How Long Will a Whole House Remodel Take?
From design through construction, a whole house remodel takes between 12 weeks to 6 months depending on the scope. For example, if the project includes the exterior and the family lives in the house throughout the work, it will take longer. As a rule of thumb, for every week of construction you can factor in a week of design/pre-construction planning. Tackling the remodel all at once as opposed to a phased approach is more cost effective in part because all plumbing and electrical is handled at once rather than spread out over time. Generally speaking, the less time it takes to complete a remodel, the lower the cost. (The cost of materials will also play a role.)
Photo credit: Houzz
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Invest in Design
Make sure your remodeling team includes an interior designer with strong space planning and drafting skills as well as a professional structural engineer and access to an architect. The project will run you less money if you only use an architect for more complicated alterations like changing the roofline or in-depth exterior changes. Otherwise an experienced interior designer can help with space planning options and finishes.
Photo credit: Houzz
Consider Structural Issues
Will your whole house makeover include moving interior walls and other potential load bearing structures? While most anything is possible, the cost for making major structural changes is dependent upon the complexity of the solution. For example, leaving a post to carry the load of the wall is a more economical option than installing a flush beam in the ceiling. Early in the design phase you will need to determine what options and tradeoffs work best for you. In this photo you will see the family chose beams to support the structure.
Photo Credit: Next Stage Design
Think About Water
There are a range of issues to consider when you plan out how water will be used in your newly remodeled home. How far is new shower from the water heater? Is the supply line adequate? Is current hot water tank big enough? Will your new water pipes cause waterfall noise? Will the current sewer/septic system handle the increased load? Will your new upgrades like double sink, multi-head shower, or soaking tub overload existing supply lines or drainage? Is your home still using galvanized pipe? A whole house remodel is the perfect time to replace it with copper.
Photo Credit: Next Stage Design
How Will You Upgrade Electricity?
An electrical upgrade is required when remodeling an older home to meet the growing amperage needs of today’s kitchen. If an electrical panel cannot handle more than 200 amps, bring in the electrician! New kitchens require between 5-8 dedicated circuits, including one for the dishwasher, microwave, disposal, oven, refrigerator, and lighting. Other considerations include more drastic green initiatives like adding solar panels or contracting for an energy audit.
Photo Credit: Next Stage Design
