How Long Does a Renovation Take on the Costa Blanca? Timelines by Job
A cosmetic flat refresh takes one to two weeks, a bathroom two to three and a full villa renovation ten to sixteen. The date is often set by made-to-order items and paperwork, not the building work. Timelines by job.
On the Costa Blanca a cosmetic refresh of a two-bedroom apartment takes one to two weeks, a bathroom two to three weeks on site (closer to four if the plumbing moves), a kitchen two to three weeks once the units arrive, and a full villa renovation ten to sixteen weeks. The calendar date is often set by what happens before and around the building work: made-to-order cabinets and windows take several weeks to make, and a structural job has a licence stage first.
"How long will it take?" is the question owners abroad ask second, after the price, because they have flights, tenants or a summer to plan around. The honest answer is a range per job and a list of what moves it. The figures below are the ones we publish; the written quotation for your property sets out the programme.
Time on site by job
| Job | Typical time | What sets the pace |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh, two-bedroom apartment | 1 to 2 weeks | How much flooring is replaced and whether ceilings are included |
| Cosmetic refresh, whole villa | 3 to 6 weeks | Size and the amount of preparation |
| Apartment reform keeping layout and services | 4 to 6 weeks | New surfaces, kitchen and bathrooms; lead times |
| Full renovation, villa | 10 to 16 weeks | New electrics and plumbing; an apartment is quicker because there is less to do |
| Bathroom | 2 to 3 weeks (nearer 4 if plumbing points move) | Waterproofing and tiling need curing time |
| Kitchen | 2 to 3 weeks on site once units arrive (about a week more if services move or the room is retiled) | Production of cabinets and worktops |
| Windows and doors | 1 to 3 days fitting; 1 to 2 days for a whole house | Manufacture, several weeks after measuring |
Pools are not in this table because they have their own page and their own stages, see swimming pool construction.
The stage before the work: paperwork
For most renovations the paperwork is short. Work without structural change goes by a declaración responsable, which lets work start the same day the complete filing is submitted. A structural job, demolition or a change of use goes by the same route but with a certificate from an accredited body or professional college. A new villa needs a full licence, and that takes months rather than weeks, varying with each town hall. The routes are explained in the licence guide. For a structural renovation, treat design and filing as a phase that runs well before the start date you have in mind.
Lead times: what often sets the date
- Kitchens. Cabinets go into production for three to six weeks. Installation takes two to four days once the units arrive, and the worktop is measured only after the cabinets stand level, then fitted a week or two later. From order to cooking, plan six to ten weeks. The longest part is the lead time, not the work.
- Windows and doors. Every opening is measured, then made to size: typically three to five weeks after measuring. Fitting is quick, but frames cannot be returned, so colour and profile are confirmed before ordering.
- Waterproofing and tiling. In a bathroom both need proper curing time, and rushing either is the most common cause of problems later.
Ordering the long-lead items first is the usual way to shorten the calendar without shortening the work. Our guides to kitchen costs, bathroom costs and windows and doors have the details per job.
Planning around your own dates
- Letting the property. A gap between bookings of two to four weeks is usually enough for a cosmetic refresh. Give us the window and we plan the sequence to finish inside it, or tell you honestly if it is too short.
- Living there. A bathroom needs you out only if it is your only one. Most clients set up a temporary kitchen point with a fridge, kettle and microwave while the kitchen is out.
- Living abroad. Photos arrive weekly, and measurements, drawings and walkthroughs can be approved by video. See renovating from abroad.
- In a community. Tell the administrator before starting: most communities require notice, restrict noisy work to set hours and have rules about lifts and rubble.
What makes a job run longer
The same few things, in every quotation we see: a wall that turns out to be load-bearing, damp or hidden defects found once surfaces are open, services that need replacing, a selection changed after ordering, and paperwork filed incomplete. A written scope with the materials named, and decisions made before demolition rather than during it, remove most of them. For what the budget looks like beside these programmes, see what an apartment renovation costs in Torrevieja.
Questions we get asked
How long does it take to renovate an apartment on the Costa Blanca?
A cosmetic refresh of a two-bedroom apartment takes one to two weeks. A reform that keeps the layout and services, with new surfaces, kitchen and bathrooms, typically takes four to six weeks on site. A full strip-out with new plumbing and electrics runs longer.
How long does a full villa renovation take?
On a villa we plan ten to sixteen weeks for a full renovation and three to six weeks for cosmetic work. A structural renovation also has the licence stage before it.
How long does a bathroom or kitchen renovation take?
A typical bathroom takes two to three weeks on site, nearer four when plumbing points move. A kitchen takes two to three weeks on site once the units arrive, but cabinets take three to six weeks to make, so plan six to ten weeks from order to cooking.
Can I start work straight away or must I wait for a licence?
Most renovations without structural change go by a declaración responsable, which lets work start the same day the complete filing is submitted. A new villa needs a full licence, which takes months.
What usually delays a renovation?
Lead times on made-to-order items such as kitchens and windows, hidden defects found when surfaces are opened, a change of selection after ordering and incomplete paperwork. Fixing the scope and selections in writing before demolition avoids most of them.
Tell us your dates
Send the address, the size, what you want done and the dates you are working to: a booking, a flight, a handover. We reply with what is realistic and a written quotation after a site visit, on WhatsApp or by email, in English. Local pages: builders in Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa.
Timelines: Creator Company service pages (cosmetic, bathroom, kitchen, windows and doors) and renovation guides, 2026. Licence routes: Decreto Legislativo 1/2021 (TRLOTUP), arts. 233 and 241. Programmes are planning ranges, not a commitment; the written quotation sets the programme for a specific property.
Planning this on your own property?
Send the address and a few photos. We will tell you what is realistic, what it costs and what has to be checked on site — before any commitment.