How long does a kitchen or bathroom renovation take?
The timeline depends on the job, the trades and the surprises. Here is what to expect and how to plan for it.
"How long will it take?" usually comes straight after "how much will it cost?", and the answer is similar. It depends on the job. A simple refresh can be over quickly, while a full renovation or an extension takes a lot longer. Here is what decides the timeline, and how to plan for it.
The time before anyone picks up a tool
A lot of the timeline happens before work starts. Design and planning, choosing fixtures and finishes, getting quotes, any approvals and waiting for your builder's start date all take time. Custom cabinetry, benchtops and some tiles and fixtures can also take a while to arrive. Ask about lead times early, and order early.
Why kitchens and bathrooms take longer than you would think
Both rooms involve a lot of trades working one after another. A bathroom might need demolition, then plumbing and electrical, then waterproofing, which has to be done properly before tiling can start, then tiling, then fit-off. A kitchen needs the room stripped, services moved or updated and the cabinets installed. Benchtops are measured once the cabinets are in and then made to fit, and after that come the splashback and appliances. Each step waits for the one before, so a delay in one holds up the rest.
Waterproofing and some other work also needs time to cure or be checked before the next trade can start. Rushing that step is a bad idea.
What makes jobs run longer
- Moving plumbing, walls or the layout.
- Surprises behind walls and under floors, like water damage, rot or old wiring.
- Changes to the plan once work has started.
- Fixtures or materials that arrive late.
- Waiting on approvals or inspections.
- Busy times of year, when good builders and trades are booked up.
- Bad weather, if any of the work is exposed.
Extensions
An extension is a bigger project, with design, approvals and building work before the new rooms can be fitted out. Ask your builder for a timeline that covers the whole thing and not only the time on site. Ask how weather and approvals might shift it.
How to keep your renovation on track
- Make your decisions before work starts, right down to the tapware and handles.
- Order early, and check everything has arrived before the trades need it.
- Ask for a written schedule, and who to call if it changes.
- Keep changes to a minimum once work starts. If you do change something, get the new cost and timing in writing first.
Most delays come from decisions made late. A builder cannot order a vanity you have not chosen yet.
Can you live at home while you renovate?
Often, yes, especially if you have a second bathroom or the work is limited to one part of the house. Talk to your builder about dust, noise, when the water or power will be off and which parts of the house you can use. Bigger jobs, like an extension or work on your only bathroom, may be easier if you stay somewhere else for part of it.
Living without a kitchen
- Set up a temporary kitchen in another room with the fridge, a kettle, a microwave and an electric frypan or air fryer.
- Use the laundry tub for washing up, if you have one.
- Plan easy meals, cook ahead and freeze some, and make the most of the barbecue.
- Allow for a few more takeaway nights in the budget.
Disposable plates and cutlery cut down the washing up. Set the temporary kitchen up before demolition day, not the night of it.
Where BettaBuilt fits
BettaBuilt connects homeowners who have a real building or renovation project with trusted local builders. Tell us about your kitchen, bathroom or bigger project and when you would like it done. We confirm the scope, budget and timing, then introduce you to one local builder who suits the job. Ask them about timing at the first conversation. A builder who has already seen your plans can give you a much better answer than a guess.
