Kitchen Remodel Timeline: What Actually Happens Month by Month

The Kitchen Master

Remodeling your kitchen is a great way to upgrade the look of your home and boost your property value. While the prospect of getting your dream kitchen is exciting, kitchen remodels can also be stressful, especially if you don’t know what to expect ahead of time. When planning, the first thing you’ll obviously want to ask a contractor is, “How long does a kitchen remodel take?” Remodels happen over multiple phases, and everything needs to be done in the right order for the project to go smoothly. The exact kitchen renovation timeline depends largely on the scope and scale of the project. Permitting, inspections, and waiting for products and materials to arrive can also impact the timing of each phase. In this article, we’ll give you a general overview of what happens from one month to the next so you’re better informed on what to expect from your remodel.

Month 1: Planning, Budgeting, and Setting Remodel Goals

The first step in kitchen remodel planning is to define your priorities and your overall goals. Are you looking to change the layout to make your kitchen more functional, or are you mostly planning on making cosmetic upgrades like refacing your cabinets to boost the look of the kitchen?

You also need to set a realistic budget for how much you want to spend, as this will determine what is feasible. When budgeting, you need to plan for any contingencies to make sure you can afford everything you want. This is where it’s useful to prioritize and identify the must-have features and the things you could potentially go without if necessary. We always recommend gathering inspiration from as many sources as possible to help you in crafting your ideal design.

The other thing you need to decide is if you’ll be staying in your house during the remodel. If you have somewhere else to stay, the project will usually go a bit faster.

Month 2: Design, Measurements, and Material Selections

The next phase is the actual design. This involves finalizing the layout, including the cabinetry plan and appliance locations, and choosing the finishes, such as countertops, flooring, backsplash, lighting, and plumbing fixtures. The last step of the design process is to take the final measurements and confirm all of the specs. Once everything is confirmed, it’s crucial to immediately start ordering long-lead items like cabinets, appliances, and specialty materials to prevent any delays during the build phase.

Month 3: Contractor Scheduling, Permits, and Pre-Construction Prep

When deciding which contractor to hire, you want to make sure they fully understand the scope of the work and get a detailed schedule of when they can start and how long they estimate everything will take. Creating a project schedule and communication plan is crucial for ensuring everything goes smoothly and that your expectations are met. Once you’ve signed a contract, the contractor will then start applying for permits and scheduling the inspections. If you’ll be home during the project, you need to prepare beforehand by setting up a temporary kitchen space so that you at least have access to a microwave, fridge, and dishwashing station.

Month 4: Demolition and Rough-In Work

The next phase involves removing the old cabinets, countertops, flooring, and appliances. Once the demo is complete, the construction crew can start roughing in the plumbing and electrical, such as relocating the sink and dishwasher lines and running the wiring for new circuits, outlets, and lights. If necessary, they will also relocate HVAC vents and returns to fit the new layout.

Month 5: Drywall, Flooring, and Cabinet Installation

After everything is roughed in, the real work can then start. The first step is to repair or replace the drywall and then paint and primer the walls so that the cabinets and flooring can be installed. After the drywall work is done, the electricians will finish up installing the lighting, outlet covers, etc. During this phase, the crew may also start installing some of the trim and doing basic finishing work.

Month 6: Countertops, Backsplash, and Final Installations

The project then moves onto the final installation phase, where the crew will template and install the countertops, install the sink and faucet, and do the backsplash tile work and grouting. This is also when they’ll install the appliances and test to make sure the plumbing and electrical hookups work properly.

Month 7: Final Touches, Punch List, and Inspections

The last phase involves putting on all of the final finishing touches, such as installing the cabinet hardware, finishing the trim work, and touching up the paint. At this point, it’s necessary to have the local authority perform the final electrical and plumbing inspections to ensure that everything meets building code requirements. After everything is finished, it’s important to do a walkthrough with the contractor so that you can point out anything you’re not happy with and give them a punch list of the things they need to fix. Once they’ve fixed any issues, the last step is a full post-construction deep clean and then setting everything up so you can move back in and finally enjoy all of the benefits of your new kitchen.

A Smooth Remodel Starts With Realistic Expectations

Kitchen remodels always take quite a bit of time due to the amount of work involved. Properly planning out the schedule and the material lead times is crucial for ensuring the work goes smoothly. By working with experienced professionals and planning early, you’ll be able to set more realistic expectations for the timescale and avoid any unnecessary delays.

At The Kitchen Master, our award-winning team is ready to help your kitchen remodel dreams come true. From cabinet refacing to a full remodel, we have the skills and experience to make sure your project goes smoothly. Our process takes the hassle and confusion out of remodeling and ensures we exceed our customers’ expectations. We invite you to view our project gallery to see samples of our work.

To schedule a kitchen remodel consultation in Naperville or the surrounding Chicago-area suburbs, contact us today.