Kitchen Remodeling Timeline With Step by Step Phases, Milestones, and Considerations

Wondering how long your dream kitchen remodel is going to take? There is a general process for any kitchen project. However, the exact amount of time it takes to make it through all the steps depends on a variety of factors including how complicated the renovation is, the materials you select, the weather, and any problems that arise along the way.

Below we will go over the step-by-step process broken down into three phases each with it’s own milestone and give you some details about the considerations and factors throughout.

Prior to Starting Your Kitchen Remodel

Before you even start one task in your kitchen construction, there is a to-do list you need to complete.

Goals, Vision, & Priorities

Of course, the first thing you have to do before starting your kitchen renovation is to think about what you want to do to it. You are going to want to draft up your overall vision of the space like colors, textures, and layouts, the goals you have for the project, and what your priorities are like your “must haves” because sometimes not all of our dreams don’t fit within our budgets.

Lock In a Budget

Speaking of budgets, once you have the details of your project laid out, it’s time to start solidifying your budget for the project. Come up with a total project number that you can afford, then ensure you break down how much of that budget is for different things so you can ensure you have accounted for the big expenses.
Tip: Factor in unexpected costs by adding an additional 10-20% of buffer room to your budget. Unfortunately, not every project goes exactly as planned!

Interview & Hire a Reputable Contractor

Once you have a plan and a budget, you are ready to begin interviewing reputable contractors. Everyone you consider should be licensed, insured, experienced, and able to work with your given budget.
Tip: We recommend interviewing two to three contractors that meet the requirements and going with the one that you feel would make the best partnership.

Phase 1: Pre-Construction

After your contractor has been brought up to speed, you enter the first phase which is pre-construction. Here is where more detailed plans are made to set the project up for efficient execution.

Design (2-3 weeks)

Bela Development uses 3D kitchen design so you can see what every detail of your kitchen renovation project will look like when it is finished. Work with our interior designer during this phase to bring the ideas from your head into a cohesive 3D rendering. You’ll also get to see some physical samples during this time as well.

Architect & Engineering Plans (2-4 weeks)

Based on the rendering, our architects and engineers will draft up blueprints that include the exact measurements of everything from counter height to cabinet depth. Think of this milestone as completing the building instructions that every part of the team will use to ensure your kitchen is completed the way you intended down to the last detail.

Permits (2-4 weeks, varies)

Various permits are often required for any construction or renovation project, though the requirements and the time it takes to obtain them vary depending on your exact location and project.

Materials Order (4-8 weeks, varies)

Ordering materials is a milestone that occasionally gets delayed because depending on what you choose, some materials may need to be custom-made or ordered. At Bela Development, we always order your materials before ever getting started because if something is on backorder or will take an extended period of time to get, we want to be able to explain your options.

Appliances (4-8 weeks, varies)

Appliances, like materials, can vary widely on how long they take to get which is why they are ordered before construction begins even though you’ll see below that they are one of the last things to be installed.

Phase 2: Construction

Phase 2 is the Construction Phase is where you will see a lot of the big changes in progress. It’s an exciting time filled with some fun milestones.

Demolition (4-6 days)

Demolition is where your current kitchen will be ripped out. This can be a full demolition or a partial depending on the extent of your renovations.
Tip: Ensure you have worked out a plan for waste disposal and that the power and water for the area are turned off.

Rough Framing (4-6 days)

Rough framing is the process of getting the structural support in place for the things to come. For instance, if you are putting in a kitchen island, this is the milestone where the base will be framed out.

Rough Electrical (4-6 days)

The rough electrical milestone is ensuring that all of the wirings have been run to the places where there will later be outlets, switches, and appliances. The outlet and switch covers are not placed until later in the timeline.
Tip: Sometimes the city you live in must inspect the electrical work before proceeding to the next steps.

Structural Changes (8-16 days if necessary)

Structural changes aren’t necessary for every kitchen renovation, though if yours requires it, this milestone will likely take the most amount of time in Phase 2. Structural changes are anything that has to do with keeping the structure of your home intact. For instance, if you remove a wall, a supporting beam may need to be installed.

Drywall (4-6 days)

The drywall milestone is where all of the new drywall will be installed and smoothed out to create your walls! This is the time when you can begin to see the fresh space come together.

Paint (4-6 days)

Getting the paint on the walls is an exciting milestone. Here everything that gets painted will be prepped, primed, and painted. Expect it to be done in stages so that the layers can properly dry in between.
Tip: Try to make sure you air out the house during the painting phase so that you don’t have to deal with the strong paint smell.

Flooring (4-6 days)

Depending on your flooring type, your floors may be installed prior to the cabinets like with tile, though others like laminate are installed after.

Cabinets (4-6 days)

As we mentioned in the last milestone, your cabinets may be installed before or after your flooring depending on what material choices you have decided for your kitchen.

Countertops (10-14 days)

The countertop installation process begins only after your cabinets have been installed because the countertops cannot be accurately measured until then.

Backsplash (4-6 days)

Not everyone chooses to opt for a backsplash, though if there is one thing in a kitchen that we recommend, it is to go for the backsplash. They tie the kitchen together and are much easier to clean when things get messy. With this milestone, the backsplash will be applied to the wall, then grouted.

Phase 3: Finishes

The finishing touches are the details that take your kitchen from a construction zone to a completed functional and beautiful space.

Touch Ups (1-2 days)

In the touch-up milestone of your project, the construction supervisor will walk through the space with you and encourage you to point out and mark any mistakes that you would like fixed. This is your time to make sure that everything is perfect and just the way you want it.
Tip: Don’t be shy! You are paying for the final results, so if something isn’t up to your standard, say something!

Appliance Installation (1-2 days)

As the team begins to fix any touch-ups they need to do, your stove, dishwasher, and all appliances will be installed and hooked up. At the completion of this milestone, you should have fully functional appliances.

Hardware (1-2 days)

The hardware milestone includes everything from the faucet on your sink to the cabinet handles and plates to cover unsightly areas like outlets. This goes rather quickly but is an important finishing step.

Clean-up (1-2 days)

Finally, the clean-up begins. Of course, during clean-up, the goal is to make it look like there was never any construction going on in the first place. If your contractor cleans as they go like Bela Development, there will only be a few things to pick up and the process will go fast so that you can get started moving your stuff back in as soon as possible.
Tip: Scrub all surfaces before moving your stuff back in since there will likely be a layer of dust on everything even if you can’t see it.

Enjoy Your New Kitchen!

Congratulations! Once you have reached this point in the timeline, all you need to do is enjoy your new kitchen with your friends and family. Have some fun showing it off, make a nice dinner, and bask in the bliss of transformation!