–15: Structural Framing

New framing, supports, or walls are added. Windows or doors might be moved or added. Your space will finally begin to take shape.

Weeks 16–17: Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC Rough-Ins

Now your team installs the “guts” of the space—new water lines, electrical wiring, ductwork, and more. If you’re adding new light fixtures, outlets, or plumbing fixtures, this is the time to make sure everything is in the right place.

Week 18: Inspection Phase

This week is all about waiting. Your city or county inspector must sign off on rough-in work before insulation and drywall can begin. Depending on your area, this could happen in a few days or take several weeks.

Phase 5: Drywall, Floors & Paint (Weeks 19–23)

Now you’ll start to see your space look like an actual room again.

Weeks 19–20: Insulation & Drywall

Insulation is installed, and drywall goes up. This can take several days, and it gets dusty fast. Be prepared to live in a construction zone for a little while longer.

Once drywall is installed, your team will tape, mud, sand, and prime it, which adds more time (and more dust).

Weeks 21–22: Paint + Floors

Walls and ceilings are painted, followed by flooring installation. Depending on your selections—hardwood, tile, LVP—this could take anywhere from a few days to a full week.

Pro Tip: If you’ve been holding off on paint decisions, now’s the time to finalize. Lighting and flooring can change how paint reads in a room.

Week 23: Touch-Ups and Delays

This is a flex week. If something got delayed (it always does), this gives you room to stay on track without pushing the whole timeline forward.

Phase 6: Cabinets, Built-ins & Fixtures (Weeks 24–27)

This is the fun part where your space starts to look like the vision in your head.

Weeks 24–25: Cabinetry & Countertops

Cabinets are installed first, followed by templates for your countertops. Fabrication can take 7–14 business days, depending on the material.

While waiting, backsplashes or tile work in other rooms can be started. If you’re adding custom-built-ins, they’ll start appearing now, too.

Weeks 26–27: Light Fixtures, Appliances & Hardware

By now, it’s all about the details. Appliances are installed, hardware is mounted, lighting goes up, and everything begins to gleam.

It’s not unusual for some items to still be backordered at this point—especially specialty lights or custom-made fixtures—so stay in close contact with your project manager.

Phase 7: Final Walkthrough & Styling (Weeks 28–30+)

You’re almost there! The last few weeks are all about tying up loose ends and making it feel like home again.

Week 28: Punch List

Your team will create a list of anything that needs to be fixed or finished—from scratched floors to paint touch-ups.

Be thorough, and don’t feel bad about pointing things out. You’ve invested a lot—this is your time to ensure everything is done right.

Week 29: Deep Cleaning

Even with protection in place, construction dust gets everywhere. Many contractors include a deep cleaning, but you may want to follow up with your own to get the space sparkling.

Week 30+: Styling & Move-In

Now comes the fun part: move back in, decorate, and make the space feel like yours. Don’t feel pressure to finish everything at once—take your time choosing the right furniture, art, and decor.

This is also the time to reflect on what worked and what you’d do differently. Renovations are always a learning experience.

Realistic Renovation Timelines At a Glance

Phase	Timeframe
Planning & Design	8+ weeks
Demo Prep & Material Ordering	2 weeks
Demolition	2–3 weeks
Framing & Rough-Ins	4–5 weeks
Drywall, Paint, & Floors	4–5 weeks
Cabinetry & Fixtures	3–4 weeks
Punch List & Move-In	2–3 weeks
Total Time	~30+ weeks

Note: Timelines vary depending on scope, team availability, and custom materials.

You've Got This

The most common mistake people make when planning a renovation is underestimating the time it really takes. It’s not just the build—it’s the decision fatigue, the back-and-forth emails, the weather delays, the flooring that arrives two weeks late. And that’s all normal.

The truth is, the more buffer time you build in, the more peace of mind you’ll have. Renovating your home is a big deal—and it deserves patience, clarity, and a little breathing room.

By understanding what’s ahead (and giving yourself grace through it), you’ll end up with more than a beautiful home. You’ll have a space that truly reflects you, created with care, purpose, and a timeline that actually makes sense.

Want expert support every step of the way? At Vergara Homes, we specialize in full-service design-build projects that are as beautiful as they are thoughtful. From sourcing materials to managing every step of the renovation, we’re here to bring your vision to life—on a timeline that respects your lifestyle.

Ready to get started? Reach out here. We can’t wait to build something beautiful with you.