By Bruno Venichand, J. Perry & Sons — Florida CGC1540699
A renovation before the holidays works if the project needs no permit and no long-lead material. Interior paint, new floors, a kitchen backsplash, regrouting and reach-in closets can be finished by mid-December when they start in early to mid-November. A full kitchen or a bathroom with moved plumbing can't. Permits, cabinets and slabs alone take longer than the time left. Below is how J. Perry & Sons painting, flooring and bathroom renovation crews sort holiday requests in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade.
Renovation before the holidays: what fits, cost and time
| Project | Typical cost | Lead time before start | On-site time | Fits by mid-December? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior painting, walls, ceilings and trim | $4–$6 per sq ft of floor area | 1–2 weeks | 4–8 working days | Yes |
| LVP flooring, 1,000–1,500 sq ft | $6–$9 per sq ft | 1–2 weeks for stock material | 4–8 working days | Yes |
| Porcelain tile floor with demo | $14–$18 per sq ft plus $4–$6 demo | 1–3 weeks | 8–12 working days | Yes, if started early November |
| Kitchen backsplash | $1,750–$3,000 | 1–2 weeks for tile | 2–3 working days | Yes |
| Shower regrout and re-caulk | $1,000–$1,500 | Days | 1–2 working days | Yes |
| Reach-in closet system | $2,250–$3,750 | 3–5 weeks for production | 1 day | Only if ordered by early November |
| Fireplace refacing in stone or tile | $6,000–$11,000 | 1–3 weeks | 5–10 working days | Usually |
| Guest bathroom, same layout | $20,000–$30,000 | Permit 2–5 weeks if needed, plus selections | 3–5 weeks | Rarely |
| Kitchen remodel | $54,000–$140,000+ | Cabinets and permit, 6–12 weeks | 6–12 weeks | No |
These assume you have selected materials or can select them in the first few days. Waiting a week to pick a tile is a week off the calendar.
Why the deadline is earlier than it looks
From the end of October, you don't have eight weeks of work. Thanksgiving week loses two or three days. Supply houses close early, and inspectors and HOA boards slow down. The week before Christmas, most clients want the house clean and empty of tools, not in the middle of grouting.
So a "done by the holidays" target really means done by around December 15. Count backward from there.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project. Tell us which rooms and your target date, and we'll send a same-day range and an honest answer on whether it fits.
Call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project with photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.
How we plan a holiday deadline job
- Confirm scope in one visit. Measure, photograph, and list every finish you need to choose.
- Lock materials first. In-stock tile, LVP and paint colors win. Special-order items get a confirmed delivery date before we schedule labor.
- Check permit and approval needs. Flooring replacement in a single-family home typically doesn't need a permit; condo work needs association approval, and moving plumbing or electrical needs a permit. Anything permit-dependent gets a realistic date, not a hopeful one.
- Sequence rooms. Living areas where guests gather first; spare rooms last.
- Leave a buffer week. If something slips, the buffer absorbs it.
Projects that look small but aren't
- "Just the shower." Once the tile is off, the pan or the wall board may be failed. A shower replacement runs $14,000–$21,000 and needs waterproofing cure time.
- "Just the countertops." Template happens after any cabinet work, then fabrication takes 1–2 weeks. Feasible in November if cabinets stay; not if they change.
- Whole-house tile floor. Demo is dusty and furniture moves room by room. Doable, but start early in November.
South Florida factors in November and December
Condos. Many associations restrict noisy work hours and some limit work near the holidays. Some buildings also require a deposit and a certificate of insurance before the first day. Check the rules now. See the condo renovation rules checklist.
Snowbird arrivals. Seasonal residents come back in November and December, so building elevators, loading docks and parking get busy.
Weather. The dry season starts, which helps exterior painting and pavers, but hurricane season technically runs through November.
Material supply. Holiday shipping backs up freight. Order early.
A realistic timeline from today
- Week 1: site visit, scope, selections, contract
- Week 2: materials arrive, approvals filed if needed
- Weeks 3–6: work, room by room
- Week 7: punch list and cleanup, done by mid-December
If the timeline doesn't fit, a common choice is to do the paint and floors now and book the bathroom or kitchen for January, when permits and lead times can run in the background over the holidays.
Renovation by city
- Flooring installation in Boca Raton
- Painting in Fort Lauderdale
- Flooring installation in Pembroke Pines
- Painting in West Palm Beach
- Bathroom renovation in Weston
- Kitchen renovation in Coral Gables
- Custom closets in Parkland
Related guides: Renovation timeline in South Florida · Interior painting cost · Kitchen backsplash cost
Prefer to send photos or plans? Send us your project
Renovation before the holidays — FAQ
Can I renovate my kitchen before the holidays? A full kitchen, no, if you're starting in November. A backsplash, paint or a countertop swap on existing cabinets can fit.
What renovation can be done in a month? Interior painting, LVP or tile floors, a backsplash, shower regrouting and fireplace refacing typically fit in under a month with materials in stock.
Do I need a permit for new floors? Like-for-like flooring in a single-family home typically doesn't need one. Condos need association approval, and some require sound underlayment.
What if my project won't finish in time? We schedule it for January and use December for selections, approvals and permits, so work starts the first week of the new year.
How do I get an exact price? Call (561) 556-7509 or send photos and rough dimensions through our project form. A written estimate is typically ready within 24–48 hours after a site review and scope confirmation.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699. Serving Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.
Call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project with photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.