When everyone in the family is eagerly waiting for that bathroom or kitchen remodeling project to be completed, the last thing you want to hear is that unforeseen circumstances have caused a delay. If you do your homework and plan ahead though, most of these delays might be preventable. Here are a few of the most common types of delays and how they could be prevented.

Inspections and remodeling permits

The majority of remodeling projects require permits which are normally handled by the contractor.

If they are not properly planned, however, both inspections and permits can cause project delays. This is where using an experienced contractor can save you a lot of time and many headaches. They know how long it typically takes to process specific types of permits and they will make sure the project stays on schedule by planning this properly.

Inspections can be another cause of delays, particularly if you use an inexperienced contractor. If your project should fail an inspection it is not only likely to cause a delay, but it could also increase expenses. This is why it’s important to discuss permits and inspections with the contractor before accepting their quote. If you get the feeling they’re not completely sure how the process works, walk away while you still can.

Adverse weather conditions

There is a good reason why the majority of homeowners schedule remodeling jobs for spring or early fall: it’s less likely that the weather will cause irksome (and potentially expensive) delays. This is particularly important for exterior remodeling jobs such as home additions, roofing, or adding a new deck. Although it’s usually not such a big deal in the case of interior remodeling projects, certain components such as cement and grout can take significantly longer to cure, thereby delaying the whole project. Inclement weather can also result in delivery delays, particularly if some of the materials have to be sent from out-of-state.