But how much?
“I get that question asked 70 percent of the time. It’s always important,” says Joseph Smith, a board member of the Home Builders Association of Maryland and general manager of Owings Home Services in Eldersburg. “It’s important to know when you’ll start and how long it will take.” And not just for peace of mind.
“When you do a contract in Maryland, [the Maryland Home Improvement Commission requires] that you put a start and end date,” Smith says.
The timeframe for a remodeling project is primarily based on two factors: the size of the project and the size of the company contracted for the job. The projects themselves can run the gamut, from adding a simple kitchen backsplash to constructing an entire second-story addition.
The timeframe for a small project, says Smith, can range from a couple of days to a week; for a medium-sized project, it can be anything from three to six weeks. Large projects, naturally, take longer—anywhere from several weeks to a year. Again, though, says Smith, “It depends on the size of the company and the size of their average project.”
Along with the actual hours spent hammering, these timeframes also include the estimated time for product selection and delivery.
Of course, no projected timeframe is a promise; it’s a best guess. Unpreventable factors—from inclement weather to county code issues—can add delays to any project, no matter how well planned.
Fortunately, says Smith, an ethical contractor will be as eager as the homeowner to complete a project efficiently.
“Most professional remodelers want to get in and get out,” he says. “They do better financially [that way].”
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