When we decide to make a comprehensive reform of a house we spend a lot of time thinking about the type of reform, the materials to be used, the distribution … And we end up forgetting about the execution time.
This data is very important, since we will have to look for some alternative to live during that time.
It can also happen that we want to move to a house in which we are doing the reform, and if it lasts too long it will end up overlapping with the children’s school.
To manage these comprehensive reforms in the best possible way, we will go into detail about the duration and deadlines they usually have.
How long does a comprehensive reform last?
The duration of a reform will depend on many factors. This is so. There is no set time that applies universally. Each reform is a world and each company faces it in a different way.
However, what we can provide you with is a margin of time.
When we talk about comprehensive reforms, it is normal that they never last less than 4 weeks and are not usually extended beyond 4 months.
As you can see the range is very wide: between 1 and 4 months long.
However, the most common is to find intermediate deadlines. It could be said that the average is between 6 and 10 weeks long.
In order to adjust your forecast we will analyze these deadlines.
Times by type of work
Not all types of work last the same. It will be different to demolish a wall than to paint a room.
In a very generic way we will establish the times for each type of work:
- Demolition: between 1 and 2 weeks
- Roofing installation: 1 week
- Installation of suelos: 1 week
- Electrical installation: 2 weeks
- Plumbing work: 2 weeks
- Painting the house: 2 weeks
As you can see the more there is to reform, the more it will be extended in time.
You also have to count on planning. It is possible to do the installation of the roof at the same time as the plumbing works, but you can not install the floor and ceilings at the same time.
Depending on the good planning of the reform company, work may overlap or not. The final duration will also depend on this.
Factors to consider
You should know that there are always unforeseen events. Some will be insignificant but others may affect the development of the reform.
Let’s look at some of the important ones.
- State of the building structure
It is the least common unforeseen, but also the most important. If when carrying out the renovation work problems are discovered in the structure of the building, the work will have to be paralyzed.
In this case it will be necessary to repair these structural problems. It is a safety measure that should be taken very seriously. Once the problems in the structure are solved, it will be possible to continue with the work in the house.
- Supply of materials
The renovation company does not have the materials in its warehouse, so it depends on other suppliers to carry out the work.
If one of these suppliers fails or is delayed in the supply of materials, it will directly affect the course of the reform.
- Problems with the community
If you comply with the current regulation there should be no problem, but it is not uncommon to find disputes in neighboring communities.
Whether due to noise, dirt or aesthetic problems, an annoying neighbor may appear to ask us for explanations.
To avoid any discussion it is best to have all permits in order and comply with work schedules. In this way, no matter how annoying the neighbor is, he will not be able to paralyze the work even if he insists.
- Plan changes
This unforeseen event seems harmless, but it is very dangerous. It usually happens that when we imagine something in our head it looks different from what it then has in reality.
As the reform progresses, it may happen that what we see is not what we imagined, reaching the case of wanting to change some aspects.
Doing this will completely change the course of the reform, since any change may affect the rest of the work in the house.
How to speed up a comprehensive reform?
You have to understand everything that a comprehensive reform implies in order to gain time.
The company you hire will need to carry out some preliminary work without which it will not be able to start reforming the house. If you take them into account, you can adapt these deadlines to your planning.
- Request the supply of materials in advance
The sooner you know the materials that will be needed in the work, the sooner they can be requested.
Discuss with the reform company your ideas and close the contract as soon as possible so that they can get down to work. While the materials arrive you can continue using the house.
- Have the license application
This is similar to the previous point, but instead of having to talk to material distribution companies, it will be necessary to carry out procedures with the municipality in question.
It should not have major complication, but first ask the reform company how long these procedures usually take. If you take them into account you can establish a detailed planning.
Recommendations
We have already seen all the times of a comprehensive reform and the main unforeseen events that may appear. In addition, I have left you a couple of tips to speed up the reform time.
Now let’s highlight 2 recommendations that I consider important:
- Always set a written deadline
This is fundamental. Before opting for a reform company you should ask them if they offer a contract with a set deadline.
This maximum period must be reflected in the contract to ensure that it will be fulfilled. If we do not demand this point, we run the risk of the reform being delayed without us being able to do anything.
- Plan well in advance
It is not about thinking about what they are going to do during those 6 or 10 weeks that the work lasts. What you have to do is take a timetable and decide when those reform weeks should be.
For this you need to plan well in advance. Think that first you will have to look for the company that makes the integral reform, then tell them what you want, receive feedback from them, request the materials and permits, sign the contract …
There are many things that will cause the start date to be extended. That’s why you will need to plan in advance, so you will know in what weeks the reform will be carried out to be able to plan your life according to allo.