How Long Does a Whole-House Renovation Take in the UK?
- Viktoria Velkova
- Jan 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 26
Renovating your entire house is an exciting journey, but you may be trying to plan how long it will really take.
The truth is that renovation times depend on the size of your property, the scope of work, planning requirements, and whether you'll remain living in your home during the project.
In this guide, we'll explain what counts as a whole-house renovation, discuss typical timeframes, and answer key questions, such as whether you can live in your home during the renovation.
What Is a Whole-House Renovation?
You might be wondering, "What actually counts as a whole-house renovation?"
A whole-house renovation is more than aesthetic changes. It includes multiple interior improvements, such as:
Kitchen Renovations: Full redesigns of your kitchen layout, cabinets, worktops, and appliances.
Bathroom Refurbishments: Upgrading suites, plumbing, and fixtures.
Tiling & Plastering: Adding new tiling in wet areas and decorative plastering on your walls and ceilings.
Flooring: Installation of carpets, vinyl or wood flooring throughout your property.
General Property Upgrades: Electrical and plumbing improvements, enhancements such as panelling, and paint refreshes.
At GPPM Developments, we offer each of these services as part of our internal home renovations. Get a free quote today.
How Long Does a Full House Renovation Take?
The amount of time a full house renovation will take varies based on how large your property is, the improvements you'd like to make and whether you'll be living in your home throughout.
While every project is unique, here are some general timeframes to give you an idea:
1-2 Weeks: A Small-Scale Refresh
If you have a small property, or the improvements you'd like to make are mainly cosmetic, such as painting, decorating and minor flooring work, your renovation will take a couple of weeks.
4-8 Weeks: A Medium Renovation
For homes requiring multiple room renovations, such as kitchen upgrades, bathroom refurbishments, with some new tiling and flooring, take between 4 and 8 weeks.
12-24 Weeks: A Full House Renovation
When planning a full house renovation that includes multiple complete room refurbishments, comprehensive flooring, tiling, and plastering, you're looking at 3-6 months.
Key factors that influence the duration are the size of your house, planning and regulatory approvals, the time required for bespoke elements to arrive, and the complexity of the tiling and flooring.
Task Timelines
Now that you know roughly how long your renovation will take based on its scale, let's explore approximately how long each room/task will take to help you plan further.
Kitchen Renovation
Full kitchen renovations will take anywhere from 1 to 4 months to complete.
You need to consider the project's size and complexity, as well as the amount of prep work required before construction. For example, do you need to remove old cabinetry, disconnect appliances, and address plumbing or electrical concerns? These tasks alone can take a couple of weeks.
If you decide to add custom cabinetry, move walls, add windows or use high-end materials, your renovation will take longer to finish.
Bathroom Refurbishment
Refurbishing your bathroom will take around 6 weeks. This includes removing your existing bathroom features, plumbing, installing new electrics, plastering, tiling and painting.
If your new bathroom is going to be in a different position to your existing suite, additional plumbing and a full tiling project may need to be carried out, increasing the time required.
Flooring Installation
The time it takes to install new flooring depends on your material choice, such as wood, carpet or vinyl, usually taking between 2 days and 2 weeks.
The larger your rooms are, the longer it will take for a flooring installation, taking a couple of days in a small room and a couple of weeks in larger rooms.
Tiling
It takes between 2 and 3 days to tile a bathroom or a kitchen, depending on the design intricacy and the surface area.
More intricate patterns, feature walls, or smaller tiles can increase installation time, as they require greater precision and preparation.
Unexpected Delays
Even if you plan according to the timeframes above, your renovation can still face delays for many reasons.
Here are some to consider:
Late Material Shipments
Discovery of hidden issues, such as damp, rot, or outdated wiring.
Permits or inspections under building regulations.
Can You Live in a House During Renovation?
Yes, you can live in your house while a renovation takes place, but it requires careful planning to minimise significant disruptions, such as noise, dust and utility interruptions.
Our advice is to create a dedicated safe zone and ensure your builders complete your work in phases, especially for tougher areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
It's also crucial to prepare for your project to take longer to complete, as builders will be working around you.
Ready to Start Your Home Renovation?
While there's not 1 specific answer to how long it takes to complete a whole-house renovation, we hope the timeframes in this guide have helped you plan your next project.
If you’re planning a full house renovation, upgrading your kitchen or bathroom, installing new flooring, or improving your home with professional plastering and tiling, GPPM Developments is here to help.
We're a proud member of The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI), and we have experience in delivering high-quality renovation projects across Cardiff, Newport and Caerphilly.
Get a free quote from us today, and let's make your house renovation seamless.
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