The short answer
A full kitchen remodel usually takes three to six weeks of active construction, plus design and cabinet lead time before that. The full journey from first visit to cooking in your new kitchen is typically two to four months.
Phase by phase
Design and estimate: 1–3 weeks
Site visit, measurements, layout planning, material selections, written price. Rushing this phase is how projects go wrong — the plan is the project.
Cabinet ordering and lead time: 2–8 weeks
Cabinets are ordered after final measurements. Stock is fastest; semi-custom and custom take longer. This runs in parallel with permitting — it is not dead time, but it is calendar time.
Permits: 1–4 weeks
Overlaps with cabinet lead time. We handle it.
Construction: 3–6 weeks
Demo: 2–4 days. The loud, dusty part — over fast.
Rough work: 1–2 weeks. Plumbing, electrical, framing changes, inspections.
Drywall and paint prep: 1 week. Mud needs drying time between coats.
Cabinets: 2–4 days to set, level, and trim.
Countertop template and install: 1–2 weeks (template after cabinets, then fabrication).
Tile, fixtures, finish: 1–2 weeks. Backsplash, plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures, paint, punch list.
What causes delays
- Material lead times. Special-order tile, custom cabinets, backordered appliances — we flag long-lead items at the estimate.
- Hidden conditions. Old wiring, plumbing surprises, structural issues found at demo. We check what we can before quoting; some things only reveal at demo.
- Change orders. Changing the plan mid-project costs time as well as money. We plan thoroughly to minimize this.
- Inspection scheduling. County-dependent. We schedule early.
Living without a kitchen
Plan for it: a temporary setup with a microwave, toaster oven, and coffee maker in another room; paper plates without guilt; a grill if the weather cooperates. We seal the construction zone, but the disruption is real — we will be straight with you about the timeline so you can plan.
Talk to us about your project
Call (240) 810-2174 or send the form. Free visit, written price, no pressure.