Home renovation shows on TV are entertaining, but they don't show every part of the renovation process.
According to the 2023 U.S. Houzz & Home Survey: Renovation Trends, 28% of homeowners surveyed said they renovated their kitchen in the last year, making it one of the top remodeling projects for 2022. Kitchen remodels are popular but notoriously time-consuming.
“The kitchen is a multi-faceted space and is probably the most complicated room in the house to renovate,” says Michael Reeve, a UK-based kitchen designer, blogger, and YouTuber who goes by the name Kitcheninsider.
How long does a kitchen remodel take? It depends on the scope of the project, but a variety of issues can arise that can make any kind of home improvement project drag on.
One of the biggest concerns about a kitchen remodel is how long it will take to complete. While cosmetic projects like painting and replacing fixtures can be completed quickly, larger projects like rearranging your kitchen can take several months.
“It's not just about tearing it down and rebuilding,” says Reeve. “Each renovation involves careful planning, coordinating with a variety of professionals — builders, kitchen installers, plumbers, electricians — inspections, and dealing with unexpected obstacles.”
The time it takes to remodel a kitchen will vary depending on the scope of the project, the size of your kitchen, the complexity of the work, and the availability of materials and labor.
On average, a kitchen remodel takes four to eight weeks, Reeve says, but some projects can take longer. “If you're changing the layout of the kitchen, replacing appliances and making structural changes, that's a larger project,” says Leonardo Villalobos, vice president of Mosaic Tile Outlet, a tile manufacturing, wholesale and direct-to-consumer business. That can take two to three months, Villalobos says.
“The demolition and construction phases can take time. These phases may include electrical, plumbing and HVAC work, which adds to the overall schedule,” he adds.
Timelines may also be extended if desired materials are not available.
The 2020 pandemic has caused major disruptions to global supply chains, leaving shelves empty and prices rising. The United States also faces an ongoing shortage of truck drivers. The American Journal of Transportation reports that more than 80,000 drivers will be needed to make up for this year's shortage, and there could be a shortage of 160,000 drivers by 2030. For material manufacturers, suppliers and construction contractors, this means rising costs and delays.
“If there's one thing you can expect with a kitchen remodel, it's that the unexpected will happen,” Reeve says. “I don't think a kitchen remodel ever goes 100% as expected. Whether it's something small, like replacing a door, or something big, like a damaged countertop, something is bound to happen.”
A common problem with kitchen remodels is when something gets damaged on-site or cut or installed incorrectly, says Reeve. “One that immediately comes to mind is when a countertop cracked during shipping to a building site,” Reeve recalls. “It was a really heartbreaking moment when the countertop arrived broken and then took another two weeks to be reworked and sent off to be installed again.”
While cosmetic damage isn't too bad, Reeve said any structural damage or anything that affects installation could have a big impact on the project timeline.
Reeve also works with solid wood kitchen cabinets, which means the kitchen needs to be sealed and waterproofed before the cabinets arrive. “Too much moisture in the room can warp your cabinets, which is something you definitely want to avoid,” says Reeve. “This will then impact your installation date and installer availability.”
“Kitchen remodels take time to complete because they are a multi-step process that requires coordination with many different professionals, from designers to contractors,” says Villalobos. To avoid unexpected delays, he recommends having a clear project plan, budget, and a plan for dealing with unexpected issues.
Here are some questions to ask yourself during the planning process:
- What do you want in your kitchen?
- What would you like to add?
- Adding or moving plumbing or electrical fixtures?
- Are you upgrading or moving an appliance?
- Want to change the layout or remove walls?
Once you have a plan, the next step is to hire a team of professionals. Unless you plan on doing it yourself, a team of professionals can handle everything from demolition to framing, ordering materials, construction, etc. A general contractor will make sure everything goes smoothly and on schedule, and they'll usually be the person you talk to most often.
Next, you'll need to prepare the space by removing small items from the kitchen and renting a dumpster to dispose of old materials. Depending on your project, you may also need to set up a temporary kitchen area.
Before demolition, you should order materials to ensure everything arrives on time. But also account for delays due to the installation process. For example, the lead time to get cabinets in place and templates made, and then fabricate and install the countertops, can wreak havoc on your schedule. “That's a bummer for some people,” Reeve says. “This process can add another week or two to your schedule, basically just waiting for the countertops.”
Every kitchen remodel is different, and the duration will vary greatly depending on the type of project.
- Cosmetic update (1-2 weeks): Reeve said this could include repainting cabinets, replacing hardware, updating backsplashes and other small changes.
- Typical kitchen remodel (4-8 weeks): Adding new cabinets, countertops, appliances and reconfiguring the kitchen layout will require more intricate work.
- Complete overhaul (8-12+ weeks): Demolishing an entire kitchen, moving walls, and making structural changes will take the longest, and homeowners should be prepared for this to take several months or longer.
“These timelines are for the actual installation,” Reeve said, “and don't take into account the time it takes for the research, planning and design stages, which can easily take weeks.”
Besides the project scope, Reeve says there are several other factors that influence a project's timeline.
- Countertop Type: Some materials, like laminate and wood, can be installed quickly, while others, like granite, quartz and marble, require more involved installation, according to Reeve.
- Product Availability: Made to order or custom products usually take longer than off-the-shelf products. They may also be out of stock, so if you wait, it may take a while.
- permission: “Local regulations may affect the pace, especially if structural changes are involved,” Reeve says. “You may be waiting on inspections and approvals at various points.”
- Unanticipated challenges: Projects rarely go off without a hitch, especially when it comes to older homes. “Older homes may have hidden issues, like outdated wiring or plumbing that needs replacing. You never know what's lurking behind old cabinets or in the walls,” says Reeve.
- communication: A lack of communication between the homeowner and the contractor or subcontractor can lengthen the renovation timeline.
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