Why Most Renovations Run Late (And It’s Not the Tile)
- Girka Design Build
- Feb 17
- 4 min read
When homeowners talk about renovation horror stories, one thing comes up almost
every time:
“It took way longer than they said.”
Sometimes it’s weeks. Sometimes it’s months. Sometimes no one can even say when it will actually be done. Most people assume delays are just part of construction. They blame backordered materials, weather, or “that’s just how it goes.” But here’s the truth we’ve learned after years of doing this:
Most renovations don’t run late because of bad luck.
They run late because no one is actively managing the schedule.
The Difference Between a Date and a Plan
One of the biggest problems in residential construction is that people confuse a start
date with a schedule. A start date is just a guess. A schedule is a plan.
A real renovation schedule answers questions like:
What has to be finished before the next trade starts?
When do materials need to be on site?
What decisions must be made ahead of time?
What happens if something slips?
Without those answers, delays are almost guaranteed.
How Delays Actually Start (It’s Never One Big Thing)
Most projects don’t fall behind all at once. They fall behind a little at a time.
Here’s what that usually looks like:
A decision gets pushed because it “can wait”
A trade gets delayed because the previous step isn’t finished
Materials arrive later than expected
No one adjusts the schedule
The next trade gets pushed
And then the next one does too
Individually, each delay seems minor. Together, they turn into weeks of lost time.
Why “We’ll Figure It Out As We Go” Doesn’t Work
We hear this approach a lot in this industry. It sounds flexible, but it’s actually risky.
When a project isn’t planned thoroughly up front:
Trades can’t be scheduled accurately
Materials aren’t ordered early enough
Decisions get made under pressure
Small problems turn into big ones
That’s when homeowners start hearing phrases like:
“We’re waiting on…”
“We’ll know more next week.”
“That wasn’t accounted for.”
A renovation should not be reactive. It should be managed.
The Compounding Effect of Poor Scheduling
Here’s something most homeowners don’t realize:
One missed step affects everything after it. If framing is late, electrical is late.
If electrical is late, drywall is late. If drywall is late, paint, cabinets, and trim are all affected.
Without someone watching the sequence closely, the schedule quietly unravels.
By the time everyone agrees the project is “behind,” it’s already been behind for weeks.
Materials Don’t Cause Delays — Late Decisions Do
Yes, materials matter. But most material delays are actually decision delays.
When selections aren’t finalized early:
Orders get placed late
Lead times become emergencies
Trades can’t be scheduled confidently
A common example:
Cabinets get selected after demolition starts. Now everyone is waiting on cabinet delivery before moving forward. That delay didn’t start with the cabinets. It started with poor planning.
What a Real Renovation Schedule Looks Like
A real schedule isn’t just a list of dates. It’s a living document.
It includes:
The full sequence of work
Time built in for inspections
Material lead times
Trade availability
Decision deadlines
Contingency planning
Most importantly, it’s actively managed. If something changes, the schedule changes with it—and everyone knows what that means for the project as a whole.
Why Homeowners End Up Chasing the Timeline
When there’s no clear schedule, homeowners naturally start asking:
“When is this happening?”
“What’s next?”
“Why hasn’t anyone been here?”
That’s not being difficult. That’s trying to regain control. But homeowners shouldn’t have to chase updates. They should be getting them proactively.
Project Management Is What Keeps Things Moving
A renovation schedule doesn’t manage itself.
Someone has to:
Confirm trades
Coordinate deliveries
Watch progress
Adjust when needed
Communicate changes clearly
That’s project management. Without it, timelines become vague, flexible, and unreliable.
With it, delays are minimized—and when they do happen, they’re handled transparently.
Why Design-Build Helps (When It’s Managed Properly)
In a design-build model, scheduling works best when:
Design decisions are made early
Construction input informs the design
One team owns the full timeline
When design and construction are disconnected, schedules suffer. When they’re
aligned and managed by one team, projects move more smoothly. But again, design-build only works if someone is actually managing the process.
How We Keep Projects on Track at Girka Design Build
At Girka Design Build, we treat scheduling as one of the most important parts of the job.
We:
Build a realistic timeline before construction starts
Identify long-lead items early
Set decision deadlines so nothing stalls
Coordinate trades in advance
Review progress constantly and adjust as needed
Communicate clearly when changes happen
We don’t promise perfection. Construction is still construction. But we do promise that your timeline is being actively managed, not guessed at.
Delays Aren’t Inevitable — They’re Preventable
Every renovation will have variables. That’s normal. What’s not normal is silence, confusion, and endless extensions with no explanation.
When a project is properly planned and managed:
Fewer delays happen
Problems are caught earlier
Homeowners stay informed
Timelines remain realistic
That’s not luck. That’s process.
If You Want a Renovation With a Real Plan, Let’s Talk
If you’re planning a renovation and want:
A clear timeline
Honest expectations
A team that manages the details
We’re happy to talk through your project and explain how we approach scheduling from
day one.
📞 941-223-0349
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