The question doesn’t usually come up on the day the contract is signed. It arises earlier, when you have to decide whether it’s worth moving out for a few months, postponing the opening of a premises, or committing to a significant investment with a delivery date that’s still up in the air. That’s why, when a client asks how long a full-scale refurbishment takes, they’re really asking how long their life, home or business will be in a state of transition.

The short answer is this: a complete refurbishment can take between 3 and 6 months in an average home, and considerably longer if the scope is extensive, the property has technical constraints or the project requires a high level of customisation. But that range, on its own, doesn’t tell us much. A 90 m² flat will not take the same amount of time if you are simply updating finishes as it would if you are completely rethinking the layout, renewing the fixtures and fittings, and designing bespoke furniture.

How long does a comprehensive renovation take, depending on the actual scope

Not all comprehensive renovations are equally comprehensive. That is the first point worth highlighting. Some projects replace flooring, joinery, the kitchen and bathrooms, but retain part of the structure and services. Others completely strip the space to rebuild it with a new layout.

In a standard urban home, involving interior demolition, a new layout, and a complete overhaul of the electrical and plumbing systems, kitchen, bathrooms, cladding and joinery, a reasonable timeframe is usually between 12 and 20 weeks of work. If there are also bespoke elements, structural changes, special enclosures or unique finishes, the schedule can easily be extended.

In hospitality premises or commercial spaces, the timeframe depends even more on the concept. A restaurant, for example, does not just need good execution. It also requires coordination of services, ventilation, lighting, service routes and, often, specific licences. In these cases, the total timeframe may seem similar on paper, but the complexity of decision-making is usually greater.

Construction time is not the total project time

One of the most common mistakes is to count only the weeks of construction. A comprehensive refurbishment begins well before the first demolition. Site survey, layout proposal, aesthetic definition, technical design, quotation, selection of materials, fabrication of bespoke components, processing of permits and coordination of trades are all part of the actual schedule.

If you look at the entire process, from the first meeting to final handover, it is normal to be talking about several months more. In well-planned projects, this preliminary phase is not a delay. It is an investment of time that reduces improvisation, protects the budget and avoids hasty decisions in the middle of the build.

When the design is properly resolved before starting, the timeline is usually more reliable. When planning is done on the fly, adjustments, changes in criteria and urgent purchases almost always arise, which end up affecting the schedule.

Design and definition phase

Before building, you must decide exactly what is to be built. This phase can last between 3 and 8 weeks, depending on the complexity of the space and the speed of decision-making. In high-end residential projects or commercial spaces with a very distinct brand identity, it is not advisable to rush this stage too much.

This is where the layout is defined, lighting is studied, materials are selected, technical solutions are fine-tuned and priorities are set. If there are bespoke items, a custom-designed kitchen, special joinery or bathrooms with specific details, the sooner these are resolved, the better.

Licences, permits and administrative procedures

This point varies depending on the local authority, the type of work and the building. In Barcelona, for example, administrative deadlines can be a significant factor. Some projects are processed more quickly, whilst others require more thorough technical review.

It is not always possible to start demolition the day after the quote is approved. Therefore, when calculating how long a comprehensive renovation will take, it is advisable to separate the construction time from the administrative time. They are two different clocks, and both matter.

Construction work

Once work has begun, the sequence is usually quite clear: demolition, masonry, installations, enclosures, cladding, joinery, painting, fitting-out and finishing touches. On paper, it seems straightforward. In practice, various stages overlap and require very precise coordination.

A well-managed project is not the one that moves the fastest, but the one that maintains a steady pace without losing control. Rushing certain phases can lead to costly mistakes later on. Flooring should not be laid before checking for damp, a kitchen should not be fitted if plumbing adjustments are still pending, and well-planned lighting requires prior decisions, not last-minute improvisation.

What factors prolong a comprehensive renovation

The floor area plays a role, but it is not the sole determining factor. There are small flats with highly complex renovations and large homes that progress smoothly because the project was well planned. What most affects the timeline is usually a combination of design, technical aspects and management.

Structural changes are one of the most obvious factors. Creating openings, reinforcing existing elements or modifying sensitive parts of the building involves calculations, validation and more demanding execution. The building services also play a major role when the property is old. In buildings that have been in use for decades, it is common to encounter surprises when opening things up: downpipes in poor condition, non-compliant installations, false ceilings concealing previous work, or walls with defects not visible during the initial visit.

The level of customisation also matters. A refurbishment using standard solutions can proceed with greater predictability. A project featuring bespoke furniture, unique details or imported finishes requires more time for specification, manufacture and installation. This is not a problem. It is part of the value of the final result. But it is best to factor this in from the outset.

Another sensitive issue is the client’s decision-making. When materials, colours, sanitary ware, lighting or joinery are approved late, the project loses momentum. Not because of a lack of execution capacity, but because many trades depend on a very specific chain of approvals.

How to shorten deadlines without compromising the result

The best way to save time is not to rush on site. It is to arrive on site with more decisions already made. A comprehensive project works best when design, technical aspects and execution are aligned from the outset. This allows for informed purchasing, coordinating trades with sufficient lead time and avoiding unnecessary delays.

It also helps to work under unified management. When architecture, interior design and execution are understood as parts of the same logic, the process tends to be smoother. Contradictions are reduced, conflicts are detected earlier, and decisions respond to a comprehensive vision of the space, not to a sum of isolated solutions.

In practices such as FFWD Arquitectos, this integration is particularly important in projects where the spatial experience matters as much as the technical execution. It is not just about completing a project. It is about completing it well, with proportion, coherence and practicality.

Another smart way to safeguard deadlines is to plan for critical purchases in advance. External joinery, kitchens, natural stone, technical lighting or bespoke items may have lead times that exceed the pace of construction. If left until the end, the schedule suffers, even if the execution has been flawless.

A realistic schedule for an average home

If we were to provide a useful reference, without promising false certainties, a home of between 80 and 120 m² undergoing a complete refurbishment could fall within this framework: between 1 and 2 months for planning and definition, a variable time for permits depending on the case, and between 3 and 5 months of actual construction work. From there, every decision adds to or reduces complexity.

In penthouses, lofts, old townhouses or properties with an ambitious spatial layout, the timeframe may naturally increase. Not because the work is poorly planned, but because the level of transformation is greater. Conversely, when the scope is more limited and decisions are finalised from the outset, timescales tend to stabilise.

The key is not to aim for the shortest timeframe. It is to distinguish between a commercial deadline and a realistic one. The former sounds good. The latter allows you to organise a move, an investment or an opening with far greater certainty.

So, how long does a comprehensive refurbishment take?

It takes as long as a good project demands when carried out methodically. Sometimes it will be 4 months. Sometimes it will be 8 if we include design, planning permission and bespoke manufacturing. The useful information is not just how long it takes, but why it takes that long and not less.

A comprehensive renovation transforms much more than just the finishes. It changes the way a space is lived in, how it functions and how it is perceived. If the process is approached with rigour, time ceases to be an abstract nuisance and becomes a logical part of a well-designed transformation.

The best decision is not to demand a quick job. It is to demand a clear schedule, a realistic strategy and a team capable of maintaining quality down to the very last detail.