So the Hallway Renovation Is Starting… What Residents Should Expect

Whenever a building announces a hallway renovation, the same question comes up almost immediately.

Not about design.
Not about colors.
Not even about the new carpet.
It is always the same thing.
“How is this going to affect me?”

And honestly, that is a fair question. Your hallway is something you walk through every single day. So let’s start with the answers residents usually want first.

In most buildings, work on any one floor lasts between four and eight weeks.

I know that may sound like a long time, but remember, the crews are not doing the same thing every day during that entire period. Some days are very active, and other days you may not see them at all.

The timing usually depends on several things:

• The length of the hallway
• The scope of the renovation
• Whether lighting and wiring are being upgraded
• The number of workers assigned to the project
• The general pace of the work and what task comes next

Contractors typically work in blocks of floors at a time, usually between three and five floors depending on the size and complexity of the building.

And one thing residents should know: the entire building is never demolished at once.

Construction usually begins on the upper floors and works its way downward. The goal is simple. We want the least amount of disruption possible for residents.

In fact, the best compliment we receive during a project is no phone calls from unhappy residents.

Residents often ask if contractors finish one floor completely before moving on to the next.

The answer is no, and there is a good reason for that.

If one trade had to wait for another to finish an entire floor before beginning work, crews would lose valuable manpower. Worse yet, they might leave the project entirely to work somewhere else.

Instead, hallway renovations work more like a “waterfall.”

Each trade moves from one set of floors to the next in sequence. As one group finishes their part, the next group follows behind them.

This system keeps the project moving steadily forward.

And when you see the new carpet being installed and the hallway signs going up, you know the building is in the home stretch.

Yes, but only briefly.

There are a few points during the renovation when your apartment door may need to be opened, if that work is included in the project scope.

This could include:

• The final coat of paint on your door: door would need to be open for 1.5 hours to 2 hours to dry
• Replacing the door viewer or door chime: generally takes 15-20 minutes per door
• Installing new door hardware: 45 min to an hour for a typical installation
• Replacing the door saddle: 1-2 hours at which time you cannot walk on the saddle

When these are scheduled, ample notice is sent to all, sometimes the notice goes out more than once to eliminate panic.  Residents are usually asked to be home or have someone present while the door is open. This is simply a safety and insurance requirement.

For efficiency, if we can piggy back replacing the door view/chime and the door hardware – it saves time. The condition of the doors can also be a factor so these are general time frames to be prepared for.

For the most part, no.

Almost all of the work happens in the hallway itself.

There is one small trick I often suggest to residents. When workers are sanding walls or doors, you may want to place a damp rolled towel at the bottom of your door. It helps keep dust from sneaking into your apartment.

It is simple, but many residents appreciate knowing it.

Looking at the building as a whole, hallway renovations usually take between four and six months from start to finish.

The exact timeline depends on the scope of the project and the complexity of the work involved.

Because crews work on blocks of floors at a time, the project moves steadily through the building without turning the entire property into a construction zone.

Residents sometimes step out of their apartments and feel like the hallway has changed overnight. That is because the work moves through several stages.

Here is the general sequence of what typically happens.

Temporary Lighting
Decorative hallway light fixtures are removed and temporary lighting is installed so the hallways remain well lit. You may notice exposed LED bulbs hanging inside small yellow crates. That is completely normal during construction.

Wiring Work
Old plastic cable moldings are removed and existing wires are pinned up without interrupting building services.

Baseboards and Trim
Old carpet, vinyl, or damaged baseboards are removed. In some buildings, existing wood baseboards are retained, repaired, and repainted depending on their condition.

Crown Cable Molding
New crown molding is installed to conceal internet and telephone wiring neatly while still allowing easy access for future service provider changes.

Removing Wall Coverings
Existing wall coverings are removed so the walls can be prepared and repaired before the new finishes are installed.

Wall Repairs
Over the years hallways experience wear, and sometimes water damage.

Most often we find plaster damage caused by leaks originating inside apartments, particularly from bathrooms that share a wall with the hallway. Regrouting bathroom tiles when issues first appear is one of the best ways to protect the new hallway finishes for many years.

Wall Preparation
When selecting wall coverings, we carefully evaluate the condition of the walls.

Sometimes we recommend heavily embossed vinyl wall coverings because they help hide imperfections. This can avoid the added expense of skim coating.

Skim coating involves applying a smooth layer of wall compound and sanding the surface before painting or installing wall covering. If the budget allows, we highly recommend it for both walls and ceilings because it creates a longer lasting finish.

Without leaks or plaster failure, skim coated walls can last for decades.

Hardware and Door Work
Door hardware is installed before the final coat of door paint.

Lighting and Signage
New hallway lighting fixtures and signage are installed.

New Carpet
The old carpet usually remains down until the ceilings and walls are substantially complete. It helps muffle construction noise and is vacuumed at the end of each day.

Only near the end of the project is the old carpet removed and the new carpet and baseboard installed.

If you are planning bathroom tile repairs or plumbing work inside your apartment, it is best to complete those projects before the hallway renovation begins.
Leaks inside apartments can sometimes affect hallway walls, and addressing those issues beforehand helps protect the newly finished hallways.

Hallway renovations do require a little patience from everyone in the building.

But once the work is finished, the transformation is remarkable. The hallways feel brighter, cleaner, quieter, and much more reflective of the building itself.

For a relatively short period of time you may see construction outside your door.

After that, you will walk out into a hallway that feels completely refreshed every single day.

Learn more:

• About Sygrove Associates Design Group

• Sygrove Client Testimonials

• View our Lobby Design Gallery