Overcoming Common Challenges That Delay Your Home Renovation

Neglecting crucial aspects can transform your apartment renovation into a never-ending construction saga.

By Valentina Konstantinova

Business Consultant, Co-founder of Hot Consulting.

Challenge 1: Inadequate Planning

Dedicate at least two weeks to thorough planning before beginning any renovation work. While a designer’s help can be beneficial, it’s not mandatory.

Many homeowners face difficulties because they:

• Are unclear about their desired outcome;
• Forget their initial ideas or instructions given to contractors;
• Change their minds midway, opting for different designs;
• Take too long to decide on materials, causing delays.

Solution

Gather images and photos that inspire you for each area of your home to define a consistent style. Platforms like Pinterest are ideal for this purpose.

Choose a color palette for every room.

Sketch the existing floor plan with markers or pencils, marking walls or structures to be demolished. Then, draw a new plan indicating walls to be built. Celebrate your new layout!

Flip the plan over and specify materials for ceilings, walls, and baseboards so contractors clearly understand requirements.

Mark all plumbing points such as faucets, washing machines, dishwashers, drains, and toilets along with their distances from walls.

Create another plan detailing lighting fixtures and switches, illustrating which switch controls each light.

Challenge 2: Inefficient Project Management

For example, a couple hired a skilled plumber, Sasha, and gave him the apartment keys and task list. While the job was estimated to take two days, it dragged on for a week with little communication, causing frustration.

From Sasha's perspective, complications like needing access to neighbors or approvals from management can arise, delaying progress.

Additionally, contractors often order materials in exact quantities to save money but risk running out mid-project, leading to further delays due to reordering and delivery times.

Solution

Purchase materials timely and in sufficient quantities—consult vendors or packaging instructions for accurate estimates.

Arrange for debris removal proactively by securing suitable trucks permitted to enter your building’s premises.

Coordinate with building management to protect common areas, such as covering elevators with cardboard before work begins.

If hiring a company, clarify what services are included in their contract to avoid misunderstandings.

Challenge 3: Low Skill Levels Among Contractors

The phrase "all contractors are the same" is misleading. Not every electrician can produce a single-line wiring diagram, and painters may not understand how different rollers affect paint texture.

Contractors may rely on outdated methods or previous training, lacking knowledge of modern renovation technologies like floor leveling systems.

Solution

Take responsibility by researching each renovation stage yourself. Consult manufacturer guidelines available on packaging or official websites to assist contractors in following best practices.

Challenge 4: Unforeseen Circumstances

Some events are unpredictable. Nassim Taleb describes such rare but impactful occurrences as "black swans." Almost every renovation faces at least one unexpected challenge.

For instance, during a project in a new building, a foul odor was detected despite only having a bare shell and core. Upon investigation, contaminated screed was found, necessitating removal, re-pouring, and a drying period of approximately 28 days for 40 mm thickness.

Solution

Create a strict timeline, such as a Gantt chart, and include an additional 20–30% buffer time to accommodate unexpected delays.

Conclusion

To complete your renovation on time, thorough preparation is essential: develop detailed plans and specifications for contractors, compile a materials list, educate yourself on the processes involved, and allocate extra time for unforeseen issues. Embrace this adventure with enthusiasm, and soon you'll enjoy a beautifully refreshed home along with valuable experience and knowledge.

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