Kitchen Remodel Timeline: What to Expect

A kitchen remodel feels like a single event, but it's really a sequence of trades stacked carefully on top of each other. When the sequence holds, everyone is in and out in 6–10 weeks. When it slips, it's almost always at cabinetry or countertop fabrication — two long-lead items worth ordering before demo day.

The first week is mostly demo, rough plumbing, and electrical. Walls open up, surprises show themselves, and your contractor adjusts the plan if anything needs a permit revision. By week three, drywall and primer are in and you're looking at the bones of the new layout.

Cabinets typically land between weeks four and six. Counter templating happens after cabinets are set and locked, then fabrication takes another 10–14 days. That gap is the most common reason a kitchen feels stalled — but it's normal.

Final weeks are tile, appliances, plumbing trim, and punch list. A good contractor will walk the project with you, write down anything that isn't right, and circle back to fix it before invoicing.