How Long Does It Take to Remodel a House in Los Angeles and Orange County?
On average, a whole home remodel in Los Angeles or Orange County could take from 8 to 20 months, from start to finish. This is a rather large range, but your timeline will be determined by a few factors. The age of your home, the scope of work, and the size of your home, being the main contributors. To understand what steps take place along your timeline, we’ve lifted the veil on the entire process for you here.
What Are the Stages of Remodeling a Home?
Stage 1: Discovery (2 weeks to 2 months)
During this crucial phase, the homeowner takes the lead. It's time to embark on extensive research to identify the ideal design-build teams who align with your style goals and preferences. Delve into reviews, seek recommendations, explore their credentials, and carefully review their online portfolios.
Additionally, don't forget to inquire about their track record in terms of staying within budget and adhering to timelines. The research and interview process may take a couple of months or perhaps more, depending on your availability and theirs, as you strive to find the perfect professionals for your project.
Stage 2: Design Consultation, In-Home Assessment, & Design (4 weeks to 4 months)
Once you have chosen the right team for your project, the assessment, consultation, and initial design meeting phase commences. A skilled designer will visit your home to comprehend its unique challenges, understand your routines, and identify opportunities to enhance your living space for you and your family. By aligning your design style and goals, renderings can be created to help you visualize the transformation. Collaboration becomes crucial as you select every material, from flooring and countertops to light fixtures and tile, ensuring it harmonizes with your vision while staying within budget.
During this phase, it is essential to ask questions and provide open communication. Offering comprehensive design goals from the start expedites the process of finding the perfect fixtures or finishes that align with your vision. Your designer will make revisions to your design based on your feedback. This stage includes a lot of decisions, so prepare ahead of time and collect ideas via magazine clippings, online design boards, and pictures of details and designs. Your designer will have a better idea of what materials, colors, and finishes to suggest with this ample input, helping to expedite this stage.
By working with a design-builder, your product selections will come with accurate prices so you can be confident that the products you choose won’t overextend your budget. Finally, you’ll sign off on the design.
Stage 3: Pre-Construction (2 to 8 weeks)
Once your plans are finalized, your design-build team will take the necessary steps to acquire the required permits. In neighborhoods with homeowners' associations (HOAs), obtaining their approval is an additional prerequisite. It is advised to have a discussion with your designer to fully understand the permitting requirements. While your designer typically manages the documentation, having some awareness of the process will help you anticipate the impact on the timeline.
During the pre-construction phase, activities include ordering materials, establishing schedules, and engaging subcontractors for specialized aspects of the project, such as electricians, plumbers, tile workers, and metalsmiths. This meticulous planning ensures a smooth progression into the construction phase of your remodel.
Stage 4: Construction (6 to 12 months)
The timeline for the demolition and construction of your home is so widely varied because it all depends on the size of your home, the scope of work, and subcontractor schedules. If your home is older, wiring, plumbing, damage, or other known issues will need to be addressed during construction.
As construction commences, your team will be in frequent communication. Modern home remodelers will give you access to construction management software that will give you access to daily work logs, progress photos, and other important updates. Once your Los Angeles or Orange County home remodel is complete, your team will completely clean the worksite, lead you through your home, and address any last-minute concerns before your home is finally ready for you to move back in and enjoy your refreshed and perfectly-crafted home.
How Long Does It Take to Remodel a Kitchen in Los Angeles and Orange County?
Following the same stages as a whole home remodel, a kitchen remodel in Los Angeles or Orange County can take up to 12 months. The kitchen is typically the most complex room in the home to remodel, containing a multitude of finishes, appliances, electric and plumbing systems, and structural features.
Your kitchen remodel could take less time if there are little to no structural changes, such as removing walls, expanding the footprint, or adding an island or two. Creating auxiliary rooms common during a kitchen remodel–such as a butler’s pantry, mudroom, or laundry room–will also increase your timeframe but give you the much-desired space you need to live comfortably.
How Long Does It Take to Remodel a Bathroom in Los Angeles and Orange County?
A bathroom can range in size from a powder room, or half bathroom, to a large luxury primary suite bathroom. This equates to a difference between around 16 square feet to over 200 square feet. So, the range for a bathroom remodel could be from 3 to 6 months, depending on the size of the bathroom and the scope of work.
What Can a Homeowner Do to Keep a Project on Time
While rushing any part of the project is ill-advised, there are things the homeowner can do, or not do, to reduce project delays. This includes:
Don’t Rush the Design Phase
Rushing through the design phase has consequences, such as choosing the wrong finishes, overlooking design inaccuracies, and missing budget considerations. This affects the timeline by introducing unexpected changes during construction, resulting in delays and added costs through change orders. It's crucial to allocate enough time for thoughtful decision-making and design refinement to minimize such issues and ensure a smooth construction process.
Be Available for Communication
Open communication with your project manager is crucial for a smooth remodel. If you're frequently unavailable, inform them to prevent decision delays. Many firms use construction management software for easy file sharing and communication. When traveling, notify your project manager and offer alternative contact methods for seamless collaboration.
Learn More About the Design-Build Process for Your Los Angeles or Orange County Remodel
We’ve mentioned working with a design-build firm throughout for several reasons. It’s a delivery method that ensures more efficient use of both your time and your budget. The design-build process is proven to deliver a home remodel within a homeowner’s budget and without project delays without sacrificing absolutely fantastic design.
Luxe Remodel Design + Build is a firm that serves Los Angeles, Orange County, and the surrounding area, delivering stunning designs, excellent craft, and an elevated client experience. To learn more about design-build and schedule a consultation, contact Luxe Remodel Design + Build today.
