How long does a kitchen renovation take?
I have a general renovation rule of thumb that I share with every client when we start a project: It’s going to cost twice as much and take three times as long as you think.
This is especially true for kitchen renovations, because they are the most complicated kind of renovation you can take on.
I’ve spent 40 years designing and building custom kitchens — 2,000 homes and counting! In my experience, most homeowners think they'll be done in a month or two. The reality is that it takes a lot longer.
There are multiple trades and areas of expertise to plan for: plumbing, electrical, flooring, tile, appliances, cabinetry, and more. Each of these areas require lots of decisions from you as the homeowner — and they need to be addressed in the right order.
Plus, assuming you want to live in your home while the reno is happening, you need to plan to work and live around the disruption and mess.
So in this post, let’s talk about a realistic timeline for a kitchen reno, what’s behind the most common delays, and what you can do to get ahead of things.
A realistic kitchen renovation timeline
If you’re planning a basic kitchen renovation — not opening things up, moving things around or touching the structure in any way — you should expect your kitchen reno to take three months.
Yes, really.
Here are the timelines that we use every day in my own shop:
Demo and prep work: 2 weeks
This includes removing your old cabinets, countertops, and flooring. It also covers rerunning wiring, redoing plumbing, and getting the space ready to be closed back in. Cabinet removal itself only takes about a day, but dealing with what you find behind those cabinets is where things get interesting.
Drywall, Finishing and Painting : 2 weeks
This covers mudding, drying, sanding, and painting. Drywall work can't be rushed because each step has to dry properly before you can move to the next one. Finishing, otherwise known as trim work or mouldings, need to be installed after drywall. Depending on your project, this can include window and door trims, baseboards and crown or ceiling mouldings.
Flooring installation: 2-3 days
This is usually one of the quicker parts of the process, assuming you've got your flooring materials on hand and ready to go.
Cabinet installation: 1-2 days
Cabinet installation typically happens fast — most installers can get your cabinets in within a day. But keep in mind that they need lots of advance notice to build the cabinets offsite and get them to your house, so be sure you have them booked and in the loop early. And installers can only work with the walls you have. If walls are out of plumb or out of level, expect an extra half-day of fine-tuning and shimming.
Countertops: 1-2 weeks
If you're doing stone countertops, plan for about 2 weeks from templating to installation. Laminate or butcher block will be quicker — I’d give yourself a week. But like cabinetry, make sure you’ve got everything ordered in advance!
Backsplash: 1-2 weeks
If you’re doing a stone backsplash along with your countertops, most fabricators won’t even template the backsplash until the countertop is in place, so this adds another 2 weeks to your timeline. Tiling might go a little quicker, but give yourself a buffer to allow for any scheduling delays.
Final details: 1 month
This includes appliance installation, final electrical work, touch-up painting, and cleanup. There are always more details to finish than you think or small things you need to call your trade back for, so this is where timelines stretch. It’s also the place not to rush — you’ll see it in the final result!
Total: 3 months
If your renovation is more complicated, here’s what to plan for:
If you're opening walls or expanding into other rooms: 5 months
This includes everything above, plus an extra 2 months for structural considerations, potential support beam work, and permits. Once you start moving or removing walls, you're in a whole different category of complexity.
If you're adding square footage: 9-12 months
At this point, you're essentially building a new home addition. This requires a full permitting process and all the complications that come with new construction — while trying to tie it into your existing house.
RELATED: Read more about the three types of home renovation here.
Common timeline delays — don’t forget about these!
There’s nothing worse than standing in the middle of a torn-up kitchen going, “Oh &$)*… I hadn’t thought of that. Now what?”
Even with the most realistic timeline, there are common things that homeowners miss when they're planning their kitchen renovation. Here's what I see catch people off guard on almost every project:
Disposal of your old kitchen
Cabinet removal only takes about a day, but where do your old cabinets and countertops actually go? If you're DIYing any part of this, you need a truck and a plan to get everything to the landfill or recycling center. It's a logistical challenge that adds time if you're not prepared.
Problems that reveal themselves after demo
Once you remove cabinets, I can almost guarantee you're going to find issues. Some of the most common:
Plumbing issues behind your kitchen sink
This can look like shutoff valves that don't actually shut off, or water damage to drywall and framing. If your sink has been in the same spot for years, plan for drywall replacement and possibly some minor framing repair. It’s usually relatively easy to address, but it takes a few extra days. I always recommend having a plumber disconnect everything from the get-go so they're on hand to help with any issues.
Outdated building materials
Drywall or linoleum with asbestos. Knob and tube wiring. If you live in an older home, you may uncover old materials that MUST be replaced when they are uncovered. This can be incredibly expensive and disruptive, so do your research before you start and have a plan for how you’ll address these issues if they come up.
Appliance upgrade issues
Modern hood vents have 8-10 inch pipes, while many older homes only have 6-inch pipes. And if you are installing larger appliances — or adding a new one — you may run into issues with your electrical power requirements. It’s definitely worth purchasing your appliances in advance so you know what you’ll be bringing into your kitchen and can plan accordingly. If in doubt, ask an electrician.
Transitions into other spaces
How far does your new flooring extend? If it goes into the dining room, you're now dealing with baseboards, door casings, and paint touch-ups in that space too. Same goes for drywall and ceiling transitions. This blog post covers a helpful planning exercise you can use so you’ve thought it through in advance and don’t get caught off guard.
Another “adjacent space” issue homeowners forget about is access. Sometimes you need to access plumbing through adjacent walls, which means opening up and repairing other rooms. You’ll also need extra staging space for things like installing your new cabinets.
Both of these issues almost always create additional work, delays, problem-solving challenges, and expenses… all of which impact your timeline.
Material sourcing delays
Your appliance delivery gets delayed. Your custom tile is backordered. I've had clients discover the stone slab they thought was on hold for them had been sold to someone else while they were waiting to template their countertops. Any one of these pushes your timeline back weeks. The solution is to source, order, and store as much as you can in advance.
Trade coordination
This is an incredibly common issue! When your electrician finds himself overbooked on another job and can’t make it on schedule, it creates a trickle-down effect. The best advice I can give for managing this is not to line up your trades back-to-back. Give yourself buffer time because somewhere along the line, someone is going to need an extra day.
My advice for keeping your timelines on track
With all of that in mind, here’s what actually works to keep your renovation ticking along:
Make all scope decisions before demo starts
I can't stress this enough: decide in advance how far your renovation will extend, where you'll stop, and how you'll handle transitions into other spaces. Making these decisions mid-project always costs more and takes longer.
Make a plan in advance
Once you know what your reno will involve, order as much as you can and store it somewhere safe. Know what you’ll need and when. This avoids backorders, shipping delays, and stocking issues.
Also, have your trades lined up. They’ll ask you questions you haven’t even considered — and figuring that out before your kitchen is a shambles will save you time, money, and stress.
Be proactive about potential problems
Have a plumber on hand to disconnect your sink and dishwasher. If you live in an older home, get materials tested for asbestos before demo day. Know what electrical upgrades you might need based on your new appliances. You can't prevent every surprise, but you can be ready for the common ones.
Know your local permitting bylaws
Even if your reno is small, changing or adding circuits requires a certified electrician and possibly an electrical permit. Moving your plumbing (even a little) often requires a plumber. Many cities also require rough-in inspections for electrical changes before walls close, in the case of a more major renovation, which can add a few days depending on the inspector’s schedule.
A good trade will help you figure out what you’ll need. Talk to them well before you start demo and tell them what kinds of changes you’re making in detail. (More on how to find a good trade here.)
Build buffer time into every phase
Someone is going to need an extra day, materials are going to arrive late, or you're going to discover an issue that needs addressing. Plan for it.
Better to have an extra day or two to breathe vs. constantly rushing, rescheduling, and playing catch up. Your wallet (and stress levels!) will thank you for it!
Plan for a temporary kitchen — you'll probably need it
Most homeowners underestimate how disruptive a kitchen renovation really is to daily life, especially if you have kids in the house. Have a plan for how you'll handle meals, cleanup, and food storage for the duration of the reno. Trust me, you'll be glad you thought about this in advance. (More on this in my next blog post!)
Key takeaways
Expect the reno process to take 3 months minimum, even for "simple" kitchen renovations.
Plan ahead!! How well you stick to your timeline depends more on your preparation than the actual work.
Budget extra time for the things you can't see until you start opening things up.
Have your materials ready before demo day — this single step will save you more time than anything else.
Kitchen renovations are complicated — probably the most complicated kind of reno you can do in your home. Doing as much in advance and giving yourself more time than you think you need will be your friend! But when you go in with your eyes wide open and a solid plan in place, you'll end up with a space you love and your sanity intact.
