Average time: 2 mins
From quick bathroom refreshes to full house renovations, this guide gives you realistic timelines for every type of home improvement project in London.
One of the most common frustrations in home renovation is underestimating how long the project will take. Delays are a fact of life in construction, whether caused by material supply issues, unexpected discoveries behind walls, weather, or the sheer complexity of coordinating multiple trades. Understanding realistic timelines from the outset helps you plan your life around the renovation — whether that means arranging temporary accommodation, planning around a kitchen being out of action, or coordinating with school holidays and work commitments.
A standard bathroom renovation takes 2 to 4 weeks from strip-out to completion. A straightforward like-for-like replacement of sanitaryware, tiling, and fixtures can be done in as little as 10 working days. If you are changing the layout, moving plumbing, or creating a wet room, allow 3–4 weeks. The main bottleneck is often tiling, which is time-consuming and must be done carefully to achieve a good finish. Bear in mind that you will be without a bathroom during this period, so make arrangements — particularly if you only have one bathroom.
A kitchen renovation typically takes 3 to 6 weeks on site. A simple kitchen replacement where the layout stays the same can be completed in 3 weeks. Projects involving new flooring, electrical upgrades, plastering, and layout changes will take 4–6 weeks. If structural work is involved, such as removing a wall or adding an extension, the kitchen phase is part of a larger project that could take 8–12 weeks or more. Plan to set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the house with a microwave, kettle, and portable hob.
Top Tip
Order your kitchen and appliances well in advance. Lead times for kitchens in 2026 are typically 4–8 weeks from order, and some bespoke or German kitchens can take 12–16 weeks. Having everything on site before work begins avoids costly delays.
A single-storey rear extension in London typically takes 8 to 14 weeks from breaking ground to completion. The timeline breaks down roughly as follows: foundations and groundwork take 1–2 weeks, brickwork and structure take 2–3 weeks, roofing takes 1 week, first fix (plumbing, electrics, plastering) takes 2–3 weeks, and second fix and finishing takes 2–3 weeks. Weather can have a significant impact on the early stages — pouring concrete foundations and laying bricks in heavy rain is not advisable.
A loft conversion typically takes 8 to 12 weeks on site. A basic Velux conversion is at the shorter end, while a dormer or mansard conversion takes longer. The work is mostly carried out from inside the property and from scaffolding on the exterior, so disruption to the ground floor is relatively limited compared to an extension. The most disruptive phase is when the staircase is installed, connecting the new loft space to the rest of the house.
A full house renovation — covering rewiring, replumbing, new heating, new kitchen and bathroom, redecorating throughout, and possibly structural alterations — typically takes 3 to 6 months. Larger properties or those requiring significant structural work can take 6–9 months. This is a major project that usually requires you to move out of the property for the duration. The benefit of a full renovation is that all the disruptive work is done at once, rather than piecemeal over many years.
Important
Party wall agreements can be the biggest source of pre-construction delay. If your neighbour does not respond to the party wall notice within 14 days, they are deemed to have dissented, and party wall surveyors must be appointed. This process can take 2–3 months, so start it as early as possible.
A full house renovation in London typically takes 3–6 months on site, depending on the size of the property and scope of work. Larger projects involving extensions and structural changes can take 6–9 months. Allow an additional 3–6 months before construction for design, planning, and contractor procurement.
A bathroom renovation is typically the quickest, taking 2–4 weeks. A like-for-like kitchen replacement can be done in 3 weeks. Cosmetic redecorations (painting, flooring, fixtures) can often be completed room by room in a matter of days.
For a full house renovation, it is usually advisable to move out. The dust, noise, lack of kitchen and bathroom facilities, and the presence of tradespeople throughout the house make it very difficult to live in. For smaller projects like a single bathroom or kitchen renovation, most homeowners stay in the property and make temporary arrangements.
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