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Project timeline planner

By , Editor Last reviewed

Lay out your renovation in the order the work and the inspections actually happen. Enter each task's working days and what it waits on; get the finish date, the critical path and a calendar you can export. It saves on this device.

1. Project

%
Extra working days, as a share of the schedule
Working days

Template durations are placeholders, not estimates for your job. Replace them with your contractor's schedule and your suppliers' lead times.

Finish date

Wed, Feb 24, 2027 with buffer

  • Work finishesTue, Feb 9, 2027
  • Working days on the critical path73
  • Buffer11 working days
  • Calendar days, start to finish118

Critical path: 1. Measure, design and choose materials → 2. Get written quotes, sign the contract → 3. Permit application and approval → 5. Demolition → 6. Framing changes → 7. Plumbing rough-in → 10. Rough-in inspections (plumbing, electrical, mechanical) → 11. Framing inspection → 12. Insulation, where walls are open → 13. Insulation inspection, if your jurisdiction requires it → 14. Drywall: hang, tape and finish → 15. Prime and paint → 16. Flooring → 17. Install cabinets → 18. Countertop templating → 19. Countertop fabrication and install (use the fabricator’s lead time) → 20. Backsplash → 21. Plumbing and electrical trim-out, appliances → 22. Final inspection → 23. Punch list and final walk-through

2. Tasks

“After steps” lists the step numbers a task waits for, like 2, 3. Use 0 days for a milestone such as a permit approval or delivery.

3. Schedule

#TaskDaysStartFinishSlack
1Measure, design and choose materials10Fri, Oct 30, 2026Thu, Nov 12, 2026critical
2Get written quotes, sign the contract10Fri, Nov 13, 2026Thu, Nov 26, 2026critical
3Permit application and approval10Fri, Nov 27, 2026Thu, Dec 10, 2026critical
4Order cabinets and other long-lead items (use the supplier’s lead time)25Fri, Nov 27, 2026Thu, Dec 31, 20267 days
5Demolition3Fri, Dec 11, 2026Tue, Dec 15, 2026critical
6Framing changes2Wed, Dec 16, 2026Thu, Dec 17, 2026critical
7Plumbing rough-in2Fri, Dec 18, 2026Mon, Dec 21, 2026critical
8Electrical rough-in2Fri, Dec 18, 2026Mon, Dec 21, 2026critical
9Vent hood / mechanical rough-in1Fri, Dec 18, 2026Fri, Dec 18, 20261 day
10Rough-in inspections (plumbing, electrical, mechanical)1Tue, Dec 22, 2026Tue, Dec 22, 2026critical
11Framing inspection1Wed, Dec 23, 2026Wed, Dec 23, 2026critical
12Insulation, where walls are open1Thu, Dec 24, 2026Thu, Dec 24, 2026critical
13Insulation inspection, if your jurisdiction requires it1Fri, Dec 25, 2026Fri, Dec 25, 2026critical
14Drywall: hang, tape and finish5Mon, Dec 28, 2026Fri, Jan 1, 2027critical
15Prime and paint3Mon, Jan 4, 2027Wed, Jan 6, 2027critical
16Flooring3Thu, Jan 7, 2027Mon, Jan 11, 2027critical
17Install cabinets3Tue, Jan 12, 2027Thu, Jan 14, 2027critical
18Countertop templating1Fri, Jan 15, 2027Fri, Jan 15, 2027critical
19Countertop fabrication and install (use the fabricator’s lead time)10Mon, Jan 18, 2027Fri, Jan 29, 2027critical
20Backsplash2Mon, Feb 1, 2027Tue, Feb 2, 2027critical
21Plumbing and electrical trim-out, appliances2Wed, Feb 3, 2027Thu, Feb 4, 2027critical
22Final inspection1Fri, Feb 5, 2027Fri, Feb 5, 2027critical
23Punch list and final walk-through2Mon, Feb 8, 2027Tue, Feb 9, 2027critical

The order of work, and why it matters

The sequence isn't a matter of taste: inspectors have to see work before it's covered. The 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) lists the required inspections in section R109.1:

  1. Foundation, after trenches are dug and forms and reinforcing are in place, before concrete is placed.
  2. Plumbing, mechanical, gas and electrical rough-in, before anything is covered or concealed and before the framing inspection.
  3. Frame and masonry, after framing and bracing are in place and the rough-ins are approved.
  4. Other inspections at the building official's discretion, such as fire-rated drywall before its joints are taped.
  5. Final, after the permitted work is complete.

Section R109.4 adds that work that fails inspection can't be covered until the building official approves it. Cities add their own steps. Seattle, for example, inspects insulation after it's installed and before walls are covered. Montgomery County, Maryland, has inspectors do the framing, rough wiring and mechanical inspections together. Brainerd, Minnesota, and Twin Falls, Idaho, inspect drywall only in fire-rated assemblies. Ask your building department for its list and add those steps.

Wait times that belong in the schedule

Put dates in the contract

The FTC advises making sure a home improvement contract includes an estimated start and completion date. Some states require it: California's contractor law requires an approximate start and completion date, and a change order must say how it affects the completion date. Compare quotes and contracts with the contractor hiring checklist, keep the budget in the project planner or the budget spreadsheet, and work through the renovation checklist.

Common questions

What order should a remodel go in?

Design and permits first, then demolition, framing changes and the “rough-in” of plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Under the 2024 International Residential Code, the rough-ins are inspected before the framing inspection, and work can’t be covered until it’s approved. Then come insulation (some places inspect it), drywall, paint and finishes, then fixtures, the final inspection and your walk-through. Your local building department sets the exact list.

How long does a kitchen or bathroom remodel take?

It depends on the job, your contractor’s crew and the lead times for cabinets, countertops and fixtures, so we don’t give a number. The durations in our templates are placeholders. Ask each contractor for their schedule; the FTC says a contract should include an estimated start and completion date. Enter their numbers here to see the finish date and which tasks hold everything up.

What is the critical path?

The longest chain of tasks that depend on each other. A delay to any task on it delays the whole project; tasks off it have “slack” and can slip that many working days without moving the finish date.

Why add a buffer?

Inspections get rescheduled, deliveries slip and walls hide surprises. A buffer of extra working days at the end gives you a realistic move-in date to plan around, separate from the contractor’s schedule.

Where is my timeline saved?

In your own browser, on this device. Nothing is sent to us. Download the CSV or calendar file to keep a copy.

Sources

Formulas and figures last checked against these sources on. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll fix it.