How Long Does a Kitchen Renovation Take?

The most crucial part of any renovation project is the planning. If you take the time to plan and order everything needed for the project before the demo starts, the process will be less daunting. Let's face it: In my over twenty years of experience in this industry, nothing has ever gone 100% smooth. There are always surprises, either large or small. But if you take the time to plan, those issues that arise during construction become more manageable. For instance, let's take a kitchen remodel.

Phase 1: Planning

Homeowners often don’t know how much a renovation costs and get stuck. We offer an Exploratory Design Service. This design service is an abbreviated version of a full-service design service that provides you with the costs of materials, construction, and labor so you can make educated decisions on your investment before committing to moving forward with a contractor. 

During the planning phase of a kitchen remodel, we help you understand your lifestyle. For example, do you like to cook and entertain? How many people live in the home, etc.? We dig deep into understanding what is not working in your current space to create a layout that fits your needs.

 How Long It Can Take: The planning stage typically takes 1 to 4 months, depending on your decision-making process. If you are an avid baker or chef, we encourage and plan for appliance cooking demonstrations. We visit stone yards to select the appropriate product for your countertop and arrange for cabinetry door-style samples to finalize that perfect finish.

We will review your lighting and provide a plan incorporating task and ambient lighting. Once your appliances are selected, we will finalize the cabinetry layout and plans to receive quotes from a general contractor.

Phase 2: Procurement

Once you've chosen a contractor, we'll begin the procurement phase, which involves ordering and managing all the construction materials. Cabinetry often has the longest lead time, taking up to 8 weeks to produce and deliver. We coordinate with you and manage deposits to ensure materials arrive before the demolition phase begins.

How Long It Can Take: All material for the project must be ordered and on-site before construction begins, except for the cabinetry. We only team up with local craftsmen for cabinets; therefore, once they are completed, they are brought directly to the home for installation.

In our experience, working with local cabinetmakers avoids many issues compared to when ordering cabinets from a manufacturer out of state. For example, if an incorrect cabinet arrives or is damaged, it can add weeks to a project, frustrating you and the contractor.

Phase 3: Construction

Once we order all the materials and have their estimated arrival dates, we coordinate with the general contractor to set a start date. About a week before demolition begins, we meet on-site with you and the GC to review the process and discuss logistics for living in the home during the renovation.

This includes details such as access to the home during construction, a designated area for material deliveries, and setting up a temporary kitchen. We also provide the GC with what we call the "Bible" or Project Binder, which stays on-site at all times. It contains the plans, specifications, and material list for the renovation. If a question arises and the designer is unavailable, the GC can refer to the Project Binder to find the answer.

How Long It Can Take: Once the demo begins, the actual construction process can take at least 8-12 weeks. This timeline prepares the homeowner for the construction process. When permitting a job, the timeline often gets extended due to inspections, when they are scheduled, and what is passed or needs to be changed.

Phase 4: Installation with Clear Communication

We are involved in your project from start to finish and set up weekly or bi-weekly meetings with you and the GC  to review the schedule and address any issues that arise during construction. We believe that communication is one of the most important aspects of a successful home renovation.

Challenges or surprises will come up, but by maintaining open communication through group texts and weekly meetings, we keep you informed and help make the process more manageable and stress-free.

Check out more of the Kenmare Lane Project in our Portfolio. 

What's Next?

Let's face it:  living through a home renovation isn't easy. However, we strive to make the process as smooth as possible and, in the end, deliver the kitchen of your dreams.

If you're ready for a team you trust to manage your project efficiently and deliver beautiful, personal results, let's chat.

Warmly,

Trisha