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The Real Timeline for a Full House Renovation in Bristol

A full house renovation isn't a kitchen swap. It's the whole property, structural, services, finishes, torn back and rebuilt. Here's what the calendar really looks like.

Weeks 1–2: strip-out and protection

We start by protecting anything that's staying, original tiles, fireplaces, period mouldings, plus stripping out everything that's not. Skips arrive, scaffolding goes up where needed, and the property is sealed and lockable. By the end of week two, the house is a shell.

Weeks 3–6: structural and first fix

Steels go in for any opening-up, walls move, floor structures get repaired or replaced, and the property is brought back to thermal regulations. First-fix electrics, plumbing, heating and waste pipes get run through the building before plastering. Building control inspections happen at every key stage.

Weeks 7–10: plastering, joinery and second fix

Plaster boards up, plaster on, then dry. Joinery, skirting, architraves, doors, goes in. Second-fix electrics (sockets, switches, lights), plumbing (sinks, taps, showers) and heating (radiators, valves) are connected. The house starts to feel like a house again.

Weeks 11–14: kitchens, bathrooms and decoration

Kitchen units, worktops, appliances. Bathroom suites, tiling, sealing. Wall and ceiling decoration. Floor finishes, engineered oak, stone, tile, carpet. This is where the property goes from building site to home.

Weeks 15–16: snagging, certificates and handover

We walk the property with you, snag every detail that isn't right, and fix it. Building control issues completion, electrical and gas certificates are produced, and the property is professionally cleaned. You get a handover pack with every certificate, manual and warranty.

Weeks 17, 6 months, 12 months: aftercare

We come back automatically at three, six and twelve months to check for any settlement cracks, redecoration touch-ups or warranty items. The 10-year workmanship guarantee runs from handover.

How long is a 'full' renovation really?

A 3-bed Victorian terrace runs sixteen to twenty weeks. A 4-bed Edwardian villa runs twenty to twenty-eight weeks. Listed buildings and Georgian townhouses with specialist work routinely run thirty weeks or more. Anyone quoting eight weeks for a whole-house refurb is either skipping something or going to land badly.

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