"How long will it take?" — the second most popular question after "how much will it cost?". And just like with price, the answer depends on the scope of work, apartment condition and number of contractors. But there are general benchmarks that help with planning.
Why Do Timelines Often Fall Apart?
Before talking about specific numbers — it's important to understand why most renovations run long:
- Unrealistic planning. Many contractors give optimistic timelines to get the job. Real timelines always include technological pauses — drying time, polymerization, setting time.
- Changes mid-process. "Let's also do this here" — every change during the process adds time. Sometimes up to 40% of the original timeline.
- Parallel work without coordination. When several crews work simultaneously without clear coordination — they get in each other's way.
Timelines by Type of Work
| Type of Work | Realistic Timeline |
|---|---|
| Painting one room | 2–3 days |
| Painting full apartment (3–4 rooms) | 7–14 days |
| Bathroom tiling | 5–10 days |
| Drywall work | 3–10 days |
| Microcement | 5–8 days per area |
| Door installation | 1–3 days |
Timelines by Renovation Type
| Renovation Type | Realistic Timeline |
|---|---|
| Cosmetic (painting, minor work) | 2–4 weeks |
| Partial (bathroom + kitchen + floors) | 6–10 weeks |
| Full renovation (60–80 m²) | 3–5 months |
| Full with structural changes (90+ m²) | 4–7 months |
What Increases the Timeline?
- Old buildings — extra time for demolition, leveling, fixing previous mistakes
- Structural changes — demolishing and building walls takes time
- Custom-order materials — special doors and elements need 3–6 weeks
- Living in during renovation — speed drops 30–50%
- Season — summer and holidays mean busy crews and longer waits
What Shortens the Timeline?
- Clear technical brief before work starts — no changes mid-process
- One contractor for the full scope — no coordination problems
- Apartment completely vacant
- All materials ordered in advance
How to Check If a Timeline Is Realistic?
Simple test: ask the contractor to lay out a week-by-week work plan. If they can't — they don't have a clear plan. A good contractor always knows what will happen every week on site.
Also ask: what technological pauses are built into the timeline? No answer means an unrealistic timeline.
Our Approach
At Maria & Vitaly, we prepare a detailed work schedule before renovation starts and agree it with the client. Every stage has specific dates. If something changes — we tell you in advance, not on the day we were supposed to hand over the keys.
Want a realistic timeline for your project?
We'll come, assess the scope and give you an honest schedule
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