Contents
The question clients ask most is “When can we move in?”
Promise too short a timeline and you spend every week after that apologising.
Promise too long and the client thinks you’re dragging your feet.
This article brings together the whole renovation process, how to estimate the total duration, why each trade takes as long as it does, and where delays usually come from.
The figures are typical for homes in Taiwan; your local numbers may differ, but the sequence and the reasons hold.
The process: what has to happen before work starts
| Stage | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Survey and brief | Measure the site, take photos, confirm the condition of the property and the budget | 1–2 weeks |
| Design and drawings | Floor plan, 3D, construction drawings, and rounds of revisions | 8–12 weeks |
| Quote and contract | Price the work from the drawings, confirm the scope and payment terms | 1–2 weeks |
| Permits and materials | Apply to building management for works; submit for an interior renovation permit if required | Choose and order tiles and imported hardware | 2–3 weeks |
| Construction | From demolition to inspection; see total duration below | Depends on scope |
| Inspection and handover | Fix snags, detailed cleaning, handover | 1–2 weeks |
Design and pre-construction preparation together often take as long as the construction itself. When agreeing a move-in date with the client, count from here.
Total duration depends on the scope of work
How long construction takes depends mainly on what work is being done, not just on whether the property is new or old.
In the same older apartment, replacing only the kitchen and a full renovation can differ by several months.
So list the work first, then compare it with the table below.
| Scope | Work included | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Finishing only | Painting, modular cabinets, flooring, lighting, curtains | 4–6 weeks |
| Plus carpentry | Adds built-in ceilings, built-in cabinets, partition walls | 8–10 weeks |
| Plus wet trades | Adds a new bathroom or kitchen: demolition, plumbing and electrics, waterproofing, tiling | 12–14 weeks |
| Full renovation | Full strip-out, all pipes and wiring replaced, new windows, layout changes | 16–24 weeks |
Reference figures for homes of about 80–115 m² (25–35 ping), construction only | The condition of the property affects how much needs doing; older homes often need all pipes and wiring replaced | Actual time also depends on size, methods and building management rules
Why each trade can’t be rushed
| Trade (in order of work) | Why it can’t be shortened |
|---|---|
| 1 Protection and demolition | Waste removal has to fit the building’s permitted hours and lift bookings |
| 2 Plumbing and electrical rough-in | Pipes must be pressure-tested before they are buried in walls, and only then can the next trades close them up |
| 3 Window frames | In older homes, new window frames have to go in before the wet trades so they can seal and waterproof around them |
| 4 Plastering and waterproofing | Waterproofing layers need time to dry, and bathrooms need a water test, usually 24–48 hours |
| 5 Tiling | Adhesive and grout need to dry; walking on tiles too early can loosen them |
| 6 Air-conditioning pipes and ducted indoor units | Must be installed before the carpenters close the ceiling |
| 7 Carpentry | Ceilings, partitions and cabinets are built on site piece by piece; a large amount simply takes time |
| 8 Painting | Every coat of filler has to dry, and humid, rainy days slow it further |
| 9 Modular cabinets, kitchen, doors | They can only be measured accurately once the walls are finished. Measure as soon as they are, then allow 2–3 weeks from order to delivery |
| 10 Bathroom fittings, flooring, lighting | Quick to install, but only after all the dusty work is finished |
| 11 Cleaning and inspection | Leave time to fix snags; don’t schedule them for the day before the move |
Six common causes of delay
- Found during demolition: corroded pipes, damp walls, beams and columns that don’t match the drawings. Most common in older homes
- Changes mid-project: adding or changing the design halfway through can mean tearing out work already done
- Waiting for materials: imported tiles, custom doors and specialist hardware often arrive later than expected
- Weather: days of rain slow down plaster and paint drying, and stop exterior and balcony work altogether
- Building management rules: permitted working hours, no noisy work at weekends, lift bookings. You get fewer working hours per day than you’d expect
- Permits and approvals: in apartment buildings, moving partitions or adding a bathroom may need an interior renovation permit first (in Taiwan, the interior renovation review). Build that time in
Three scheduling habits
- Order long-lead materials in two rounds: choose and order tiles and imported hardware before work starts | Measure modular cabinets, kitchens and doors as soon as the walls are done, and allow 2–3 weeks
- Leave two or three days of buffer each month: something will always come up, and it’s better on the schedule than explained to the client afterwards
- Don’t put trades that interfere with each other on the same day: for example, while the painters are sanding filler, anyone working nearby gets covered in dust
When the job slips, the whole schedule moves with it
Everywhere Design is a project management app for construction and renovation teams.
The schedule is a Gantt chart. When work is delayed, tap “Shift” and the whole sequence moves back, skipping weekends automatically.
All sites sit on one master schedule, and you get a warning if the same crew is booked on two sites at once.
Share progress with the client directly, with no more weekly screenshots sent over chat.
30-day free trial, no credit card required.
FAQ
How long does it take to renovate a 100 m² home?
It depends on the scope of work.
Construction alone takes about 8 to 10 weeks with carpentry but no wet trades, and about 4 to 5½ months for a full renovation.
Design and pre-construction preparation come on top of that.
Can we live in the home during the renovation?
For partial renovations, yes, but it usually takes longer.
The site has to be cleaned up every day and work has to fit around your routine. Dust and noise are hard to keep out completely, so it isn’t recommended for a full renovation.
How should I explain a delay to the client?
The best explanation is a daily site record.
Which days were rained off, which days were spent waiting for materials, which days the client added work: write it in the site diary and it’s there when you need it.