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Question:
We are in the process of researching a remodeling project and are concerned about how long it will take. We have heard horror stories of projects taking a year or longer to complete! Can anyone tell
us how long different types of remodeling projects should take?
Answer:
Excellent question, but difficult to give a blanket answer. Naturally, the size and scope of the project, the age of the house, and our
wonderful Wisconsin weather are all major factors that effect the job schedule.
I must start by saying that I can only describe our particular Company's past experience, and cannot answer for all remodeling contractors.
Other contractors may have very good reasons why their projects may be completed quicker or take longer, and I do not want to speak for them. But I would think that these estimates could apply to many other legitimate
contractors.
Let's start with a basic addition - say a single story Master Suite. The project has a full basement, full bath, cathedral ceiling, and carpet on the floor. The bathroom has standard fixtures with a ceramic
shower / tub area and vinyl on the floor. Barring any unforeseen circumstances and good weather, this type of project should take from 8 to 14 weeks, but probably closer to 12. For a second story addition with similar features,
take off a couple weeks for eliminating the excavation & masonry. Also, take a couple more weeks off if there is not a bathroom involved. A simple Family room addition may take 8 weeks or less under good conditions.
For a kitchen, good planning by the contractor is the key. A complete gut with all new cabinets and fixtures, possibly a new window and doors should take from 4 to 8 weeks - again depending on how custom the job is. Throw in a
skylight and wood flooring and it could take a bit longer - but should be substantially complete within 10 weeks give or take a week in most cases. Substantially complete means that the job is 98% done, but maybe a cabinet
filler board or other minor parts need to be ordered.
Bathrooms move along a bit quicker, but once again making sure all the materials are in hand before starting is the key. A complete gut with all new fixtures in the
same locations - not moving any walls - 5 x 7 in size, should be completed in 2 to 3 weeks. Usually, 5 working days is all a Contractor needs to get the major work done and the rest is finish details. Throw in bumping out
walls, moving fixtures to new locations, custom ceramic tile and so on, you could be talking 5 to 7 weeks, but a bathroom shouldn't take much longer than that unless unforeseen problems or delays occur.
A simple
Basement without a bathroom takes about 6 weeks, but add a full bathroom, custom stairs, maybe a wet bar and fireplace with some cabinetry you could be talking between 8 to 10 weeks. Add another week for an egress window.
Remodeling contractors deal with so many variables and so many unforeseen situations, predicting exactly how long a project will take is pretty much a guessing game. It's not the contractors fault if your sub floor is
rotted, your circa 1942 walls are crooked, or that your soil conditions require extra excavation. All parties must remain flexible and try to roll with the flow.
To conclude, I would say that the best piece of advice I
can give today's remodeling buyer is to make sure you get a schedule in writing and hold the contractor to it! If the schedule begins to slip, make sure you are given a good reason why. When comparing contractors, completion
time is simply one of the many other areas to investigate besides price.
Answered by: Patrick Benkowski, CR
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