If you’ve chosen to remodel a home, you’re making a significant investment not only financially but also in your future. A remodel can cost thousands of dollars, so it's only natural to have questions like, "How long does it take to remodel a house?" Questions like these are essential since you’re paying a lot of money and investing time in making your house a true reflection of you and your family.
In this blog, our G&L and Sons Renovations team will answer the question: how long does a remodel take in Montclair and Northern NJ to ensure you have a better idea of timeframes? This should help put your mind at ease that our remodeling contractors in Montclair, NJ, know what they are doing regarding New Jersey home renovations.
Before looking at a renovation project timeline in NJ, it’s essential to know more about the factors that affect how long it takes to remodel a home. Below are a few of the most common factors influencing the average home remodel timeline in Northern NJ and Montclair:
When remodeling a home, regardless of the part you’re renovating, you’ll learn that inspections are essential. Inspections keep your home's remodel on track and ensure all work meets local building and safety codes.
However, inspections do influence renovation timelines. This is because the timing of inspections is often left outside the contractor's control. Delays in city inspector availability can stall progress on your renovation, particularly if you’re undertaking an addition.
Regarding home remodeling in NJ, one of the biggest priorities is replacing plumbing and electrical systems to ensure they are up to code. Most home renovations of older homes will require these updates.
Depending on the extent of the replacements, the age of existing systems, and the number of rooms you are renovating, it could take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, thus extending the timeline.
An addition adds a whole new layer of complexity to a renovation project in Montclair or Northern NJ. This is because additions usually involve far more than simple interior updates. A structure's addition often requires foundation work, framing, roofing, and inspections, each of which can add time to the project timeline.
Another significant factor that influences a remodel timeline is the lead times on materials. Sometimes, construction or finish materials can have lead times of several weeks to months, depending on the materials you’ve chosen and where they are coming from, meaning you have to wait longer for the renovation to be completed.
Fortunately, if you choose a reliable renovation company like G&L and Sons renovations, we can mitigate these delays by ordering materials well in advance. This will ensure they are ready when needed and your timeline isn’t affected.
Sometimes, you might change your mind about an element of your remodel, which can lead to changes and adjustments to the original remodeling plan. Don’t feel bad about it—it's common in renovations once you see a space beginning to take life.
However, these changes and adjustments will usually influence and extend your timeline. In addition, these changes can also influence costs, as a remodeler is required to undertake additional planning or rework.
Unfortunately, the weather can wreak havoc on your remodel if you are undertaking external renovations like a addition or replacing windows or siding. Lousy weather slows the process of external renovations, so if it's snowing, raining, or cold when you plan to renovate your home, expect some delay on things like masonry work, roofing, and siding.
If you want a successful remodel, you and your contractor must rely on careful coordination between various professionals. If a team doesn’t work well together when it comes to planning and scheduling, you’ll be unable to minimize downtime or transition between renovation phases as smoothly, negatively affecting your timeline.
Have you found yourself asking, "How long does a bathroom remodel take?" "How long does a kitchen remodel take?" or "How long does a home addition take?"
You need to know that the type of remodel dictates how long the project will take. Below are the average timelines for various remodeling projects in Montclair and Northern NJ:
Kitchen remodel: 6 to 8 weeks.
Bathroom remodel: 4 to 6 weeks.
Basement remodel: 4 to 8 weeks.
Three to four-room remodel: 8 to 12 weeks.
Addition: 14 to 20 weeks.
Whole house remodel: 16 to 24 weeks.
Although the above indicates the average home remodel timeline in Northern NJ, these timelines are estimates; every project has unique circumstances that can change pricing. Still, these general ranges offer a solid foundation for planning purposes.
In our experience, we have found that every remodel follows a general sequence of steps. We undertake the same steps to ensure a project is completed smoothly and efficiently. Here is an overview of these phases, along with typical timelines for each:
Initial consultation: The initial consultation only takes a day. You’ll start your remodeling journey with a consultation so that a renovator can understand your vision and the scope of your remodel.
Design and estimate: The design and estimate phase takes between 14 and 60 days. This phase includes creating the design, selecting materials, and finalizing the project’s scope and budget.
Construction contract: The contract for construction takes only a day after the design and estimate phase. Once plans are agreed upon, contracts are signed to solidify timelines, costs, and responsibilities.
Prep the House for Construction: Prepping the house for construction takes one to two days. This involves covering floors, setting up dust barriers, and protecting the home.
Demolition: This part of the remodeling process only takes one to five days. Old materials and structures are carefully removed to make way for the new.
Masonry (if part of the project): Masonry work can take five to fifteen days when involved in a renovation. If you have elements like walkways and foundations to contend with, this time will be added to your timeline.
Framing: A remodel’s framing can take between one and 10 days. Framing outlines the structure and layout of the remodel, preparing the space for further work.
Roofing (if part of the project): You can expect roof work to take one to three days. Any required roof work is typically done quickly to avoid weather delays.
Windows: Windows takes one to three days to install during a remodel.
Siding (if part of the project): When part of a renovation, siding will take one to ten days.
Electrical: Depending on the complexity of the electrical work needed in a remodel, it could take one to five days or longer. During this time, electrical systems are installed or updated to meet modern codes and your needs.
Plumbing: Remodeling plumbing systems takes between one and five days. Pipes and fixtures are installed or upgraded, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
Insulation: When insulation is needed in a remodel, it takes one to two days to install. Insulating walls, ceilings, and floors often improve energy efficiency, so it will likely be a part of your remodel.
Drywall: On average, drywall installation takes five to 15 days and is done near the end of a renovation.
Flooring: Depending on the materials selected and the amount of flooring needed, installing new floors can take one to seven days.
Cabinetry: Custom or semi-custom cabinets are fitted to maximize storage and functionality in a home, and the process can take two to five days, depending on whether you’ve chosen custom cabinetry.
Appliances: Most of the time, appliance installation only takes a day.
Countertops (template, fabrication, installation): Countertops add style and function and are typically custom-made to fit, so they can take between four and 14 days to install in your home.
Finish Carpentry: Trim, moldings, and other details are added to make the space look finished, and this step takes between one and 10 days.
Painting (done by others): The final step involves painting walls, trim, and other surfaces, which brings everything together. This will take between two to seven days.
Now that you know more about a home construction timeline, you can answer the question: How long does a remodel take? Of course, the information we provided is a general idea, but it should give you a basis to begin your planning.
If you need a remodel and want to learn how long it will take, speak with G&L and Sons Renovations today. We offer professional remodeling in New Jersey and are equipped with the knowledge to guide you through the renovation process with accurate timeline estimations.
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If you live in our northern NJ area, and are ready to create the project of your dreams we'd love to hear from you.