How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take?

Updated March 25, 2024

Understanding the timeline of a kitchen remodel is crucial for effective planning and budgeting. It provides a roadmap for allocating resources, like materials, labor, and finances throughout the project.

This knowledge enables better awareness of the estimated duration which helps set realistic expectations and anticipate potential challenges or delays, leading to a more manageable and less stressful renovation experience. On top of that, it makes it easier to coordinate with contractors, suppliers, and other stakeholders involved, ensuring that work progresses smoothly and efficiently.

Knowing the timeline helps homeowners prepare for the temporary disruption a remodel can cause to their daily routine, allowing them to make alternative arrangements for cooking and dining.

In this article, we delve into the intricacies of a kitchen remodel timeline, shedding light on the various stages and factors that influence the duration of this project, and suggest ways to save time, too. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of the timeline, homeowners can approach their kitchen remodel with clarity and confidence, ensuring a smoother renovation process from start to finish.

Kitchen Remodel Timeline

The duration of a kitchen remodel can vary widely depending on several factors such as the extent of the renovation, the size of the kitchen, the complexity of the project, and the availability of materials and contractors. On average, a complete kitchen remodel can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks or even longer in some cases.

Here's a general breakdown of the average timeline for a typical kitchen remodel:

Planning and Design

Average Time: 1-3 months

This phase involves creating a design plan, finalizing the layout, selecting materials, and obtaining necessary permits. It can take several weeks to a few months depending on the complexity of the project and how quickly decisions are made.

Demolition

Average Time: 2-5 days

Once the planning is complete, the existing kitchen is typically demolished. This involves removing cabinets, countertops, appliances, and flooring.

Find a qualified local residential interior demolition contractor with Hometown. We make it easy to request multiple quotes, which helps ensure you hire the best person for the best price, but we're also a resource for getting answers to common kitchen remodeling questions.

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Rough Carpentry, Plumbing, and Electrical

Average Time: 1-2 weeks

This phase involves any structural changes, such as moving walls or windows, as well as roughing in new plumbing and electrical lines.

Installation of Cabinets and Fixtures

Average Time: 3 days-2 weeks

Once the rough work is completed, cabinets, countertops, and fixtures are installed.

Finish Carpentry, Plumbing, and Electrical

Average Time: 3 days-2 weeks

This includes installing trim, baseboards, and any additional electrical or plumbing work needed for finishing touches.

Flooring Installation

Average Time: 1-4 days

Flooring is typically installed after the cabinets to avoid damage.

Painting and Finishing Touches

Average Time: 3 days-1 week

The final steps include painting walls, installing backsplashes, and adding any decorative elements.

Final Inspections and Cleanup

Average Time: 1 week

Once the remodel is complete, final inspections are conducted, and any necessary touch-ups are done. The kitchen is then thoroughly cleaned and ready for use.

Note: Keep in mind that these timelines are estimates, and actual durations can vary based on individual circumstances. It's always a good idea to work closely with your contractor to develop a realistic timeline for your specific project.

How to Streamline a Kitchen Remodel

While a quality kitchen remodel takes time, there are some ways to streamline the process to ensure it gets completed as quickly as possible. Here's a list of our main suggestions for saving time when remodeling your kitchen:

Prep Your Kitchen

Before any work can begin on your kitchen, it will need to be prepped, and making sure it's thoroughly ready for your remodel will help keep the project running smoothly.

Preparing your kitchen for a remodel typically includes:

Emptying all your cabinets and drawers (and appliances if moving/disconnecting them)
Removing any rugs, art work, or shelving
Removing any nearby tables or movable islands that could get in the way

If you have a large amount of items to get rid of and they don't fit in your curbside trash can, consider renting a dumpster or hiring a junk removal company to haul it away for you. A dumpster rental is ideal if you want to take your time cleaning out and prepping your kitchen or if you have other items lying around the house you've been meaning to toss.

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Handle Some of the Work Yourself

If you are physically able and have the time, you could handle some of the more superficial work yourself. Many people feel comfortable handling cabinet hardware removal, cabinet door removal, or lighting fixture removal on their own. You could likely even handle flooring removal if you feel up to it. (Be cautious if you live in an old home, as some floor adhesives contain asbestos or you could be working with lead paint.)

Compare Quotes

One of the less obvious but most effective tips is to get multiple quotes from local contractors so you can adequately compare their quotes; not just price, but availability and experience too. Of course, you don't want to overpay for your contractor, but you also want to pay close attention to each contractor's availability to ensure that they can start your project on your schedule—ideally as quickly as possible. Additionally, a contractor with significant experience handling kitchen remodels is a pro at efficiently and properly completing a kitchen remodel project. They know what possible setbacks could arise and how to quickly address them and mitigate any delays.

Hometown makes it beyond easy to request multiple quotes, compare them in depth, and get answers to common kitchen remodel questions so that your project goes smoothly and you know what to expect.