When Should I Start to Plan a Renovation?

When should I start to plan for a renovation and how long does the process take are great questions to ask!

The preparation for a renovation is a critical step for homeowners to embark on. A homeowner should generally start to plan a renovation about 6-8 months before they want the project completed. Working with a design-build firm will help guide this process and ensure it results in a complete and thorough drawing package and selection list. These tools can then be turned over to their construction team to turn the plan into reality.

There are many factors that go into determining the realistic length for a particular project’s design & construction phase. The design phase is one of the most important because it is where all the planning takes place to ensure the renovation will go as smoothly as possible. There are several necessary steps required to have a design completed to the point of constructability.

A homeowner can expect to spend approximately 2-5 months in the design phase, depending on the scope of the project. Other factors that can contribute to more time spent in design include the complexity of the design in each space, custom cabinetry, structural components, or other custom features that require extra detail. Projects where there are minimal architectural changes or a simpler design will have less of a time commitment in the planning phase.

At ARTium Design Build Inc. for example, our designers will set expectations and goals for each meeting to ensure that the discussed timeline is on track. Each required decision including architectural layouts, storage solutions, electrical layouts, and material & finish selections will be shared with the homeowner in person, as well as tracked by our online management system for easy reference. By having a structured timeline set from the start of the design process, everyone involved can feel more at ease knowing what stage is next and can be better prepared to make informed decisions along the way.

Once the homeowners and our design team, have made their decisions on how it’s going to look, it is time to start building. Construction timelines are similar to the design phase because it depends on the scope of the project as well. The average construction timeline will take approximately 3 – 4 months, with smaller projects potentially being constructed in about 1.5 – 2 months. Key factors that affect the duration of a project are permit approval delays, weather conditions, scope changes, and material/labour availability.

A design-build firm, like ARTium Design Build Inc. can help to minimize these factors because each member of the team is involved with the project from the beginning of planning. This minimizes the amount of time it would take to choose the right contractor and transfer the required information to construct. They will also coordinate subtrades and material deliveries to guarantee that they will arrive on time. Additionally, if there are any changes during construction, the design team is notified right away to ensure that the project will be completed within the discussed schedule