How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? A Step-by-Step Look

The second question people ask me, right after the price, is "How long will I be without a kitchen?" It is a fair question. You still have to feed a family. So I want to give you a straight answer, and then walk you through the order the work happens in, so nothing surprises you.

The short answer

How long it takes depends on how much you are changing:

Notice that I am not promising a number for the last one. A layout change in a 1920s rowhouse in Canton is a different job from the same change in a 1970s split-level in Towson. I would rather tell you that than guess. If you want the money side of these three options, read what a kitchen remodel costs in Baltimore.

What happens first, step by step

Here is the order I follow. It is the same in every house.

1. The estimate and the schedule. I come to your home, measure, and listen to how you cook and live. You get a written estimate and a schedule before we start. A schedule on paper means you can plan around the disruption instead of guessing.

2. Decisions and ordering. Cabinets, countertops, tile, fixtures and appliances all have to be chosen and ordered. This step is where most delays begin, and it often happens before anyone picks up a hammer.

3. Protecting your home. Before demolition, we cover your floors and furniture. We clean up when we are done each day, because you are living in this house while we work in it.

4. Demolition and any repairs behind the walls. Old cabinets and counters come out. Once the walls are open, we see what is really there.

5. Rough work. If plumbing, electrical or walls are changing, this is when it happens, and when permits matter. We handle the permits. You do not have to stand in line at a government office.

6. Walls, drywall and paint prep. Repairs are made, surfaces are taped and sanded, and everything is primed.

7. Cabinets go in. New cabinets are installed, or existing cabinets are prepped and painted if they are solid enough to keep.

8. Countertops. This is the step people do not expect. Countertops can only be measured once the cabinets are in, so there is a gap between the cabinets and the counters. Plan on it.

9. Backsplash, flooring and fixtures. Tile, lighting, hardware, sink and faucet, and appliances.

10. Final paint, punch list and cleanup. We walk the kitchen with you, fix what you point out, and leave the room clean.

What slows a kitchen remodel down

I have never seen a kitchen run late for no reason. These are the usual causes.

• Material lead times. A cabinet or countertop that has not arrived cannot be installed. This is why ordering early matters. It is also why the three to six weeks for a full renovation depends on lead time.
• Surprises behind the walls. In many Baltimore houses, old wiring and plaster show up once we open things. Rowhouses in Hampden and Federal Hill are famous for it. Better to plan for it than to be shocked by it.
• Changing your mind mid-project. A new layout or a different countertop after work has started pushes everything back. Decide first, build second.
• Permits. Plumbing, electrical and structural changes need them. We pull them, but they take their own time.
• Appliances. If you have not decided whether to keep yours, you will not know where the cabinets stop.

Can you save time with a refresh?

Sometimes. If your cabinet boxes are solid, painting them instead of replacing them is the biggest time saver, and the biggest money saver too. A proper cabinet job means cleaning, sanding, priming and a durable finish, not a fast coat of wall paint. See our cabinet painting page for how we do it. Not sure if you need more than that? Here are the signs your kitchen needs a full remodel.

If the rest of the house needs attention too, interior painting can be scheduled in the same visit, so you only have one crew in your home once.

How to live through it

A few things from my own experience that help families:

• Set up a small kitchen in another room: microwave, coffee maker, a cooler or small fridge. It makes a big difference.
• Keep the path to the work area clear. The faster we can get in and out, the less mess in the rest of the house.
• Ask me anything. I would rather answer a question on day two than hear about a worry on day twenty.

And whoever you hire, ask for the schedule in writing. My checklist for choosing a contractor comes from a true story about a lower quote that ended up costing more, and it starts with exactly that.

Talk to me about your kitchen

Tell me what you want to change and I will tell you honestly how long it takes. Get your free kitchen estimate, call me at 443-825-0206, or look at our kitchen remodeling services. If you are redoing more than one room, our whole-home remodeling team can plan it all together. We currently take 10% off painting and drywall work.

Where we work

We are based in Baltimore City and work across Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County and Howard County, including Towson, Catonsville, Annapolis, Pikesville, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Parkville, Columbia, Dundalk, Hampden. See all the areas we serve.

Keep reading

• How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Baltimore?
• Signs your kitchen needs a remodel, not just a refresh
• The cheaper quote cost him $3,000 more: how to choose a contractor
• How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Baltimore?
• How much does it cost to paint a house in Baltimore?
• How to choose interior paint colors for Baltimore homes

Our services: Interior painting, Exterior painting, Bathroom remodeling, Kitchen remodeling, Basement finishing, Flooring, Home remodeling, Decks, Siding. See everything we do.