The most common question homeowners ask before a renovation is “how long will this take?” The most common mistake is trusting the answer on a contractor’s first walkthrough.
Project timelines are controlled by three factors most homeowners don’t think about: the permit timeline in their city, the lead time for materials and fixtures, and whether the scope is fully defined before work starts. A kitchen renovation that takes 6 weeks in one city takes 14 in another, entirely because of permit office processing time.
This guide breaks down realistic timelines by project type, explains what controls each phase, and identifies where projects reliably run over schedule.
Kitchen remodel
Typical timeline: 6–14 weeks (from signed contract to final punch list)
| Phase | Duration | Common delay |
|---|---|---|
| Design and selection | 2–4 weeks | Undecided on finishes; custom cabinet lead time not locked |
| Permit filing and review | 1–6 weeks | Varies by city, Austin can be 2 weeks, LADBS can be 8 |
| Demolition | 1–2 days | Asbestos/lead discovery extends by 2–3 weeks |
| Rough framing, electrical, plumbing | 1–2 weeks | Inspector availability adds 3–7 days per inspection |
| Cabinet installation | 2–4 days | Semi-custom: 6–8 week lead time; fully custom: 12–16 weeks |
| Countertop template and fabrication | 2–3 weeks after cabinet install | Stone fabricators often book out 3–4 weeks |
| Appliance delivery | 1–6 weeks | Supply chain on specific models; arrange in advance |
| Tile, backsplash, paint | 3–5 days | , |
| Punch list and final inspection | 3–7 days | , |
The real schedule driver: Cabinet lead time. Semi-custom cabinets from major manufacturers run 6–8 weeks from order. If you haven’t ordered cabinets before demo starts, your kitchen will sit incomplete. Lock in the cabinet order at or before contract signing.
Bathroom remodel
Typical timeline: 4–8 weeks (primary bath with full tile and custom work)
| Phase | Duration | Common delay |
|---|---|---|
| Permit filing | 1–4 weeks | Varies by city |
| Demolition | 1–2 days | Moisture damage discovery adds 1–2 weeks |
| Waterproofing and concrete board | 2–3 days | , |
| Rough plumbing and electrical | 3–5 days | Inspector scheduling |
| Tile installation | 4–7 days (for full shower + floor) | Complex patterns, large format tiles add time |
| Fixture rough-in and trim | 2–3 days | Ordered fixtures must be on-site before trim |
| Vanity, mirror, accessories | 1–2 days | Lead time on custom vanities: 4–8 weeks |
| Final inspection | 1–3 days | , |
The real schedule driver: Fixture and vanity ordering. A custom or semi-custom vanity has a 4–8 week manufacturing lead time. If it’s not ordered early, work stops waiting for it. Order everything before demo begins.
Full-home renovation
Typical timeline: 4–9 months (depending on scope and whether you’re relocating)
Full-home renovations have a different scheduling logic because the permit package covers multiple trades simultaneously, and rough-in inspections sequence tightly.
| Phase | Duration |
|---|---|
| Design, permits, material procurement | 4–12 weeks |
| Demolition | 1–2 weeks |
| Foundation/structural work (if included) | 2–4 weeks |
| Rough framing | 1–3 weeks |
| Mechanical rough-in (plumbing, HVAC, electrical) | 2–4 weeks |
| Insulation and air barrier | 1 week |
| Drywall (hang, tape, finish, prime) | 2–4 weeks |
| Flooring | 1–2 weeks |
| Cabinet and millwork installation | 2–3 weeks |
| Painting | 1–2 weeks |
| Finish plumbing, electrical, HVAC | 1–2 weeks |
| Final inspections and punch list | 1–3 weeks |
The real schedule driver: The gap between rough-in inspections. In high-demand permit offices, an inspector may schedule 5–7 days out. With 4–6 rough-in inspections (framing, mechanical, insulation, drywall), those delays can add 3–6 weeks to the schedule before a nail is driven wrong.
Home addition
Typical timeline: 4–8 months
Additions are permitted with a full structural package (engineered drawings, site plan, civil review in some jurisdictions) and typically require foundation work, both of which add to the front-end timeline.
| Phase | Duration |
|---|---|
| Design and engineering | 4–8 weeks |
| Permit filing and plan review | 3–10 weeks |
| Site work and foundation | 2–4 weeks |
| Framing | 2–3 weeks |
| Mechanical rough-in | 2–3 weeks |
| Tie-in to existing structure | 1–2 weeks |
| Interior finish (mirrors kitchen/bath timelines) | 4–8 weeks |
The real schedule driver: Engineering and permit. An addition is not a kitchen, the permit package involves a licensed structural engineer, often a civil engineer, and sometimes a geotechnical report. This front-end can’t be rushed, and the design phase should include 4–8 weeks for engineering drawings alone.
ADU construction
Typical timeline: 6–16 months (new detached), 3–8 months (conversion/remodel)
ADU timelines vary more than any other project type because local permit policies differ so dramatically.
| Market | Typical permit timeline |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LADBS) | 3–8 months |
| San Francisco (DBI) | 3–6 months |
| Portland OR (BDS) | 6–12 weeks |
| Seattle (DCI) | 3–6 months |
| Austin TX | 6–12 weeks |
| Denver CO | 8–14 weeks |
After permit issuance, new detached ADU construction typically runs 3–5 months for framing, mechanical, and finish. Garage conversions run 2–4 months after permit.
The real schedule driver: Utility connection. A new detached ADU requires its own utility connection or a permitted shared connection from the primary residence. In high-density markets, getting utility company scheduling for a new meter can add 4–8 weeks.
Basement finishing
Typical timeline: 6–14 weeks
| Phase | Duration | Common delay |
|---|---|---|
| Waterproofing (if required) | 1–3 weeks | Must cure before framing begins |
| Egress window installation | 2–4 days | Window well excavation requires planning |
| Radon mitigation (if needed) | 1–2 days | Test first, results take 48 hours |
| Framing | 3–5 days | , |
| Electrical, plumbing, HVAC rough-in | 1–2 weeks | , |
| Insulation | 1–2 days | , |
| Drywall | 1–2 weeks | , |
| Flooring, paint, trim | 1–2 weeks | , |
| Final inspection | 3–7 days | , |
The real schedule driver: Waterproofing and moisture testing. Never frame a basement until you’ve confirmed the space is dry through multiple seasons, or completed active waterproofing. Framing over a wet basement guarantees mold remediation within 5 years.
What actually makes projects run over schedule
In order of frequency:
1. Scope changes mid-project. Every homeowner-initiated change order adds time. A decision to relocate the kitchen island after framing has begun can add 2–3 weeks.
2. Discovery of hidden conditions. Asbestos, lead paint, structural issues, plumbing deficiencies, rot. These are not contractor mistakes, they’re unknowns in old houses.
3. Material lead times not locked in advance. Custom cabinets, specialty tile, specific appliance models, custom windows all have lead times that must be managed before demo begins.
4. Inspector scheduling gaps. In high-volume markets, inspectors book 5–10 business days out. Multiple required inspections can delay a project 3–6 weeks.
5. Permit office processing times. The permit timeline at the start of a project is often underestimated. Budget for the upper end of what your city’s building department quotes.
How to read a project schedule from a contractor
A credible project schedule shows:
- Phase milestones, each dated, alongside the total number of weeks
- Material order dates with expected delivery windows
- Permit submission date vs. estimated permit issuance date
- Named inspection hold points
- Buffer for inspector scheduling gaps
A schedule that says “12 weeks from contract signing” with no breakdown is not a schedule. It is a guess.