In short
- HomeStars' Canada guide: bathroom 2 to 4 weeks, kitchen 4 to 8.
- Its Ottawa bathroom guide says a standard full renovation takes 1 to 2 weeks.
- A mid-range Ottawa basement takes 6 to 12 weeks on site, after 2 to 6 weeks of permit processing (HomeStars Ottawa).
- Ottawa contractors typically carry a 3 to 6 week backlog in peak season, so the start date comes before the crew does.
- A whole-home renovation runs from six months to over a year in the same Canada guide.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom, standard full renovation | 1 to 2 weeks | HomeStars Ottawa bathroom guide |
| Bathroom, Canada-wide | 2 to 4 weeks | HomeStars Canada guide |
| Kitchen | 4 to 8 weeks | HomeStars Canada guide |
| Basement, mid-range, on site | 6 to 12 weeks | HomeStars Ottawa basement guide |
| Basement, permit and drawings | 2 to 6 weeks | Same guide; the City’s first pass takes 5 business days |
| Whole-home renovation | 6 months to over a year | HomeStars Canada guide |
Sources. HomeStars, Bathroom Renovation Cost Guide for Ottawa, 2026 Basement Renovation Cost Guide for Ottawa and How Much Does a Home Renovation Cost in Canada 2026, all seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa, Finishing a basement, seen 29.10.2026. Ontario, Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs and Your rights when signing or cancelling a contract, seen 29.10.2026.
The three clocks
A renovation has three clocks, and only one of them is the crew on site. The first is the wait: design, drawings, permit processing and the contractor’s own calendar. The second is the build. The third is closing out: inspections, deficiency fixes and the final clean.
Published Ottawa numbers cover the second clock most fully. HomeStars’ Canada guide gives a bathroom two to four weeks and a kitchen four to eight. Its Ottawa bathroom guide narrows a standard full renovation to one to two weeks. For a basement it gives 6 to 12 weeks on site. Those figures describe the crew’s time. The wait is in addition.
Waiting before the start
The Ottawa basement guide says contractors typically carry a backlog of 3 to 6 weeks in peak season. The same guide gives 2 to 6 weeks for drawings and permit processing. The City’s own page for basements aims to answer within 5 business days at its enhanced service level, and that covers only its first pass over the application. Details on what needs a permit are on the renovation permits page.
Rooms that skip the permit also skip that wait. New flooring, paint, same-place cabinets and a hot water tank swap are exempt in the City’s list.
The order of work
Most room renovations follow one order:
- Measure, design and choose finishes.
- Permit and drawings, when the scope calls for them.
- Demolition and removal.
- Structure, framing and any repair the opened walls demand.
- Plumbing and electrical rough-in, then inspection.
- Insulation, vapour barrier, drywall.
- Tile, cabinets, flooring, paint.
- Fixtures, final inspections, clean-up.
HomeStars’ basement guide describes the same sequence for a basement and adds that rough-ins can be done first so the walls are opened only once. The City’s basement inspection list follows the same order, from the pipes under the slab to the closing visit, and it asks for each inspection to be booked 48 hours ahead.
Long-lead items
Finish items set the end date more often than demolition does. Ask early about cabinets, windows, a custom glass shower panel, stone counters and special tile. Order times vary by supplier, so the company quotes them from its own. Find out which item is slowest and decide on it first. The kitchen renovation and bathroom renovation pages list what each room involves.
Seasons in Ottawa
HomeStars’ Ottawa bathroom guide describes December to March as slower for contractors, with more scheduling flexibility, and says interior work is unaffected by cold weather. Its basement guide calls winter often the most practical time for a basement, with better availability than spring and summer. The winter renovation page covers what changes in the cold, such as deliveries and exterior work.
Putting dates in the contract
Ontario wants every home renovation contract above $50 in writing, and the schedule inside it should carry a start date, a completion date and the payment stages. If the contract gives a start date and the business has not started by 30 days after it, you can cancel before it starts. The contract checklist lists the other clauses.
Who sets the dates
The one independent company that gets your request sets the dates after seeing the job. The ranges above are here so you can judge its answer.
Questions to ask the company
- What is the earliest start date, and what does it depend on?
- Which weeks are demolition, rough-in, inspection and finishing?
- Which steps wait on a City inspection, and who books it?
- Do long-lead items such as cabinets or windows set the finish date?
- Are the start and completion dates written into the contract?
Have this ready for the call
- The date you need the room back, and why that date matters
- Finishes chosen before the call: tile, fixtures, cabinets
- If you can live without the room, or need a second bathroom or a temporary kitchen
- Photos of the room
Questions people ask
How far ahead should I ask for a renovation?
HomeStars’ Ottawa basement guide says contractors typically carry a 3 to 6 week backlog in peak season. A basement also needs 2 to 6 weeks for drawings and permit processing before work starts. Together the backlog and the permit step add up to roughly 5 to 12 weeks before the crew arrives, so send the request well ahead of your date.
What usually makes a renovation run late?
The published guides point to four sources: permit processing, a contractor backlog, changed plans and what the walls reveal. Ontario’s consumer page warns that changing plans mid-project costs extra. A contingency of 10 to 15% in the budget and a slack week in the schedule absorb most surprises.
Does a bathroom renovation wait on a City permit?
Only if the job changes walls, windows or plumbing. A refresh with fixtures in the same places is exempt from the permit. When a permit applies, the City’s schedule for plumbing-only work is a flat fee, and its inspections are booked 48 hours ahead. The permits page lists the details.
Can a whole house be renovated in one stretch?
HomeStars’ Canada guide gives six months to over a year for a whole-home renovation, depending on scope, permit approvals and contractor availability. Rooms with a permit, such as a basement, add their own processing time. Ask the company whether it will quote the rooms as separate phases, each with its own dates.
Why do two guides give different times for a bathroom?
HomeStars’ Ottawa guide says a standard full bathroom renovation takes one to two weeks, and its Canada guide says two to four. Both tie the figure to scope and to how many tasks run in parallel. Neither includes the wait for a start date. Your company can date your bathroom after seeing the room.
What happens to the schedule if I change the design mid-job?
Ontario’s consumer page says changing plans in the middle of a project costs extra, and that new work calls for a written, signed amendment with its own estimate. Items already ordered, such as tile, vanities or windows, may need re-ordering, which adds time. Settle the big choices before demolition.
