How Long Does a Kitchen Renovation Take?

Curious how long your kitchen remodel project will last? Renovating a kitchen is a complicated project and it’s important to get the best results. In this article we will explore your renovation calendar including design process, lead times, and construction timelines. We will also review tips that the project managers at Airy Kitchens use to minimize delays and deliver beautiful projects on time. At Airy Kitchens, we focus on larger kitchen renovations that most call a ‘gut reno’ with new layouts, new appliances, and often changing walls, windows, and HVAC. This article focuses on that type of a kitchen renovation.

Sean Lewis, our Creative Director leads the design department.

DESIGN (4-8 weeks)

The most important step is the first. Designing your kitchen will lay the groundwork for your whole project. During the design phase you will decide on the scope of your project and choose your hardware, materials, and appliances. All of these items will affect the next phase, lead times, so be clear about your timeframe expectations from the beginning. Your designer can consider lead times while they are designing the project and choose items that are available quickly. Depending on our schedule, Airy Kitchens can typically complete and present kitchen designs in four to eight weeks.

LEAD TIMES AND BIDDING (10-24 weeks)

Between design and construction is a phase where lots of people are working on your project, but you don’t see much happening at your home. After your design is finished, Airy kitchens will begin building cabinets, ordering appliances, and managing all materials based on their lead times. While we are waiting on materials, we create construction documents and have contractors bid on your project. Ultimately there are two items that will dictate your start date: Lead times on your materials and the schedule of the contractor you choose. Specialty products may have long lead times and it doesn't always make sense to start the project without important items. You may also love a contractor who is booked out for six months. When it comes to your dream kitchen, we think working with the best people and ordering the products you love is worth the wait!

CONSTRUCTION (8-14 weeks)

All of the planning and waiting is over and construction has begun! How long will you be living with a temporary kitchen or residing in a rental apartment? Construction timelines vary depending on the project scope, but even for simple renovations expect to be without a working kitchen for eight weeks. Twelve weeks is average. What does the construction timeline look like? Below is a Gantt calendar from a project we just completed in Bucks County.

Our project managers track schedules with an online app so clients can easily see updates and changes.

While there is some overlap, you can see that there is an order that tasks are completed in and many tasks depend on others being completed first. Below is the typical order of tasks for kitchen construction. Timeframes are quoted based on a simple kitchen project with no unexpected delays.

Demo (< 1 week) Most clients are surprised how fast the old kitchen can be removed.

Framing (1 week) Your project may not need new framing if you’re not moving walls. If you plan to add insulation to an old house, plan on new framing on exterior walls. New framing and insulation may need city inspections.

Rough electric + plumbing (2-3 weeks) Working with tradsespeople takes more time and the work will need to be inspected before closing up the walls.

Drywall (1 week) Drywall is often subcontracted. Overall the process is fast, and your project starts to take shape here!

Flooring (1 week+) Tile is typical in kitchens and involves a multi-step process. Wood floors might go in faster.

Cabinetry (1 week) If the framing and drywall were done well, the cabinets should go in fast. This is when the counters get templated.

Trim and Painting (1 week) Complicated trim details may add to this timeframe. Painting is usually done in a few days.

Counters and Backsplash (1 week) Counters are typically installed 10-14 days after templating. Backsplash has to go up after they are installed.

Finished Electric, Plumbing, and appliance instal (1 week) This is the last step to substantial completion. After everything is installed and hooked up, the contractor will deliver the project for clients to move in and start using.

Punchlist (< 1 week) After homeowners have had a chance to move back in and use the kitchen, we create a punchlist of work that needs to be completed to consider the project finished. Contractors and tradespeople will return to complete the list as fast as possible.

Once counters go in, the remodel typically wraps up quickly. See more of this Lower Merion Kitchen Remodel

Wow! That’s eleven weeks, and with no delays. Large and complicated projects take even longer. So, how do the Airy Kitchens project managers work to minimize delays and deliver beautiful projects?

PROJECT MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR KITCHENS

1) Use the design phase to explore changes

During design, everything is just an idea and it’s easy to explore changes. Homeowners should really dig into the details and ask all the questions then. Once materials have been ordered and construction has begun, changes to the design get expensive and cause major delays. It’s easy to second guess decisions when you’re standing in an unfinished project, home renovation is stressful! If you spend the time and effort during the design phase and you’ll be more relaxed during construction.

2) Order early and inspect every package

Ordering for projects is tricky. Order too early and you may pass your return window before you instal the product. Order too late and your item may be backordered or cause your whole project to be delayed. We prefer to order early and do a detailed inspection of everything that arrives (including taking photos). This way you can breath easy knowing you are prepared for the project start and you won’t discover broken or mis-ordered items during your project.

3) Communication is key / Everyone likes brownies

Communication is the most important part of keeping a project on track. We call contractors a week or two before starting to remind them of our start date and make sure they’re on track. Regular meetings and phone calls make sure that details aren’t missed and contractors know what our expectations are. Contractors are busy and don’t always love oversight, so we make sure to respect their time, offer to help with tasks when we can, and if all else fails, everyone likes brownies.

4) Document and protect everything

An easy way for homeowners to protect themselves is to photograph their home before work begins. Anywhere contractors may venture including adjacent rooms, bathrooms, garages, and basements should all be documented. If your home gets damaged, these photos are an easy way to prove that. A good contractor will protect floors and walls thoroughly, but homeowners can protect their belongings by removing art and furnishings from hallways and adjacent rooms, avoid parking near dumpsters or contractor vehicles, and keep kids and pets away from work areas.

5) Choose a flexible timeframe

If homeowners put too much focus on a fast timeframe, then contractors won’t take the time to get every detail perfect. Most contractors truly care about the look and quality of their builds, but if they feel more pressure to work fast than to get details perfect then they will comply. Avoid scheduling a holiday gathering or a guest visit right at the end of your project. Delays happen, and you don’t want to sacrifice quality to get the project done faster.

Now that you understand the timeframe, are you ready to start your design? Click below to schedule a consultation and learn more about our pricing.