How Long Does a Renovation Take in Perth?
One of the first questions homeowners ask when considering a major renovation is how long will my renovation take?
It is an important question because a major renovation becomes part of your life for a period of time, particularly if you plan to remain living in the home while the work takes place.
Based on our experience renovating Perth homes, an Amerex Top-to-Toe renovation typically takes around 6 months to complete, while a home extension or second storey addition will generally take around 8 to 12 months.
Larger and more complex renovations may take longer, particularly when construction is deliberately planned in stages so the homeowners can continue living in the home throughout the project.
These timeframes relate to construction itself. The complete renovation journey also includes design, documentation, engineering, approvals, selections and detailed project planning before work begins on site.
How long does the construction stage of a home renovation take?
Every renovation is different, although our experience provides a useful guide to typical construction timeframes:
- Top-to-Toe renovation: around 6 months
- Home extension: around 8 to 12 months
- Second storey addition: around 8 to 12 months
- Large or staged renovation: potentially 12 months or longer
The size of the project is one consideration, while the complexity of the work can be equally important.
A renovation involving structural changes, large steel beams, relocated kitchens and bathrooms, changes to the roofline or the addition of another storey requires engineering certification and careful coordination between different trades and stages of construction.
Renovating an existing home also requires a different approach from constructing a new home on an empty block. We are integrating new construction with an existing structure, often while preserving original features and sometimes even while the homeowners continue living in part of the property.
This is where specialist renovation experience becomes particularly valuable.
How much time should I allow before construction starts?
The construction period is only one part of the overall renovation timeline. Before work starts on site, a major renovation usually moves through a detailed pre-construction process that can include:
- site assessment and measurements
- concept design
- costing and design refinement
- detailed drawings
- structural engineering
- energy assessments and other required reports
- planning approval, where required
- building approval
- interior design and selections
- ordering and construction planning
The amount of time required will vary according to the project. A major internal renovation e.g. a Top-to-Toe Renovation, may move through the planning process more quickly than a substantial extension or second storey addition involving additional design, engineering or approval requirements.
The design stage also provides time to explore ideas and make considered decisions about how you want your renovated home to look and function. Some clients arrive with a very clear vision, while others enjoy exploring different possibilities before settling on the final design.
Taking the time to make these decisions during the planning stage helps create a smoother construction process later.
What can affect the length of a home renovation?
A major renovation involves many interconnected activities. Trades need to arrive in the right sequence, materials and products need to be available when required, cabinetry needs to be manufactured and structural work needs to be coordinated.
Weather can occasionally affect particular stages of construction, especially when work is taking place externally or sections of the existing home are temporarily exposed.
Existing homes can sometimes reveal surprises once construction begins. Experienced renovators become very good at working with existing structures and responding efficiently when something different from the original plans is uncovered.
Efficient project management allows all of these elements to be coordinated while keeping the overall schedule progressing.
Will Perth’s brick shortage affect my renovation?
Brick availability has become a concern in 2026 for many Perth homeowners following reports of supply shortages and the possibility of extended construction timeframes within the WA building industry.
Thankfully, this is likely to have a minimal impact on Amerex. This is for a couple of reasons. (1) We are a low-volume specialist renovation builder, and (2) We predominantly use timber-framed construction for new walls and additions, particularly for second storey additions.
That said, some projects still require bricks. Depending on the design and existing home, the quantity of bricks required for an Amerex renovation is generally much lower than the quantity needed for a complete double-brick new home and our allocation by Midland Brick should enable us to proceed without delays to most, ir not all, projects.
Our use of timber framing also provides practical design and construction advantages for renovation work, particularly when adding another level to an existing home.
As a result, current brick supply pressures have considerably less influence on our construction schedules than they may have on builders constructing large volumes of double-brick homes.
Will trade shortages delay my renovation?
Trade availability has also been an important issue across the Perth building industry in recent years, which makes established relationships with reliable trades increasingly valuable.
Amerex has been renovating Perth homes since 1987, and over that time we have developed a stable team of loyal and reliable tradespeople. Many have worked with us for years and understand our projects, our systems and the standard of workmanship we expect.
Our trades have been selected for more than their technical skills. Quality workmanship is essential, but we also value tradespeople who bring a positive attitude and share our commitment to delivering an excellent result for our clients.
They also know that quality work and great service lead to repeat work with Amerex. These ongoing relationships provide consistency and accountability across our projects.
Our low-volume approach is another advantage because we undertake a select number of major renovations rather than trying to resource hundreds of building sites at the same time. This combination of established trade relationships and controlled project volumes means broader industry trade shortages generally have much less impact on our construction schedules.
How does Amerex keep a renovation on schedule?
Keeping a major renovation on schedule starts well before construction begins. We use professional construction project management software to develop and manage a detailed construction schedule for each project. This allows us to plan the sequence of work, coordinate trades, monitor progress and manage important milestones throughout the build.
At the commencement of each project, we issue purchase orders and start securing the materials, products and trades required for the according to the schedule.
This forward planning means we know what is coming up and can have the right people and products organised well before they are required on site.
Our project management software allows us to monitor the construction schedule throughout the renovation and adjust activities when required. For example, we can easily coordinate which trades can work on site at the same time, and which trades need another step to complete before they can commence.
Throughout the project our team all provides every client with a weekly email outlining what has happened on site this week, what is planned for the next week, and if any issues have occurred or if any decisions need to be made by clients.
These systems, together with our established trade relationships and experience in major renovations, have helped Amerex build a consistent track record of completing projects on time or ahead of schedule.
Why does the order of work matter in a major renovation?
The sequence of construction is one of the less visible parts of a renovation, but it can have a significant impact on how efficiently the project progresses.
Plumbing, electrical work, structural modifications, cabinetry, plastering, waterproofing, tiling, flooring and painting all need to happen in the right order.
When homeowners renovate themselves over a period of several years, they often realise that one trade may damage work already done by another trade. This can lead to expensive re-work, with additional extra cost and a longer overall renovation journey.
As a professional renovation builder, we look at the home and the scope of work as a complete project, then create the construction schedule. This allows each trade to complete their work at the right time and ensure that re-work is not required.
Is it faster to complete a major renovation professionally rather than renovate gradually?
For homeowners planning extensive changes, there can be a considerable difference between completing a major renovation as one professionally managed project and renovating individual areas progressively.
Renovating a kitchen one year, bathrooms another year and tackling structural changes or an extension later can mean the overall transformation takes many years to complete.
A professionally managed renovation brings the agreed scope together into a coordinated construction schedule. With Amerex, everything included within the scope of the building contract is completed as part of the project, right through to the finishing details.
Our team manages the trades, scheduling and quality throughout the build. For homeowners, this removes the considerable task of sourcing individual trades, coordinating their availability, checking the work and arranging for trades to return when further attention is required.
The result is a defined construction period with one professional team responsible for coordinating the project through to completion. In addition you will get a 6 year structural warranty and a 12 month maintenance guarantee (8 months longer than most builders).
Can making selections early help keep my renovation on schedule?
Selections are an important part of keeping a renovation running smoothly. Tiles, tapware, appliances, cabinetry, flooring, lighting and other products all need to be selected and ordered at the appropriate time. Some products also have longer manufacturing or delivery lead times that need to be incorporated into the construction schedule.
Amerex clients have access to our Interior Designer who assists with the selections process, helping clients bring the different elements of their renovation together with a consistent look and feel.
Can I live in my home while it is being renovated?
For many projects, remaining in the home for at least part of the renovation is possible.
For larger renovations, another option is to plan the construction in stages specifically so the homeowners can remain living in the property.
For example, one section of the home may be completed before work moves into another area, allowing essential living spaces and facilities to remain available throughout the project.
When this is viable, this approach can help families save the cost of rental accommodation which can be a considerable saving.
Staged construction will require a longer overall construction period because the work is scheduled around maintaining liveable areas of the home. For this reason, a large extension or renovation that would ordinarily fall within an 8 to 12 month construction program may extend beyond 12 months when it is deliberately staged around an occupied home.
Whether this approach is suitable depends on the layout of the home, the scope of work and the needs of the family, so it is worth discussing early in the design process.
How can homeowners help keep a renovation on schedule?
Homeowners also play an important role in maintaining momentum throughout a renovation.
Completing major design decisions during the design stage, working through selections within the agreed timeframes and responding promptly when a decision is required all help the construction team keep the project moving.
Changes can be made during construction, and sometimes seeing a space take shape inspires a different idea. Variations during construction may affect both the cost and schedule, so understanding the impact allows those decisions to be made with all the relevant information.
The more that can be resolved during design and pre-construction, the more efficiently the construction stage can progress.
So, how long should I allow for a major renovation in Perth?
As a realistic guide, allow around 6 months of construction for a Top-to-Toe renovation and approximately 8 to 12 months for a substantial home extension or second storey addition.
For particularly large projects, or renovations deliberately staged so the family can continue living in the home, construction may extend beyond 12 months.
These are construction timeframes, so additional time should also be allowed beforehand for design, engineering, selections, documentation and the relevant planning and building approvals.
When choosing a renovation builder, the timeframe is only part of the picture. Look at how the project will be planned and managed, how trades and materials will be secured, how quality will be managed and who will take responsibility for coordinating the project through to completion.
Amerex has specialised in major Perth home renovations, home extensions and second storey additions since 1987. We use professional project management software, detailed construction schedules, forward ordering and a trusted team of quality trades to manage every project from commencement through to handover.
Our consistent track record of completing renovations on time or ahead of schedule comes from decades of renovation experience combined with careful planning and active project management throughout construction.
Ready to kick off your renovation project? Contact the Amerex team and let’s get started.