What to Expect During Your Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen remodel by author/photo by author

You’ve set your budget, met with multiple contractors, reviewed their estimates, and finally chosen the one who’s right for your job. Congratulations! You’re officially on your way to a new kitchen. Next up: a series of planning meetings with your contractor, cabinetmaker, and a countertop specialist. And yes, it’s time to start thinking about how you'll manage without a functioning kitchen for the next several weeks.

Since you have a good idea of how you want your kitchen to look, it’s important to work with your contractor on your kitchen design. Most contractors will either design it themselves or have it done by a design company. You can also hire a kitchen designer, but make sure your designer and your contractor communicate with one another. It’s important that they both agree on the design or you might be mediating between the two. 

With your cabinets, you  might be tempted to purchase from a big-box store, but talk with your contractor to find out if there’s a different option. A cabinetmaker can provide you with customized designs that are right for your kitchen as well as certain functions, like Lazy Susans or pull-out shelves. Make sure to meet with your chosen cabinetmaker as soon as possible because it takes approximately 4-6 weeks for cabinets to arrive. Because of this schedule, your contractor will most likely not begin the project until it’s a little closer to the cabinets arrival so you aren’t inconvenienced without a kitchen for as long. 

Countertops, on average, take two to three weeks to arrive once you’ve made your decision. It’s helpful to have your countertops chosen so they arrive several days after your cabinets. This way there’s no delay between putting in the cabinets and putting on the countertops. You should also have your sink and faucet chosen by then, so your contractor can have everything attached and ready for you to use.

Have your flooring and tile chosen in advance. This will move your project forward, and your contractor can work more efficiently and consistently to build your new kitchen. Any delays on your part will also cause delays for your contractor and any subcontractors hired to help with the job, like plumbers and electricians. 

Before demolition begins, pack up your kitchen and store your boxes someplace safe and out of the way. How long will your kitchen remodel take? This is important to know! You’ll have to figure out where to eat for three to four weeks, depending on the kitchen’s complexity. Consider finding a place for a microwave and your refrigerator, plus stocking up on paper plates and plastic utensils. Some clients go to a friend’s or family member’s house for meals. Regardless, make sure you know how you’ll function without a kitchen for a month. 

Demolition begins when your cabinets are on the way.  On average, demolition takes a couple of days and requires a dumpster. All the old materials need to go somewhere, and a dumpster, depending on size, can hold it all. You’ll also  need to clear a space for the dumpster to sit that makes it easy for it to be dropped off and picked up. Your contractor will arrange for the dumpster; you don’t need to worry about that. 

Once your kitchen has been gutted, plumbing and electrical rough-ins happen. “Rough-in” means they open the walls to update and/or move plumbing and wiring. If you’ve never seen behind a wall, it’s pretty awesome to see how your house is plumbed and wired. These rough-ins should take a few days, especially if updating is needed or pipes are moved. 

The next step in this process is patching the walls after they have been opened. Your contractor will use drywall, tape, and joint compound, then sand the patch to prepare for paint. Patching drywall costs approximately $1000, depending on the complexity of the patch job. Remember, the drywall process takes several coats and time, so be patient. 

Painting is next. Your contractor will want to paint before cabinets arrive and before flooring is installed to make sure all walls are well-covered and they don’t have to worry about getting paint on cabinets and flooring. On average, painting should take about a day and a half to complete, but again, the timing is dependent on the size of the kitchen. 

After looking at your gorgeous walls and feeling excited because your cabinets have arrived, it’s time for those new cabinets to be installed. They come in boxes, so be prepared for a lot of leftover cardboard as your contractor unboxes them. To install your cabinets, your contractor will review the cabinet design, layout the studs, level the cabinets and install them systematically. 

Now it’s time for flooring. If it’s laminate or vinyl flooring, this goes together easily. This can be finished, based on square footage, in a day or a day and a half.  If you’ve chosen hardwood flooring, know that the wooden slats will be laid, then sanded; after sanding and wiping the dust off, they’ll be stained and eventually sealed. Plan seven days for hardwood flooring finishing. 

Happily, your project is quickly coming to an end. Your countertops will be installed as well as your sink and faucets. It’s time to revel in how gorgeous your new kitchen looks! Once those countertops, sink, and faucets are installed, you can start moving back into your kitchen. Just remember, your contractor has a few remaining jobs to complete: backsplash, plugs and switches, and door hardware. 

When tiling, it’s best to make sure the day is above freezing because tile is cut with a tile saw and water. Tiling a backsplash, depending on size, can take one to two days. Once the tile is glued to the wall, it has to dry, and then be grouted. Grout must dry before it’s cleaned. This should take another day. Be careful of wetting your tile once it’s glued to the wall and before the grout dries. It could loosen and break. 

Plugs, switches, door hardware, and appliances add the finishing touches to your new kitchen. While your contractor works in plugs, switches, and door hardware, your appliance movers can place your appliances and make sure they’re running correctly. You get to point and direct the appliance people while enjoying your beautiful new space. 

Finally, after a month, you have a new kitchen! Congratulations! 

Kitchen remodel done by author/photo by author