Kitchen Remodel Timeline: Every Phase in Order
A kitchen remodel timeline is easier to plan once you know the order the work happens in, since each phase depends on the one before it. Planning and ordering come first, then demolition, rough-in and inspections, then cabinets, countertops and finishes, and finally a punch list before you are back to cooking in the room. How long each phase takes varies by project, but the order rarely changes. This guide walks through each phase and the things that most often slow a kitchen remodel down.
Kitchen Remodel Timeline: The Phases in Order
Here is the general order a kitchen remodel moves through, start to finish:
| Phase | What happens |
|---|---|
| Planning and design | Layout, material choices and a firm scope, before anything is ordered. |
| Ordering materials | Cabinets, countertops and special-order items are placed, often with a wait before they arrive. |
| Demolition | Old cabinets, countertops and flooring are removed. |
| Rough-in | Plumbing, electrical and any HVAC changes go in while the walls are open. |
| Inspection | Rough-in work is checked before walls are closed, where your city requires it. |
| Insulation and drywall | Walls are closed, patched and finished. |
| Flooring | New flooring goes in, timed around cabinets based on your installer's preference. |
| Cabinets | Cabinets are installed and leveled. |
| Countertop template and install | Counters are measured after cabinets are set, then fabricated and installed. |
| Backsplash | Tile or another backsplash material is installed once counters are in. |
| Appliances | Appliances are delivered and connected. |
| Punch list | Small fixes, touch-ups and a final clean before you move back in. |
Planning, Design and Ordering Materials
The planning phase sets the layout, finishes and a firm scope before anything is ordered or demolished. Rushing past this step is one of the most common causes of delays later, since changing your mind about a material after it is ordered often means waiting again.
Cabinets are usually the longest lead-time item in a kitchen remodel. Custom and semi-custom cabinets in particular can take a while to arrive once ordered, so many kitchen timelines are built around that cabinet lead time rather than the other way around. Ask your cabinet supplier for their current lead time as soon as your design is final, and order early.
Demolition and Rough-In
Demolition clears out the old cabinets, countertops and sometimes flooring, and often uncovers the condition of the walls and subfloor behind them. Once the space is open, plumbing, electrical and any heating and cooling changes go in during rough-in, since this is the only point where walls are open enough to run new lines.
If your plan moves a sink, stove or major appliance to a new spot, rough-in is where that extra plumbing and electrical work happens, and it can add time compared to keeping fixtures in their existing locations.
Inspections, Insulation and Drywall
Where permits are required, an inspector typically checks the rough-in plumbing and electrical work before the walls are closed. Permit and inspection requirements vary by state, county and city, so confirm with your local building department or your contractor what your project needs and how it fits the schedule.
Once any required inspection is passed, insulation goes in where needed and drywall is hung, taped and finished, closing the walls back up.
Cabinets, Countertop Templating and Installation, and Backsplash
With the walls closed and flooring handled, cabinets go in and are leveled against the walls and floor. Countertops are typically templated, meaning precisely measured, only after the cabinets are set and secure, since the counters are fabricated to fit that exact layout. The counters are then cut and installed in a separate visit after templating, which is a normal two-step process for materials like stone and solid surface.
Backsplash tile usually goes in after the countertops, since it is measured and cut against the counter line. Appliances are delivered and connected toward the end of this phase, once counters and cabinets are in place around them.
What Slows a Kitchen Remodel Down
A few things most often push a kitchen remodel timeline out:
- Cabinet and countertop lead times, especially custom orders or a change made after ordering.
- Changing your mind mid-project, which can mean re-ordering a material or redoing finished work.
- Hidden conditions found during demolition, such as outdated wiring or water damage behind old cabinets.
- Waiting on inspections before the next phase can begin.
- Appliance availability, particularly for a specific model or finish.
Confirming your material choices early and keeping a little flexibility in your schedule for these common delays helps keep the project moving.
Living Without a Kitchen During the Remodel
Most kitchen remodels mean living without a working kitchen for a stretch of the project, from demolition through the point appliances are connected. Our guide on living through a renovation covers how to set up a temporary kitchen and manage daily life during that time.
Ready to get your kitchen remodel scheduled? Post your project free on BidHandyman and compare bids from verified local pros, with no obligation to hire. See our kitchen remodel bids page for more on how it works.
Common questions
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
It varies by project, but most kitchen remodels move through planning and ordering, demolition, rough-in, inspections, cabinets, countertops and a punch list, generally taking several weeks to a few months depending on scope and material lead times.
What is the longest lead-time item in a kitchen remodel?
Cabinets are usually the longest lead-time item, especially custom or semi-custom orders, which is why many timelines are planned around when cabinets will arrive.
Why do countertops get installed after cabinets?
Countertops are measured, or templated, after cabinets are set so they are fabricated to fit the exact layout, then cut and installed in a separate visit.
What usually causes kitchen remodel delays?
Cabinet and countertop lead times, mid-project changes, hidden conditions found during demolition, and waiting on inspections are the most common causes of delay.
Can I live in my house without a kitchen during the remodel?
Most homeowners do, using a temporary kitchen setup for the stretch between demolition and when appliances are reconnected.
