How Long will your NYC Apartment Remodel Take?
If you are in the market for a New York City apartment remodel, you are probably asking yourself what the timeline for my renovation project is. Depending on what kind of remodeling you are undergoing, the time your apartment will be inhabitable might range from a few hours to a few weeks, even a few months. So, to give you an idea of what a New York City apartment remodel timeline will look like, consider the following timelines for these projects.
Kitchen Renovation
The most popular type of expensive remodels most NYC apartments undergo are a kitchen renovation project. If you have a design in mind and just want to hire a contractor, the timeline really speeds up, as a contractor would just work with you on budgeting, materials, and labor. A design build firm will add to the timeline, but they can usually do most of the heavy lifting for a project, such as rendering, material procurement, permits, and building approval. Keep in mind that a full kitchen remodel can take anywhere from 1-3 months depending on the size and contractor. Minor kitchen renovation projects may only take a few weeks. If you do use a design-build, you can expect the project to add on several weeks, but your apartment should be habitable up till the build phase.
Bathroom Renovation
If you are in the market for a bathroom remodel, the process should be similar to the kitchen renovation as mentioned above, with timelines being a major difference. A bathroom remodels generally takes much less time, as bathrooms are usually a lot less square footage than your typical kitchen. On average, a full bathroom renovation should take about anywhere from three to five weeks. However, the timeline can increase for a master suite that is usually larger with more fixtures and decrease for a half bath that can tend to be more closet-sized. Of course, with a design-build, you will have to factor in a few weeks for design, permitting, and approval, but your old bathroom will be habitable before construction.
Full Apartment Renovation
For someone who has the capital funds to tackle all apartment projects at once, a full apartment renovation is the most efficient approach to a renovation regarding time and cost. A large scale design is not usually an incremental cost if you can redo the entire apartment all at once. More importantly, when you undergo a full apartment renovation, most project work can be done concurrently, saving you a lot of time.
The only downside to a full renovation is that usually when you tackle projects throughout your apartment, it is strongly advised to not be living in the apartment throughout construction. You will find that it is not only difficult to maneuver, but there will be health concerns from all the dust and too much clutter to live comfortably. Additionally, the biggest concern will be that depending on the size of the apartment and the scope, your apartment could be inhabitable anywhere from several weeks to a full year. However, if you have the resources to live elsewhere for that long, the cost efficiency of this approach will be worth in the long run, as there should be no need for capital improvement in your apartment for at least 10-15 years.
Interior Renovation
Finally, if you are in the market for just an interior renovation, these projects are typically non-invasive and quick. Whether its fresh coats of paint, new trim or cabinetry, or door and window replacements, these projects are quick and relatively inexpensive. Depending on the team you hire, a lot of these projects are dependent on materials being delivered but once they are, a lot of things go up quickly in 1-3 days. More importantly, a lot of these projects need little to no permitting or building approval so overhead costs are minimal. Your apartment should not need to be inhabitable for projects like these.
Conclusion
Overall, the biggest discomfort for renovation projects is not knowing what a project timeline could be, and if your NYC apartment is inhabitable. After all, you must live somewhere. But these timelines should give you the knowledge you need to plan for your next NYC apartment remodel.
