How long does a renovation really take?

“How long will it take?” is the second question everyone asks, right after “how much will it cost?” Like cost, the answer depends on the project, but there are realistic ranges. More importantly, most of the time on a project is decided before any builder arrives on site.

The time before building starts

People often think of a project’s length as the time the builders are on site. In reality, the time before construction can be as long or longer:

Design: from first sketches to final drawings, often a few months for a significant project
Approvals: building plans, and heritage or land-use approvals if needed (see getting plans approved)
Pricing and appointing a builder: a few weeks
Ordering long-lead items: windows, kitchens and steelwork can take weeks or months to manufacture

Starting design early is the best way to shorten the overall timeline.

Typical building times

These are rough ranges for the construction phase, once approvals are in place and the main items are ordered:

Bathroom renovation: around three to six weeks, depending on size and finishes
Kitchen renovation: around four to eight weeks, often driven by joinery and worktop lead times (see planning a kitchen renovation)
Ground-floor extension: around three to five months
Second-storey addition: around four to seven months
Full home renovation: around four to nine months, depending on the size of the house and the scope
New house: typically seven months to a year or more

Our projects give an idea: Pembroke, a complete apartment renovation, took four months. Dunkeld, a new house in Bishopscourt, was completed in seven months, and the full renovation of Picardi in Constantia also took seven months.

What makes projects run late

Late decisions. Finishes, fittings and appliances not chosen in time. This is the most common cause of delay.
Changes during construction. Each change has a knock-on effect on the trades that follow.
Long-lead items ordered late. Windows and joinery not ordered early enough.
Hidden problems. Especially in older houses: rotten timbers, poor foundations, old wiring and plumbing.
Weather. Cape Town winters can stop roofing, waterproofing, external plastering and painting.
The December break. The industry closes for several weeks (see the builders’ break).
Inspections and approvals that are needed during construction.

How to keep a project on time

Finish the design before construction starts.
Choose all finishes and fittings early, and confirm availability.
Order long-lead items as soon as possible.
Limit changes once construction has started.
Answer your builder’s questions promptly.
Allow a realistic contingency for time as well as money.

Our programmes

We prepare a programme for every project, update it as work progresses and tell you early if something is going to affect the dates. If you have a deadline, such as a baby on the way or a lease ending, tell us at the start and we will plan around it. Get in touch to talk about your project’s timeline.