How long does an apartment renovation take? The process and real timelines

After the price, the second question we are always asked is about time: how many months am I going to be living with building work? The short answer: it depends on the scope, and a serious timeline should be given to you in writing before anything starts — just like the price. Here is what it depends on and what the full process looks like, step by step.

How long a full apartment renovation lasts

For the most common case in Barcelona — a 70 to 90 m² apartment with a full renovation — the timeline we publish is 8 to 12 weeks. That range covers everything from demolition to the final clean, and the range exists because not every apartment starts from the same condition or takes the same finishes.

That is the starting point; your specific timeline comes out of the visit and travels in writing inside the quote for your full home renovation, alongside the line items and the materials.

What the timeline of a renovation depends on

• The scope: painting and changing floors is not the same as a full renovation with demolition and a new layout.
• The floor area: more square metres, more work.
• The condition of the building: old installations can bring surprises (which is why the prior visit is essential).
• The materials chosen: some finishes and made-to-measure joinery have their own manufacturing lead times.
• Coordination between trades: the number 1 cause of delays in renovations… when each trade works on its own. With one single team for the whole project — the way we work — the job does not stop waiting for the next trade.

The process in 4 steps (how we work at KOBOR)

1. Contact — You tell us what you need: form, phone or WhatsApp.
2. Free visit — We check measurements and the real condition of the apartment. Without this, any timeline or price you are given is smoke.
3. Closed quote — In writing: line items, materials and timings. You know what it costs and how long it takes before anyone lifts a finger.
4. Renovation — One person responsible coordinates the work through to handover.

Step 3 also answers the other big question: how much it costs. If you want the numbers before the visit, they are in how much does it cost to renovate an apartment in Barcelona?.

The golden rule: the timeline in writing

A timeline that only exists as a spoken promise commits nobody. In the closed quote the timeline is written down next to the line items and the materials. That is the difference between “a few weeks, we will see” and a handover date someone answers for.

Can you live in the apartment during the work?

In partial renovations (one bathroom, painting, floors done in phases) very often yes, with manageable disruption. In a full renovation with demolition, the honest answer is that it is not advisable. We assess it with you during the visit — every home and every family is different.

If you are interested in the specific case of a bathroom, the most requested partial job, we break it down in how much it costs to renovate a bathroom. And to see completed work with before and after photos, have a look at our projects or request your free visit.