When's the best time to start my remodeling project?

New year, time to start planning that new extension? Here we break down the best time to start a home remodeling project and the timelines expected.

The basic rule of thumb for any extension is that its going to move slowly towards the end of summer and the lead-up to Christmas. This is a general trend across many industries, not just construction. So, if you want to have your project completed in time for Summer or Christmas, you really want to start planning a 6-9 month build right after the new year, up until mid-spring. A start date on-site anytime after this will certainly see the project taking over to the following year. This should also avoid the project being on-site during the wettest period of the year in autumn.

With this in mind, if your project requires planning approval from the council, this takes a statutory period of 3 weeks for validation and 8 weeks for determination. That's almost another 3 months, meaning you want to submit an application for an early year start at the beginning of the year (NOW!) or earlier. So, if you want your extension complete before the year is out, you'd better get your skates on!

This does not take into account the design stage of an extension - not just spatial design and planning, but choosing the materials, finishes and interior design. This can add another 1-2 months onto your project too. All in all, a project can take anywhere from 6-12 months for a basic extension, depending on its complexities and whether it needs planning approval or not. The best way to figure this out is by speaking with an Architect.

Good luck!