Nobody wants to make coffee in a floorless kitchen wrapped in plastic and covered in construction debris—but patience is a virtue when it comes to kitchen renovation timelines. Most homeowners know that large renovations take time, but exactly how long does a kitchen remodel take? Even a minor remodel for a small kitchen can take a few weeks. Let’s take a closer look at the stages of a kitchen remodel.
What Is the Timeline for a Kitchen Remodel?
For most homeowners, a kitchen remodel takes six weeks to four months. The timeline varies based on the complexity of the project. You could spend six weeks installing new countertops and cabinets on the low end, as long as they’re in stock. On the high end, it could take six months to settle the planning, procurement, construction, and red tape.
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Meanwhile, you’ll likely still be able to use your kitchen during most of the renovation. It’s typically only out of commission for around 6 weeks—so plan your takeout meals and temporary kitchen setup accordingly. Pizza is great, but it will get old after a while.
Average Timeline by Kitchen Remodel Type
A few aesthetic changes or adding in new appliances won’t take long to finish, but your kitchen renovation timeline will increase if you add in more customized changes or start tearing down walls. Here’s a look at how long the remodel will take based on the scale of renovation.
Small-Scale Kitchen Remodel
Small-scale kitchen remodels generally take about four to eight weeks to complete, assuming you don’t run into major setbacks. If you’re overhauling your kitchen with new appliances, cabinetry, and flooring, expect to wait about two months from demolition to completion. As long as you aren’t changing the layout or redoing any plumbing or electrical, one to two months is a feasible timeline for small-scale remodels. You can even cut back on the timeline if you opt to do some DIY work, such as painting or laying flooring.
Medium-Scale Kitchen Remodel
Maybe you want to add a kitchen island or change your cabinetry to a more customized option. In this instance, your medium-scale remodel could take eight to ten weeks until you can get back in the kitchen. This type of remodel likely includes upgrading all of your appliances, kitchen lighting, fixtures, cabinetry, countertops, and flooring. Since you aren’t changing the layout or knocking down any walls, you won’t have to wait for permitting or inspections, which makes the timeline shorter than a major reno.
Large-Scale Kitchen Remodel
A large-scale kitchen remodel includes the works—moving plumbing, electrical, gas lines, installing luxury countertops and high-end appliances, and changing the footprint of the space. Because this type of renovation is so extensive, you can expect it to take about five to six months, even longer if you have any delays on appliances or materials. In this case, you’re likely tearing walls out and starting with a clean slate, so it’s going to take longer to rebuild the kitchen to your exact preferences.
Factors That Affect the Kitchen Renovation Timeline
How long it takes to remodel a kitchen depends on many factors. Organization and planning are key—and this kitchen remodel checklist can help—but wait times are often inevitable. Here are some factors that will affect your overall timeline:
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Choosing custom countertops and cabinetry: Customizations don’t just add to the total cost of your kitchen remodel. They can take weeks to design, source, and build. Going with prefabricated options is quicker all around.
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Choosing specialty tiling and materials: Exotic high-end materials will take longer to procure than common materials. Popular finishes, styles, and materials are typically in-stock and ready to ship or have short manufacturing times.
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Items on backorder: Expect to wait weeks to months for back-ordered items.
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Labor shortages: Recent labor and material shortages have led to shipping, procurement, and construction delays. In some cases, this snag could add weeks to the timeline.
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Design changes: Changing your design when construction is already in progress will significantly add to your kitchen renovation timeline.
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Permitting delays: Some areas are still experiencing pandemic- or labor-related processing delays.
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Kitchen Remodel Stages: From Pre-Construction to Finishing Touches
Renovations happen in stages—from the initial design process to the final walkthrough. Here’s the typical timeline for each stage. You might sail right through, but always prepare for a snag.
1. Designing Your Remodel: One to two weeks
Before you build, you’ll need to design your kitchen. You may need to hire an architect to make structural changes. Ideally, they’ll provide drawings or 3D renderings to give you a full picture.
Don’t know where to start? It’s always worth looking online for trendy kitchen design ideas.
2. Securing a Contractor: One to three weeks
The success of the remodel depends on the contractor, which is why it’s essential to hire a local remodeling contractor who is skilled and reliable. You should also consider hiring a kitchen designer near you who can ensure your design plans align with your project goals and budget.
Always interview at least three contractors or design pros and ask for references. Discuss your project timeline and budget with them to ensure your ideas align.
3. Obtaining Permits: Two to four weeks
Before construction, you may need to get a permit to remodel a kitchen and or ask for permission from your local homeowner’s association. Permit requirements vary based on location, and approval typically takes a few weeks. If getting your permit takes longer than expected, you may have to deal with some building delays. You’ll probably need a permit if you plan to:
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Making structural changes
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Adding or rerouting plumbing
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Adding or adapting electrical wiring
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Making changes to your ventilation system
4. Sourcing Materials: Two to four weeks
The best way to make a kitchen look expensive is to source the right materials. During this process, you’ll pick everything from your exact fixtures to your countertop materials, backsplash tiles, flooring, cabinetry, and paint. Some items ship quicker than others. Most of the time, you can expect to wait a few weeks—but it could take months if a product is back-ordered or delayed.
5. Demolition: One to four days
To build your new kitchen, your contractor has to remove your old kitchen. This step of the process includes knocking down walls, ripping up cabinetry, and removing flooring.
6. Construction: Three to six weeks
Construction is where the magic happens—how your dream kitchen becomes your actual kitchen. This process starts with structural changes, like building a new kitchen island or walls. Depending on your design, your contractor may also need to reroute your plumbing and do electrical work. Here’s what you can expect:
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Rerouting or installing electricity and plumbing: One to four days
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Major structural changes: Two to five weeks
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Flooring and cabinet installation: One to two weeks
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Countertop fabrication and installation: One to two weeks
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Painting and backsplash installation: Two to three days
7. Fixture, Hardware, and Appliance Installation: Less than one week
At this phase, your contractor will put the finishing touches on your renovation. This step includes installing lighting fixtures, cabinetry hardware, and appliances like your sink, stove, cooktop, and refrigerator.
8. Cleanup and Final Walkthrough: One day
From dust to demolition debris, construction makes a mess. Luckily, the clean-up process only takes about a day, as long as you don’t uncover any unpleasant surprises underneath the debris. As soon as your kitchen is clean, you can give it a final walkthrough.
9. Final Fixes and Payment: One day to a few weeks
Your local kitchen remodeling pro should be able to make most last-minute changes, like fixing a wonky cabinet door or a paint smudge, in a couple of days. Still, major issues like waiting for back-ordered items may take a few weeks.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens
