How Much Time Does a Good Repair Take?

How much time does it take to renovate a small apartment? We asked experts in interior design and construction for their opinion and also requested useful tips.

Designer's Opinion

Natalia Mozhchina and Irina Drotenko are experts and founders of the design studio Verba Design

Can a renovation be done quickly?

Yes, but it's better not to rush. You need to prepare well in advance, develop a design project and all necessary drawings. Use materials already available or purchase them ahead of time.

Personal Experience

Surprisingly, the fastest project we completed was not the smallest one. A two-level apartment of 170 sq. m was renovated in just 2.5 months. This included reconstruction and floor insulation, wall hydro-isolation, and radiator replacement.

We were helped by a tested construction company, although keeping up such a pace was not easy. All materials and furniture were selected from stock. Compromises were also made: the existing parquet in the upper floor had to be left as is, otherwise we wouldn't have finished on time.

How to Speed Up the Renovation?

Often clients want to start the renovation even during the design project stage. We try to approve the furniture layout plan quickly and at the same time hand over walls and electrical work to contractors.

This can save about a month, but it often harms the budget. If changes are needed in the project, you'll have to revise not just drawings but redo work on site.

Minimum Time for Small Apartment Renovation

To renovate an apartment of 25–40 sq. m, at least one month is required. Of course, if we're talking about basic and not too complex finishing. You can speed up the process by avoiding "wet" processes, using drop ceilings and other modern technologies.

8 Tips You Will Find Useful

Coordinate all projects with the property management company before starting the renovation and get instructions for contractors.

Pay for all finishing materials, plumbing fixtures, lighting, and furniture yourself upfront.

Create a schedule with contractors and exact delivery dates. Break it into two phases: first, all built-in elements, then external fittings.

Get technical documentation from suppliers: schematics, drawings for equipment and furniture. Pass them to designers and contractors.

Inspect and approve all materials and furniture yourself.

If a contractor fails to complete part of the work, find necessary specialists in advance and align their schedules.

Include in the contract obligations for the contractor to prepare execution documentation. Have them keep photo documentation of all work.

Find compromises: change materials or plumbing fixtures if they are not available.

Vlad Sedov — Expert, Head of Design Studio Lines

Can a renovation be done quickly?

This is possible if you correctly calculate the time for a specific area. In 1.5–2 months, it's realistic to renovate up to 40 sq. m if you have a project ready, materials purchased, and all contractors already on low start.

Personal Experience

The fastest renovation in my practice lasted two months. All rough and finishing work was completed in a one-room apartment, and we started installing wooden fixtures: kitchen, wardrobes. A large crew worked on site, and materials were from the warehouse program — so there were no issues with delivery timelines.

How to Speed Up the Renovation?

You can speed up wall leveling by using gypsum board instead of plastering. This method is popular for uneven surfaces where plaster layers exceed 50 mm. For floor leveling, dry screed can be used: it saves up to 45 days and simplifies the process. Just make sure to avoid any leaks afterward.

"Wet" works cannot be accelerated: chemical drying processes take a set amount of time. If shortened, the quality suffers — cracks may appear in screed or plaster.

By the way, on larger areas, you can work on several tasks in parallel at different sections.

Useful Tip

Control workers at every stage. Review the work plan twice a week in format: first, a 3-day plan, then a report for the previous 3 days. Then draw conclusions: what hinders sticking to the plan, and what additional resources are needed.

Expert Opinion in Construction

Arag Samvelyan — Expert, Head of Construction Company Alef Build

Personal Experience

The fastest renovation in my practice took only two weeks, although it wasn't an apartment but a dental clinic. The fastest major renovation of a 80 sq. m apartment took three months, including re-planning and demolition.

To achieve such results, a good budget and full trust from the client are needed. The client must make decisions quickly, while others handle the rest.

How to Speed Up the Renovation?

In fact, apartments of 30 and 80 sq. m can be renovated almost at the same speed. The reason is that processes like drying take about the same time, and finishing materials will only take an additional one to two days.

So it’s better to save not on material quality but on technical solutions. For example, floors can be laid not with adhesive but using a floating method — this saves both time and money.

Also, don’t forget about coordinated work among all renovation participants. Discuss your preferences with the designer in advance and calculate the budget. Don’t hesitate to consult with contractors: they can suggest how to achieve your desired results, which design decisions to avoid and what to replace them with.