How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? A Week-by-Week Timeline

Once homeowners settle on a budget, the next question is always about time: how long does a kitchen remodel take? It is a fair thing to want to know — your kitchen is the hardest-working room in the house, and living without it takes planning. After 24 years and thousands of kitchens across Mesa and the East Valley, we can give you a realistic timeline and explain what makes a project faster or slower.

The Honest Answer: 6 to 10 Weeks of Construction

A full custom kitchen remodel typically takes **6 to 10 weeks** from demolition to final walkthrough. Smaller updates that keep the existing layout can finish in 4 to 6 weeks, while large projects involving structural changes, custom cabinetry, and exotic stone can run 10 to 14 weeks.

But construction is only part of the story. The **planning and material-ordering phase** that comes before demolition often takes just as long — and it is the part homeowners most often underestimate.

The Planning Phase: 4 to 8 Weeks Before Work Begins

Before a single cabinet comes out, several things have to happen: the design has to be finalized, materials selected, cabinetry ordered, stone slabs hand-picked, and permits pulled. This phase usually spans 4 to 8 weeks, driven almost entirely by lead times.

**Custom cabinetry** is the biggest variable, with lead times of 5 to 10 weeks depending on the shop and the season. Ordering early is the single best thing you can do to keep your project on schedule. We finalize your design and place these orders up front so materials are arriving as construction begins, not holding it up.

Week-by-Week: What Construction Looks Like

**Week 1 — Demolition and rough-in prep.** We protect the rest of your home with dust barriers, remove old cabinets, countertops, flooring, and fixtures, and open up walls where needed. Any surprises behind the walls — old wiring, plumbing issues — surface now.

**Weeks 2 to 3 — Structural, electrical, and plumbing.** Framing changes, new electrical circuits and lighting, and any plumbing relocation happen here, followed by inspections. This is where moving a sink or opening a wall adds time.

**Weeks 3 to 4 — Drywall, paint, and flooring.** Walls are closed up, textured, and painted, and flooring goes in (or is protected if already installed).

**Weeks 4 to 6 — Cabinetry and countertops.** Cabinets are installed and leveled, then the counters are templated. Stone fabrication takes about 1 to 2 weeks after templating — one of the few waits that cannot be compressed, since the counters can only be measured once the cabinets are set.

**Weeks 6 to 8 — Backsplash, fixtures, and finishes.** Backsplash tile, the sink and faucet, appliances, hardware, trim, and final electrical fixtures all come together.

**Final days — Walkthrough and punch list.** We walk every detail together, handle final touch-ups, and confirm you are thrilled before the project is considered complete.

What Makes a Kitchen Remodel Take Longer

- **Moving plumbing, gas, or load-bearing walls** adds structural work and extra inspections. - **Custom cabinetry and exotic stone** carry longer lead times than stock options. - **Change orders mid-project** — deciding to move a wall or switch materials after work starts — reset parts of the schedule. - **Older homes** often hide surprises (outdated wiring, un-level floors) that must be corrected. - **Multiple subcontractors** from different companies create scheduling gaps. Because we self-perform every trade in-house, we keep the sequence tight and avoid the dead time that stretches many remodels.

Can You Stay in Your Home During the Remodel?

Most homeowners do. We set up dust barriers to seal off the work zone, and we recommend a temporary kitchen — a microwave, mini-fridge, and coffee maker in another room — to get through construction. Our crews work Monday through Friday and clean up at the end of each day.

Planning Around the Timeline

Because planning plus construction can span three to four months end to end, the best time to start is well before any deadline you care about — a holiday, a new baby, a move. If you want a finished kitchen for the holidays, late summer is the time to begin. We build a detailed, milestone-based schedule during your consultation so you know what is happening each week.

Start Your Kitchen Remodel With a Clear Plan

Red Baron Construction has delivered on-time kitchen remodels across Mesa and the East Valley for over 24 years. Every project begins with a free in-home consultation, precise measurements, and a written timeline and estimate with no hidden fees. Call us at (480) 628-8972 or visit our contact page to get started.