How Long Should My Renovation Take?
HGTV renovation shows have made us come to believe that an entire home renovation should be done within a few short weeks. THIS COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!! WARNING, WARNING, WARNING! This is a TV show and not real life!
I myself have lived this notion and it is the worst way to enter a renovation. You come in with an expectation that your house will wholly transformed into a thing of beauty and when you are still stuck looking at unpainted drywall and unfinished kitchen – then what?? You get frustrated!!! You think, “My expectations aren’t met! We should be finished! This should be quicker!”
These are all thoughts that have run through my head and usually triggered the arguments between David and I. I was very green and very naïve when we started renovating. By the end I had discovered that it takes MUCH longer to finish and you ALWAYS have to add in extra time when tackling a renovation in an older home. They are notorious for having issues including but not limited to:
Rotten subfloors from leaks
Foundation issues
Termite damage
Mold/Mildew
Improper past repairs leading to framing issues
Old knob and tube wiring
Outdated plumbing lines
The list can go on and on!!
Not every house or old house will have these issues. Some homes have been meticulously maintained by the previous owners and will not need a lot of extra attention. Once you start opening up walls you are also opening yourself up to the possibility of exposing additional problems that need fixed. The beauty of this is that you end up with a very safe home. The down sound is the additional time and money to fix the problems!
Overall, every renovation you tackle will take time and money. The newer your home is the more likely the renovation can be accomplished in less time. But just remember that even simple renovations or updates can become time consuming. Quick cosmetic updates are usually the quickest. When you start to move walls or open up walls you will begin to add a lot of time to your project. These items come with permits that must be pulled and inspections that need to be done by your city or town’s inspectors. Expect to add additional weeks to your project as you will have to wait for approvals and/or changes. Refinishing floors can take a week or two. Drywall install and mud and sand can also take a week or two. While these items seem painstaking to wait for, I promise it is worth the WAIT!
So, remember that you can’t blink and have your renovation done. Living through a renovation isn’t the same as watching HGTV.
Make your house a home!
-With love, Home Made ™
