The question I hear most on kitchen jobs isn’t about money — it’s “how long am I going to be without my kitchen?” Fair question. A remodel is disruptive, and not knowing the plan makes it feel worse than it is. So here’s roughly how a typical kitchen flows once we get going. Every project is a little different, but this gives you the real shape of it.
Before we swing a hammer: planning
The best kitchens are won in the planning stage, before demo ever starts. This is where we lock in the layout, finalize cabinets, counters, tile, and fixtures, and — this is key — get the cabinets on order. Cabinets often have the longest lead time, so we want them ordered early and sitting ready before we tear the old kitchen out. Rushing this part is how projects stall halfway through.
Week 1: demo and rough-in
This is the loud, dramatic week where the old kitchen comes out. Once it’s cleared, anything moving behind the walls happens now — relocating plumbing for a new sink, running electrical for outlets and lighting, adjusting for a new range or hood. If we’re opening a wall, that framing happens here too. It looks like chaos, but this is the foundation everything else sits on.
Week 2: walls, paint, and flooring prep
With the rough-in inspected and closed up, we patch and finish the drywall, get it smooth, and prime and paint while the room is still empty — it’s far easier to paint now than around new cabinets. Flooring often goes in around this stage too, depending on the material and layout.
Week 3: cabinets and countertops
This is the week it starts to feel like a kitchen again. Cabinets go in, get leveled and secured, and suddenly the space makes sense. Once they’re set, the counters get templated — measured exactly — and then fabricated. Here’s the one wait people forget about:
- Counters can’t be measured until the cabinets are installed and level.
- After templating, stone counters usually take about a week to fabricate and come back for install.
- That means there’s often a short gap where the cabinets are in but the counters aren’t yet — totally normal.
Week 4: the finishing touches
This is my favorite week. Counters get installed, the sink and faucet get hooked up, the backsplash goes on, appliances get set and connected, and all the little details — hardware, trim, touch-up paint, outlet covers — come together. It’s the week a construction site turns back into your kitchen.
So what’s the real answer?
Most standard kitchens run about four to six weeks of active work once materials are in hand, with counters being the built-in pause you plan around. The way to keep it on schedule is simple: decide everything up front and order early. If you’re thinking about a kitchen and want a realistic timeline for your space, call (407) 800-8922 or request a free estimate and we’ll map it out together.
