How Long Does It Take to Remodel a Whole Home in Colorado? A 2026 Timeline Guide

Of all the questions we hear at first visits, from Briargate to Parker, the timeline question comes up as often as cost: how long will we be living in a project? The honest answer for a whole-home remodel in Colorado runs from about four months on the cosmetic end to a year or more for full custom work, all of it within your existing footprint. Here is how the whole-home remodel timeline actually breaks down in 2026, what happens before construction starts and what tends to stretch the schedule.

The short answer by project tier

A cosmetic whole-home refresh (paint, flooring, lighting, counters and hardware throughout, no layout changes) typically runs four to six months. A mid-range whole-home remodel (kitchen and primary bath fully remodeled, secondary baths updated, new flooring and possibly a wall or two opened) typically runs five to eight months. A higher-end remodel with significant layout changes, custom cabinetry and structural work within the existing footprint typically runs seven to twelve months or more. Those windows cover active work from demolition to final walkthrough; the planning runway comes before them. On every tier a single project manager carries the project from design through final finishing, so the schedule is owned by one person from the first day to the last.

What happens before demolition

Whole-home projects earn their timeline before the first wall opens. Our first visit is longer and more involved for whole-home work because the through-lines across rooms matter: flooring transitions, lighting, trim and how the kitchen relates to everything around it. Our team offers our own design knowledge and experience through the process, and if you'd like to bring in an outside designer, we work hand-in-hand with them as well. From there, material selections and cabinetry orders set the pace, permit submission follows through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department in the Colorado Springs region or Douglas County or surrounding municipalities in the Denver suburbs, and your fixed-bid number is written down before work starts. Depending on how quickly selections come together, this planning phase adds weeks, sometimes a couple of months, ahead of construction.

What can stretch the schedule

Cabinetry and other fabrication lead times drive more schedule than any other single item, which is why long-lead materials get ordered early. Selection speed matters just as much, since a kitchen cannot be scheduled around counters that have not been chosen. Structural openings add engineering and permit review time, and review times vary by jurisdiction and how busy the season is. And most projects hit at least one unexpected condition once walls are open, the kind of thing drawings or site visits can't fully predict, which is why the windows above are ranges rather than promises.

Can you live at home during the work?

Many families do, and some choose to move out for part of the project. We prepare homeowners up front that the home will essentially be a construction zone for the duration, and dust will be controlled to a minimum throughout the project. Sequencing helps too: some homeowners phase the work, finishing the basement first as a landing zone, then the main floor, then a primary suite remodel, and we lay out that phasing at the consultation. A phased approach stretches the calendar but keeps part of the home livable at every stage.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to remodel a house in Colorado?

For whole-home work, plan on four to six months for a cosmetic refresh, five to eight months for a mid-range remodel and seven to twelve months or more for full custom work with structural changes, plus a planning phase before construction begins.

What takes the longest in a whole-home remodel?

Cabinetry and other long-lead fabrication, structural work that needs engineering and permit review and the selection process itself. Projects where selections are made early and decisively run noticeably smoother.

Can you live in your house during a whole-home remodel?

Often yes, especially with phased sequencing that keeps one part of the home livable while another is under construction. For full gut-level scopes many families choose to relocate for a few months, and we talk through both options at the consultation.

Is a phased whole-home remodel faster?

Each phase is shorter than a single all-at-once project, but the total calendar usually runs longer. Phasing trades speed for livability, and for many families that is the right trade.

Schedule a free consultation

If you are planning a whole-home remodel in 2026 and want a realistic schedule for your specific scope, we would be glad to walk your home, talk through the phases and give you a fixed-bid number with a project-specific timeline. Call our Colorado Springs office at (719) 574-9676 or our Lone Tree office at (720) 835-2105 or reach out online for a free in-home consultation. Alpine Contracting provides interior remodeling services for homeowners in Colorado Springs, Monument, Woodland Park and the Southern Denver suburbs including Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Parker and Castle Rock.

***The timelines above reflect what we typically see in the area(s) mentioned in 2026. They're meant to help you plan, this is not a schedule commitment. Material lead times, permit review times and conditions uncovered during the work can shift the window. We share a project-specific schedule for your scope after the consultation.