One of the most common frustrations homeowners run into is getting a vague timeline from a contractor and then watching the project run longer than expected. After years of working on residential and commercial projects across Southwestern Ontario, we put together a realistic breakdown of what to expect based on project type.
The four things that actually drive how long a renovation takes:
The permit process is often the biggest delay nobody plans for. Depending on your municipality and the complexity of the work, permit approval alone can take anywhere from two weeks to four months in Ontario. Construction cannot start until the permit is issued, so this variable alone can shift your entire schedule.
Trade availability is the second factor most people underestimate. Skilled electricians, plumbers, and masons in Ontario are often booked months in advance, especially from spring through early fall.
Material lead times matter more than people expect. Custom cabinetry, specialty stone, and heritage brick can have production and delivery timelines of four to twelve weeks. If your contractor is not accounting for this at the planning stage, you will hit delays mid-project.
Site conditions in older Ontario homes are unpredictable. Once walls open or foundations are exposed, outdated wiring, galvanized plumbing, or water damage can add time and cost that nobody could have anticipated from the outside.
Rough timelines by project type:
Kitchen renovation: 1 to 2 weeks for cosmetic updates, 4 to 8 weeks for a standard renovation with new cabinets and counters, and 10 to 16 weeks for a full gut with layout changes. Add 6 to 12 weeks if custom cabinetry is involved.
Bathroom renovation: 3 to 7 days for a cosmetic refresh, 2 to 4 weeks for a standard renovation, and 5 to 10 weeks for a full gut with custom shower installation.
Full home renovation: 3 to 6 months for a partial renovation covering 2 to 3 rooms, 6 to 9 months for a full interior without structural changes, and 10 to 18 months for whole-home work including structural upgrades.
Masonry and exterior work: Chimney repairs typically take 1 to 3 days, brick repointing 3 to 7 days, and heritage brick restoration anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks depending on the scope and matching requirements. Keep in mind that masonry cannot proceed during freezing temperatures, so spring through fall is the reliable window in Ontario.
Home additions: Factor in 4 to 7 months for a small addition, 7 to 12 months for a mid-sized addition with a new foundation, and 10 to 18 months for a large structural expansion. The permit process alone adds 2 to 4 months to the start of construction.
The most practical advice before you start:
Get a written scope of work and timeline before signing anything. Order custom materials before the project start date. Build a 10 to 20 percent contingency into both your budget and your timeline. Avoid scope changes mid-project because each one resets scheduling and material coordination.
If you want a more detailed breakdown of what goes into renovation planning in Ontario, we put together a full guide on how long a home renovation takes based on real project experience across the region.
Happy to answer questions if anyone has a specific project type they are trying to plan around.
