How Long Does a Whole-Home Renovation Take in Melbourne?
Most whole-home renovations in Melbourne run 4–9 months from site start to handover — but that range hides a lot. Here's how the timeline actually breaks down by scope.
The three phases
- Design, selections and permits: 2–4 months. Layout planning, room-by-room selections, engineering (if structural work or an extension is involved), council permits and certifier sign-off. This is usually the longest single phase on a whole-home project, and rushing it is the most common cause of on-site delays later.
- On-site build: 4–9 months, depending on scope (see below).
- Snagging and handover: 1–2 weeks. Final inspections, touch-ups and walkthrough before you move back in.
On-site timelines by project type
| Scope | On-site time | What's happening |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh (paint, flooring, kitchen/bathroom updates, no structural work) | 8–14 weeks | Room-by-room updates in sequence, no layout changes, existing services retained |
| Mid-range renovation (reconfigured layout, new kitchen + 1–2 bathrooms, some structural change) | 16–28 weeks | Selective demolition, structural changes, full services rework in affected areas, new kitchen and bathrooms |
| Premium renovation with extension | 6–9 months | Full reconfiguration, rear or upper-level extension, structural work throughout, premium finishes |
A recent Camberwell whole-home renovation — heritage facade retained, rear extension added, new kitchen and two bathrooms — ran 22 weeks on-site, toward the upper end of the mid-range/premium band given the extension and structural scope involved.
What actually drives a whole-home timeline
- Whether an extension is involved. Adding a rear or upper-level extension brings its own permit, engineering and construction sequence on top of the renovation itself — this is usually the single biggest timeline factor.
- Staging decisions. Renovating room-by-room while living in part of the house takes longer overall than vacating, but lets you stay put. This is worth deciding early since it changes the build sequence.
- Structural surprises in older homes. Homes from earlier eras (common across Hawthorn, Kew, Camberwell and similar inner-Melbourne suburbs) often reveal wiring, plumbing or structural issues once walls are opened — budget time as well as money for this.
- Permit complexity. A cosmetic refresh with no structural change may need only a building permit; an extension or heritage-overlay property typically needs planning permit assessment too, which can add 1–3+ months before site work even starts.
How to keep a whole-home project on schedule
- Finalise the full room-by-room design and every selection before demolition starts — changes mid-build are the most common source of delay on large projects.
- Decide early whether you're staying on site or moving out, and build the trade sequence around that decision rather than adjusting it partway through.
- Get a fixed-price, fixed-timeline proposal that accounts for design, permits and construction as one sequenced plan, not three separate estimates.
- If an extension is part of the scope, confirm council and heritage requirements for your specific address before finalising the design.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a whole-home renovation take in Melbourne?
Most whole-home renovations run 4–9 months from site start to handover, depending on scope. A cosmetic refresh sits toward the shorter end; a premium renovation with an extension sits toward the longer end.
Does adding an extension make a whole-home renovation take longer?
Yes, significantly — an extension adds its own permit, engineering and construction sequence. Whole-home projects with an extension typically run 6–9 months versus 4–6 months for a comparable renovation without one.
Can I live in my home during a whole-home renovation?
It depends on scope and staging — some homeowners stay in part of the house while work proceeds in stages, others move out for the duration. Staying on site generally extends the overall timeline since trades work around occupied areas.
How long from first consult to a finished whole-home renovation?
Allow roughly 6–12 months total once you include design, selections, permits, lead time and the on-site build — longer if an extension or heritage overlay is involved.
Plan your whole-home renovation
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