Remodeling involves a lot of moving parts. Between busy crews and rising costs, even small jobs are forecasted to take longer than expected. In 2025, home renovation projects may take longer to complete due to the skilled worker shortage.
The need for tradespeople has never been greater. Industry-wide, narrowing the gap is the only option. At present, builders and manufacturers are focused on recruitment and awareness, and for good reason: an estimated 3 million skilled trades jobs will go unfilled by 2028
"[We're] addressing this challenge through direct workforce development," shared Westlake Royal Building Products Director of Marketing, Roofing Solutions, Greg Snowman. "Our partnership with the Warrior Village Project underscores our commitment to not only donating roofing materials for meaningful causes but also to providing hands-on training to high school students who represent the future of our industry."
He reinforced how vital these efforts were to prevent future project delays. More than one in five construction workers are aging into retirement, and crews across industries look to supplement their workforce with nearly half a million new workers.
How long will it take for me to have my home remodeled?
Depending on the type of project and its complexity, remodeling projects can take weeks or months, and that's not factoring in lead time due to labor shortages.
"AI can’t help fill these roles," points out Jon Bostock, a former GE executive and current CEO of Leaf Home. "[We're] a long way away from having a robot replace the manual labor needed to install gutters or refinish a bathroom. Homeowners’ challenges are still so nuanced they need a real person to solve them."
"The median age of homes in America is 39 years old," adds Bostock. "This means we can expect to see a surge in items that need replacing: old-fashioned HVAC systems, outdated plumbing, and aging windows/doors."
The average timeline can also vary by the square footage of the space. A major project like a kitchen gut or kitchen remodel will take longer than a powder bath revamp. Expect for the renovation process to take as little as two months (8 weeks) as much as 6 months for larger remodel projects. As you make design plans for future work, consider hiring a project manager who can help you navigate from the design phase through the construction phase, setting realistic expectations all the time.
Though it may take longer to schedule home repairs or plan for larger house remodels, it's important to contact a professional as soon as you have a project in mind. This way, you can get on their schedule and avoid lengthy delays.
Can a project manager speed up the remodeling timeline?
Yes. Not only do they help during the planning process, but they'll keep the project on track during a major remodel. They usually have a good sense of how to optimize processes and efficiencies, and can create contingency plans. By doing so, they can help reduce the overall time frame of the home renovation, and keep any larger project from becoming a nightmare. They will:
- Provide detailed plans outlining tasks, project timelines, and dependencies. This can also include design development and design revisions.
- Oversee the budget. If you have a realistic budget, they'll make sure the entire project budget doesn't exceed your bank account. They'll also help prevent and negotiate unexpected costs.
- Streamline the schedule by identifying unexpected delays and potential bottlenecks.
- Pre-order materials. From light fixtures to backsplash tiles, careful planning pays off in the end. They'll also help you shop for finish materials and manage expectations based on the availability of building materials.
- Help allocate resources, including labor, materials, and equipment.
- Coordinate with subcontractors and suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials. They'll know when the gas lines or electrical wiring needs to be installed, and be able to coordinate the delivery of custom cabinets to align with your renovation timeline.
- Anticipate potential delays and address unforeseen issues in the construction schedule. You won't be as stressed about appliance delivery delays when you know they've built in extra time!
- Implement effective problem-solving strategies to minimize delays during the remodeling process.
- Improve communication between all stakeholders, including the licensed contractors, suppliers, and homeowners.
- Facilitate collaboration to keep everyone on the same page and working towards common goals.
- Implement rigorous quality control measures to minimize rework and ensure that work meets standards and won't trigger building permit delays.
- Regularly inspect work in progress to identify and resolve any deviations from the planning phase.
Some experienced contractors are also great project managers; others aren't. Consider what you need during the planning stages, but be mindful of unexpected delays... even reputable contractors face shortages.
