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If you’re considering a kitchen remodel, one of the questions you may have is, “How long does it take to remodel a kitchen?” Whether you’re looking for information to help you organize an event or just want to know when your house will return to normal, here are some recommendations and a realistic timetable to reference.
The answer is not as straightforward as a number of days or weeks, since it depends on a variety of distinct elements. For instance, if the kitchen remodel involves a total overhaul of the kitchen, the process will take longer than if you’re only replacing flooring or cabinets.
This article on how long it take to remodel a kitchen will provide some insight into what to anticipate when embarking on a kitchen remodel project in your house. We’ll lead you through the fundamental processes of a whole kitchen renovation project, noting the usual duration of each phase of planning, kitchen design, and construction.
Time Needed to Remodel a Kitchen
Image source: Normandy Remodeling
As is the case with the majority of things in life, you’re probably not shocked to find that there is no simple, one-size-fits-all solution to this issue. The physical size of your kitchen and the scope of your kitchen renovation project will surely influence the duration of the project.
For example, when doing the kitchen renovation, installing new cabinets in a compact galley-style kitchen takes much less time than larger jobs. However, completely gutting an eat-in chef’s kitchen and redesigning everything from the layout to the amenities may take several months.
If the kitchen design program is simple, new components in the kitchen renovation process will replace existing ones in the same pattern. This is what is referred to as a replacement kitchen. There is very little construction or modification. Replacement kitchen projects typically take six to eight weeks for a medium-sized kitchen.
Kitchen remodeling projects requiring more space, wall removal, structural alterations, and floor plan rearrangement take longer. Ten to twelve weeks is a reasonable estimate. This is the duration of a bespoke kitchen remodel.
Why Do Kitchen Remodels Take So Long?
Image source: Haven Design and Construction
When asking how long it takes to remodel a kitchen, you should keep in mind that a well-planned kitchen remodeling project adheres to a timeline. Your kitchen renovation project manager outlines a sequence of actions that must be accomplished in order.
Even with the most meticulously planned remodeling projects, delays are possible—and not always as a result of ineptitude or negligence.
Kitchen remodels are special in that they involve a great deal of coordination between electricians, plumbers, and other subcontractors, some of whom must wait for the work of others to be done (for example, cabinets before the sink) before proceeding. Additionally, the materials utilized in kitchen remodels are often huge, heavy, and unwieldy.
When deciding on kitchen renovation, you must first prepare and destroy your old kitchen. This is particularly difficult if you’re altering the arrangement of sinks and ovens since this requires totally redesigning the electrical and plumbing systems to accommodate the new project design.
Additionally, projects frequently take longer to complete when employees are required to work around piano lessons, dog walkers, and nap periods. Homeowners must anticipate disturbances to their everyday routines during remodeling. Excessive scope revisions after construction begins are often the source of delays.
Minor glitches are unavoidable. Generally, they are smoothed over by project management so that delays — when they do occur — do not become show-stoppers.
As a consequence, the time required to construct a kitchen is much longer and subject to vary!
Typical Kitchen Remodeling Timeline
Image source: Echelon Custom Homes
Whether it takes two weeks, three weeks, or six months, the majority of kitchen remodel projects are done in the same (or similar) sequence as the original (or similar) design, following an industry-standard approach that makes the most logical sense.
This timeframe varies somewhat per contractor, but kitchen remodeling typically follows these ten steps:
Designing Your Kitchen
Image source: thirdstone inc
In many respects, this “pre-step” is the most critical in any kitchen remodeling process. Creating a basic design plan for your kitchen remodel is a fantastic starting step.
Even though you have a rough concept of how your new kitchen will appear, while remodeling a kitchen, you can never be too particular. Now is the time to choose all the minor things that reflect your own style and taste.
Demolition of the Existing Kitchen
Removing your present kitchen will take your remodeling contractor just a few days—especially if every feature, fixture, and appliance is being replaced and no one is concerned with preserving cabinets or worktops, for example. However, this job is messy and loud, and you will most likely be hosting an unattractive dumpster on your property for an extended period of time.
Marking Everything
Image source: Pickell Architecture
Knowing where everything is located is critical when remodeling a kitchen. Everything from electrical outlets to appliance power feeds must be labeled and cut sheets provided for the electrician.
Mechanicals Installation
This section takes little less than a week to complete and includes the installation of the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. Plumbing will take a day or two, HVAC will take a few days, and electrical will take around two days.
Professional Inspection Phase
Before construction can begin on the project, it is essential to get everything inspected by the appropriate health and safety inspectors. This procedure might take time and is seldom completed in a single day As various inspectors operate to their own schedules.
Finish the Walls
Once the inspectors have given the green light, the crew may begin covering over the walls, concealing all of the allowed plumbing and wiring.
Install Windows and Doors
Image source: Mia Karlsson Interior Design
This is the stage at which the new kitchen’s windows and doors are fitted. If you maintain the previous layout, this will be fast. However, if your final appearance involves a new floor plan that includes new windows and doors, this process may be time-consuming.
Flooring and More
Image source: Amberth
If you want to have a new floor built during this part of the remodel, this will occur during this phase.
Now, the kind of floor you pick will have a significant role in the amount of time required to finish the project. For example, ceramic tile installation may take between three and four days, whereas wood flooring installation might take up to four to six days. While they are averages, they do provide context for the time period.
Cabinets & Countertops
Image source: Martins Camisuli Architects
After cabinets are measured and produced (which may take many months, as we’ll describe shortly), installation is reasonably quick—only around 3-5 days are required to install cabinetry.
However, countertop installation takes longer. This is due to the fact that countertops must be precisely trimmed to accommodate items such as your sink and certain appliances. Occasionally, this requires some fabrication—both on- and off-site.
Final Phase
The last part of a kitchen remodel is the installation of new appliances and electrical fixtures. Once that is accomplished, the clean-up process will be complete, and you will be able to utilize your new kitchen.
Take pleasure in your newly renovated kitchen!
Kitchen Renovation Items That Add the Most Time to a Project
Anything that must be specifically ordered—particularly custom-made features—can take weeks or months to arrive for installation. Regrettably, your remodeling contractor may have little influence over such delays. You’ll want to place any such orders as early in the design process of your project as feasible.
Custom Cabinets
Image source: Braam’s Custom Cabinets
All-new bespoke cabinets may really elevate your kitchen makeover to a new level of uniqueness. Cabinets, on the other hand, must be meticulously measured and produced to your kitchen’s particular dimensions.
Custom Countertops
Image source: Trueform Concrete, LLC
Additionally, many countertop materials are difficult to work with and install. If material breaks or even a poorly measured cut happens, the final construction phase of your project may extend into overtime.
Specialty Tiling
While tile backsplashes and floors are not normally difficult to install, tilework requires an element of artistry that not all remodeling professionals possess.
Mid-Project Design Changes
The most frequent remodeling item that adds time and expense to a project is what is referred to as “change orders.” Occasionally, they are unavoidable. For instance, if a certain countertop material is on extended backorder, you may choose for a substitute.
The Bottom Line
Image source: Martha O’Hara Interiors
The step-by-step process of kitchen remodeling may take months, ranging from a few days to half a year, depending on the scope of the project.
There are so many things to consider, prepare and plan when doing large kitchen remodeling projects, such as:
- electrical wiring
- plumbing system
- new appliances or built in appliances
- cabinets installation
- structural changes
- flooring
- how to deal with existing kitchen
and many more. This is why good planning and preparation are crucial. The preparation time will have impact when calculating how long does it take to remodel a kitchen.
While the procedure might be difficult and time demanding, it’s important to keep in mind that Rome was not built in a day and that the installation will take time.
The most efficient method to speed the remodeling process is to create a clear and realistic budget from the start, put all material and product orders early, and ensure that your design-build team has all product requirements before demolition starts.
If you enjoyed reading this article about how long does it take to remodel a kitchen, you should check out this one on how to organize a small kitchen without a pantry.
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