How Long Does It Take to Remodel a Kitchen?

There’s a reason home remodeling programs are so popular — you get to watch the total transformation of a ho-hum room into a dream space in the time it takes to eat your lunch. The renovation magic happens in minutes and presto: everything old, ugly, and outdated becomes new, modern, and beautiful in a matter of minutes.

But home remodeling shows only give you a glimpse of the remodeling process — usually the most pleasing parts. They don’t show the planning, preparation, and hard work that goes into a successful kitchen renovation, and they certainly don’t spend time showing material, labor, or weather delays.

Everyone wants a kitchen that’s equal parts timeless and on trend; one that speaks to their personal tastes and offers full functionality without missing a beat on any level. When people turn to Hogan Design & Construction to help them create the kitchen of their dreams through our comprehensive design-build process, they usually have three main questions:

“Can you give us a kitchen that hits all the right notes?”

“How much does kitchen remodeling cost in the Chicago area, and how much can I expect to spend on my kitchen remodel?”

“How long does a kitchen remodel take?”

While the answer to the first question is affirmatively easy, the last two questions can each have a wide range of answers depending on the scope and finish level of the project. With that in mind, let’s explore the typical timeframe for an average kitchen renovation.

Getting Your Kitchen Renovation on the Calendar

The first step in any home renovation process is doing the necessary legwork of officially getting it on the calendar.

Exploratory process

From getting an initial list of referrals for reputable contractors to setting up your first meeting with a design-build firm and choosing the right team for your job, the initial introduction and exploratory process can take anywhere from a few short weeks or up to 3 months, depending on the scope of your kitchen renovation, your desired timeframe, and contractor availability and fit.

Discovery phase

Once you’ve hired the right team for your job, your kitchen remodel moves into the discovery phase: You know how your space needs to perform, now it’s time to discuss what it will look like. During this phase, you define what you want for your new kitchen — you talk, and your contractor listens and learns.

Design phase

From there, you move through the design phase, which encompasses all the design and development work required for your kitchen renovation, including architectural development, design planning, as well as civil and estimating work, as needed.

kitchen-floor-plan-drawing-with-center-island-cabinets-and-sink-and-dining-space

Planning your build

Upon completion of your design plans, an estimator meets with subcontractors to establish a fixed price for your project. During this phase, the scope of work is finalized and detailed out, and the construction contract is presented and signed.

Then, your production manager takes 2-8 weeks to finalize construction plans (ordering materials and scheduling subcontractors), submit for permits, determine a start date, and detail your project schedule with step-by-step timeframes and deadlines.

How Long Does it Take to Remodel an Entire Kitchen?

When most people ask “How long will it take to renovate my whole kitchen?” what they really want to know is “How long will I have to make dinner out of a temporary kitchen?”

Joking aside, the average homeowner mostly wants to know how long the physical work of their kitchen renovation will take — from the first day of demolition to the final walk-through.

Average timeframe for a full kitchen renovation

While it depends on the scope and finish level of your project, the construction to completion phase of the average full kitchen renovation typically takes between 6-8 weeks from start to finish.

Possible timeframe for a full kitchen renovation

The actual timeframe depends on project complexity, size, and scope. Some kitchens may take as little as 4 weeks to finish, while others take 12 weeks or even longer.

For example, if you aren’t altering the footprint of your kitchen, changing or adding electrical or plumbing, or choosing custom cabinetry and appliances, it’s reasonable to expect that your renovation will be done in a few weeks.

If, however, you’re moving your kitchen from one part of your home to another, doing a full gut kitchen renovation, opting for eco-friendly kitchen design, using imported stone for your countertops, building a new kitchen island, and going with custom cabinets — your renovation could take several months.

Do you install floor or kitchen cabinets first?

In any total kitchen renovation, flooring goes down first so the cabinets can sit on top of the flooring. This eliminates the need for shoe molding around the bottom of the the cabinets to cover any gaps that might lie between the bottom of baseboard and the floor.

Get Started with Our Comprehensive Pricing Guides

At HDC, we believe that open communication and accurate, comprehensive information are key to the success of every renovation project. Our pricing guides can help you understand what to expect when you begin conversations surrounding your upcoming renovation project:

Our guides offer price ranges based on current Chicagoland area building and remodeling cost estimates, as well as our own 20+ years of experience within the industry.

We serve kitchen remodeling and home renovation clients in northern Illinois (including the far western Chicago suburbs of Hinsdale, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Geneva, St. Charles, and Batavia) as well as southern Wisconsin (Lake Geneva, Lakes Delavan, Fontana, and Genoa City).

If you’re ready to take the first step toward your dream kitchen, give us a call or fill out our easy online contact form today. We’re ready to help you make your dream space a reality. If you are in need of inspiration, be sure to check out our kitchen remodeling portfolio.

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