Does Renovating in Phases Make Sense?

Phased construction has a number of advantages and disadvantages for the homeowner. If you’re considering a big renovation project, you’ll likely hear plenty about this type of construction. Before you make a decision, make sure you understand how it works and how it might affect your project. 

What is a Phased Construction Project? 

As the name suggests, a phased construction project involves splitting a larger renovation or other construction work into multiple stages. Each smaller project is completed before the next begins. This contrasts against the one-project model where the entire project is planned and then executed at once. 

It may sound like staging your renovation in phases is the right way to reduce your stress levels and control costs. Yet in reality, the opposite tends to be true concerning both cost and time. Our clients almost always find that handling their home renovations as one big project leads to better results in the long run. 

The Drawbacks of a Phased Home Renovation Project 

First, it’s very difficult to estimate the total cost of a renovation no matter what. It’s simply impossible to completely predict what work will be needed to achieve your goals. Estimating the costs of a renovation completed in phases is even more difficult. The price and availability of materials can change drastically from month to month. Total costs in the end are likely to end up much higher than originally estimated. There is much more room for error and cost creeps during phased renovations, and that’s true for a number of reasons. 

Increased Labour Costs 

Handling each part of your home renovation as a separate project also means holding separate planning meetings to coordinate the designers, contractors, and workers. This results in more total meeting time and site visits than a project planned and coordinated in one phase. When it comes to calling out specialists and skilled labourers, you’ll definitely want to cluster all of the similar repairs to save money. 

Low Volume Material Costs 

Just like with many other industries, contractors count on volume discounts from their suppliers to pass on the best deals to you. That means ordering more lumber, tiles, appliances, or fixtures at once leads to savings that greatly alter the final cost of the project. If you ask your renovation team to only handle a little work at a time, they can only order small amounts of materials at once. That means you’ll spend more in the long run for the same improvements to the home. We can highlight any chances to get deals on tiles or other materials and use them throughout the home to unite the interior design while also helping you enjoy volume discounts. 

As mentioned above, it’s also possible that the demand for the materials you want will rise over time. This leads to higher costs that we have to pass down to you. By completing a project all at once, you can lock in a specific price and ensure that fluctuations in the market won’t affect what you spend on your project. You may even end up settling for a different material than you were originally hoping for to stay within budget. 

Unexpected Delays and Disruptions 

In almost all cases, a project that is completed in phases take longer to complete than one completed at once. You’d be surprised at how our contractors can work in tandem to quickly complete various steps all at once. One room can receive new coats of paint while flooring installers are working in another part of the home. Breaking everything down into stages also increases the chances of miscommunications between the teams, including between you and the designer. You can avoid many costly errors and setbacks just by agreeing to a package that tackles all of your desired renovations at once. Disruption and delays cost both time and money, keeping a project from completing on time and on budget. 

Decreased Efficiency in General 

Unexpected discoveries are common during the renovation of older homes. Even relatively new homes can display surprising defects or conditions that need immediate repairs. When you insist that a renovation is completed in phases, it’s harder for us to discover structural issues or materials that interfere with our planned work. When we do finally find out that your home has asbestos insulation or that there is insufficient support for the roof trusses, we’ll have to pivot to focusing on that work instead. If we already have a full team on hand to tackle a large renovation, there’s a better chance we’ll stay on schedule and accomplish any additional repair work without delay. 

Trying to handle the work in phases can also lead to having to go back to previous phases. It’s inefficient and costly when we have to keep undoing work to fix a problem discovered in a previous phase. This results in a renovation not running seamlessly and can greatly increase costs. 

For example, imagine you prioritize a project that involves finishing the ceiling of the main floor. You add pot lights and have us remove a popcorn ceiling finish. When you realize how happy you are with our work, you decide to call us in to install 1000 square feet of hardwood flooring to cover the second floor. That means we’ll need to use over 6,000 nails or staples to complete the installation. All that vibration and impact could crack the ceiling below that we just refinished or even cause the light fixtures to pop out. If you consider everything you’d like to change about your home from the start, we can at least plan out the work to prevent interference like this. 

Preparing for a Whole House Renovation 

If you’ve ever heard the old saying “Things are not always as they seem”, you’re ready for the process of home renovation. You’d be surprised at what can be found once we start peeling away the layers of old repairs and DIY renovations of years gone past. Don’t be afraid to get started though. With the help of our expert team, you can rest assured that nothing can stand in the way of your renovation goals. Although on the surface staged renovations may sound like a good idea, in reality, they are more likely to end up costing the homeowner in time, money, and mental energy. 

At Sosna, through careful design and planning, we thoroughly plan your renovation from concept to completion. Choosing a design build firm ensures your project is completed on time and on budget, getting you back into your home sooner. That’s one of our top priorities each time we began a renovation for our clients. 

Ready to give your Vaughan Home a Renovation Makeover? Let’s Chat!

Ready to give your home a fresh look? Don’t stress about figuring out every detail yourself. Reach out, and our design experts will walk you through the whole process, making sure your vision comes to life. We’ll look at your home as a whole, creating a cohesive design that goes beyond just one room at a time.

Contact us today to get started!