With minimal updates only, it will take about 3 weeks from the first design meeting to a completed kitchen and final walkthrough. A few small changes such as new cabinet hardware, new appliances, fresh paint, and new flooring.
Once you start replacing cabinetry and countertops, relocating electrical and plumbing, or installing new fixtures, you’re coordinating multiple trades and waiting for fixtures, appliances, and materials to be delivered. The timeline stretches with each added step.
Demolishing an old kitchen down to the studs and subfloor and replacing everything takes 3-6 months from design to final walkthrough. The actual labor of demolishing and reconstructing a kitchen only takes a few weeks, but there are many other factors:
- Choosing a contractor
- Choosing materials and fixtures
- Design
- Waiting for permits
- Hiring subcontracted trades
- Waiting for materials to be delivered
- Scheduling trades
- And so much more
The only way to know how long your kitchen will take is to Call FM Pro Remodeling at (812) 944-6383 for a free consultation, and to schedule a free estimate.
Different Levels of Kitchen Renovation and Time Estimates to Completion
| Project Type | Typical Timeline | What’s Included |
| Minor refresh | 2–3 weeks | Paint, hardware, new appliances, new flooring |
| Mid-range remodel | 6–8 weeks | New cabinets, countertops, backsplash, fixtures |
| Gutted kitchen and full renovation | 3–6 months | Layout changes, moved plumbing/electrical, structural work |
Please note that FM Pro Remodeling only takes on kitchen projects when we act as project manager. This way, we hire the best available trades and handle all scheduling. This practice keeps everything running smooth and gets your kitchen completed faster. We also serve as the single point of contact for the homeowner and everyone else involved in the project.
The good news is that proper planning minimizes the time your kitchen is under construction, and gets your life back to normal as soon as possible. Below, we break down exactly what goes into a kitchen remodel timeline piece by piece so you know what to expect, can plan ahead, and save time.
The Full Kitchen Remodel Timeline, One Piece at a Time
Here’s a more detailed look at how a typical medium to large kitchen remodel unfolds, from your first phone call to the final walkthrough:
1. Planning & Budgeting (2–4 weeks)
Before a contractor looks at your kitchen, you’ll spend time deciding what you actually want. Things like more storage, updated appliances, a new layout, and setting a realistic budget with a cushion for surprises. Always hold back 10% of your budget for the unexpected.
It is crucial to understand how each part of your project affects the time under construction, and the cost. Changing your kitchen’s layout in a way that results in moving plumbing, gas connections, and electrical adds a lot of cost and time to your project.
This phase moves at your pace, so the more decisive you are, the faster the whole project moves. But rushing to decide is not the way. A rushed decision may result in being unhappy with your new kitchen. Try to enjoy the process.
2. Hiring a Contractor & Design (2–4 weeks)
Once you’ve got a plan and a budget, create a shortlist of contractors. This stage covers estimates, contract signing, and working with a designer to finalize the layout, materials, finishes, and to finalize the design on paper. A written contract with a final price will be written and signed once the design is settled.
3. Permitting & Material Ordering (2–6 weeks)
This is the phase homeowners often underestimate, or overlook completely. Custom cabinets, in particular, take 6–8 weeks to build and deliver. Permits for electrical, plumbing, or structural changes must be pulled and approved by your city before demolition can legally begin. Ordering materials before demo starts is a great way to prevent delays, but this requires a space to store materials until they’re ready to be installed. This is not an option for every project.
4. Demolition (2–5 days)
Old cabinets, countertops, flooring, and sometimes even the drywall and subfloor are removed. A full renovation might include removing everything down to studs and joists. Each project is different.
Our team seals off the kitchen to contain dust and debris, and clean at the end of each work day. The effect of construction on the rest of the home is minimized as much as possible.
5. Rough In, Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC (3–7 days)
If you’re relocating a sink, adding an island with new outlets, or moving a gas line for a range, this is when it happens. This phase often brings unexpected delays to the surface (more on that below). The reason the delays show up in this step of the project is the walls and floors are open and old wiring or plumbing issues are visible for the first time.
6. Inspections (1–3 days, but may add more time if problems arise)
Local inspectors typically need to sign off on rough electrical and plumbing work before walls are closed with new drywall. Scheduling depends on the city employee’s availability, so this can be a bottleneck.
7. Drywall, Flooring, and Paint (1–2 weeks)
Walls are patched or replaced, and painted. Keep in mind that patching and mudding requires drying time. Flooring is also installed during this phase, before cabinets, so the cabinet installers have a clean, level surface to work from. Flooring may or may not be installed beneath cabinets, but this is a subject for another article.
8. Cabinet Installation (3–5 days)
Assuming the cabinets have already been delivered, installation is quick compared to other steps, and typically takes 1-5 days, depending on various factors. Hanging cabinets impacts the look of the project in a big way, and the kitchen begins to look like a kitchen again.
9. Countertop Template and Installation (1–3 weeks)
Countertops, especially natural stone such as granite or quartz, are measured after the cabinets are installed to ensure a great fit. Fabrication takes about 1–3 weeks, and the counters are installed in a single day, typically a couple of hours.
10. Backsplash, Fixtures, and Appliances (3–7 days)
Once countertops are in, a tile backsplash is installed, sinks, faucets, lighting, and appliances are installed and connected.
11. Punch List & Final Walkthrough (2–5 days)
The final corrections such as paint touch ups, cabinet hardware and door adjustments, and caulking are taken care of. Once everything on the punch list is corrected, we will go through every inch of the new kitchen to ensure that no more corrections or adjustments are necessary, clean, and walk through the finished space with the homeowner
Tips to Keep Your Remodel on Schedule
- Order materials early – especially custom cabinets and specialty countertops.
- Make decisions before demo starts, not during, finalize finishes, fixtures, and paint colors ahead of time.
- Work with a single point of contact such as a project manager like Ralph at FM Pro Remodeling, rather than juggling multiple subcontractors yourself.
- Set up your temporary kitchen before demolition day, and not after. More on that below.
- Build in a buffer – add 10–20% to whatever timeline you’re quoted to account for the unexpected.
Where Do I Start With My Kitchen Remodel?
The sooner you start planning, the faster the project moves, and the more thoroughly you plan, the less time you’ll spend without a functional kitchen.
- Decide what you want from the space: more storage, updated appliances, new cabinets, a new sink, and so on.
- Set a budget, with at least 10% for unforeseen costs.
- Prioritize: If your wish list exceeds your budget, decide what you can’t live without and trim the rest.
- Browse kitchen designs and materials online to clarify your vision and help your designer understand your style.
- Contact a kitchen remodeling contractor. Build a shortlist, and get estimates.
- Compare estimates against your budget and find ways to save such as sourcing some materials yourself.
- Choose your contractor. They’ll assess your kitchen and plan the remodel while you collaborate with their designer.
- Sign a contract with a final price once your design is complete. Your contractor will finalize plans, order materials, apply for permits, schedule subcontractors, and give you a step by step schedule that looks a lot like the steps we went through above.
Factors That Can Extend Your Timeline
A few reasons that push projects past their scheduled end:
- Custom cabinetry – custom orders can add a month or more to the schedule.
- Structural changes – removing walls or adding windows requires engineering review and permitting.
- Material backorders – specialty tile, stone, or appliances can be delayed by supplier availability.
- Permit office turnaround – this varies by city and season.
- Homeowner’s choices– decision fatigue is very real in remodeling projects, but every unmade decision pauses the project.
- Surprises behind the walls – outdated wiring, plumbing that needs replacing, or a hidden gas line issue may reveal themselves once demo begins.
Unexpected Delays: Plan for Them
Every construction project holds some surprises. Once demo is complete, it’s common to discover that plumbing needs replacing or rerouting, old wiring needs updating to pass inspection, or a gas line needs to be replaced. A subcontractor might have an emergency and need to reschedule. The list of curveballs is nearly endless — so build both extra time and extra budget into your plan from the start.
What Season is Best To Schedule a Kitchen Remodeling Project?
Schedule your project for January-March if you’d like to get it finished as fast as possible. If your schedule is flexible, starting in late fall or winter means faster contractors with more availability and shorter lead times on materials.
Homeowners often try to squeeze in a project late in the year, and to complete it before the family comes for the holidays. Late spring and summer are the busiest season for remodelers.
How to Make a Temporary Kitchen
When people ask “how long does a kitchen remodel take?”, what they often really want to know is how long they’ll be living without a working kitchen. That’s a big part of planning ahead. Consider creating a temporary kitchen in the garage, basement, or a corner of the living room Simply:
- Relocate your refrigerator to the space
- Set up a hot plate, microwave, and/or toaster oven
- Use paper plates and plastic utensils to avoid needing a sink or dishwasher, or wash dishes in a bathroom or utility room
- Consider takeout
Homeowners find that a fridge, a microwave, paper plates, and a stretch of takeout meals is the simplest way to get through the project.
If you’re planning a kitchen remodel in New Albany, Indiana, and want a clear, realistic schedule for your specific project, give the FM Pro Remodeling team a call at 812-944-6383.
