The 7 Essentials: Remodeling Your Kitchen in the Correct Order
There are several stages when renovating your kitchen, from the initial planning to hiring a contractor, choosing cabinets and finishes, demoing, and fitting in all the finishing details. After years of working closely with dealers and designers, we’ve created the ideal order of essential steps for a complete kitchen transformation.
Step 1: The Initial Planning
Start by imagining your dream kitchen. Make a list of all your needs and wants including the size, layout, colors, and finishes. Include what issues you have in your current kitchen and how you would remodel it to fit your daily needs.
Decide what is critical for your remodel and what could be added to a wish list instead. Visit your local dealer to get ideas and visit designers’ social media for inspiration.
Once you have a list of all the necessary repairs and remodels, calculate a specific budget. Included is the cost of materials, contractor, designer, and a contingency fund for unexpected costs. Budget overruns are common, so make sure you set aside enough in your contingency fund. You can expect to spend about 5%-15% of your home’s value on your remodel.
Step 2: Hire a Contractor
Interview a few contractors (we recommend three) and compare their bids. Make sure they have a good track record, ask for references, and ensure that is agreed on in writing. Some states don’t require licensing for contractors – if yours doesn’t, find out they have insurance. Remember: plumbing and electrical work are best left to the pros and licensed contractors. Don’t try to DIY the major elements of a renovation.
Once you decide on a contractor who is trustworthy and reliable, you can start ordering cabinet samples and create your new kitchen design/layout.
Now is a good time to also start applying for building permits for structural, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical changes that will be made. This process can take weeks or even months, so it's best to get this process started as soon as possible.
Step 3: Choose and Order Your Products
It's important to note that appliances, cabinets, and other products may take anywhere from 1-2 months to arrive. Therefore, it's best to wait until everything arrives before starting your kitchen demolition.
Once you receive your cabinets, flooring, countertops, hardware, finishes, paint, and sinks, ensure that you inspect them for any damage and make sure they're the correct size before storing them for the demo. This will help you avoid any unnecessary delays or complications during the renovation process.
If you need help deciding what cabinets, counters, and other finishes to order, it’s a good idea to connect with a kitchen designer. They’ll be able to guide you in picking out every element of your kitchen from accessories to appliances, all while sticking to the budget.
Step 4: Demo Prep – Clear Out Your Kitchen
Once everything is set for your kitchen renovation, start clearing out your cabinets, drawers, and anything else that needs to be put away. Now is the time to purge anything that you no longer use and organize what you’d like to keep.
After things are put away, set up a temporary kitchen space where you can meal prep and cook while the renovation is underway. If that will be too difficult for you, make sure to have extra cash set aside for eating out!
Step 5: Rough-In Work
After the demo, structural changes are made such as adding new walls and windows. The next step is to work on utility systems like electrical, plumbing, and HVAC before the installation of flooring and drywall. It's important to upgrade old plumbing, and electrical systems and add new or updated HVAC systems during rough-in work that requires inspections after installation. After the inspection, the drywall is finished.
Step 6: Finishing Details
It's a common dilemma whether to install the cabinets or flooring first when remodeling your kitchen. If you choose to install the cabinets first, you'll end up using less flooring material and reduce the risk of damage.
However, if you decide to install flooring first, it may take more time to complete the project. We recommend installing flooring first and covering it well to avoid damage while continuing with the rest of your renovation.
Once you've finished installing either the cabinets or flooring, the next steps include painting, installing appliances, adding hardware and fixtures, backsplash, and countertops. These finishing touches will bring your entire kitchen together.
Step 7: Final Inspections
Schedule a walk-through with your contractor after all remodeling is done and make a list of any remaining details that need to be fixed up. This “punch list” is the last remaining item before you move into your newly renovated space. Make sure everything meets your expectations and the kitchen design you had originally planned. After final inspections, get ready to unpack and enjoy your new and improved kitchen!
Kitchen Remodeling Timeline
One of the most asked questions we hear from customers is how long a kitchen remodel will take. Living through a construction zone is stressful and difficult, and we know you want to get it over with as quickly as possible.
Here is a typical remodeling timeline:
Planning Stage
Planning your dream kitchen takes some careful thought. This could take 4-8 weeks, including consultations with designers and dealers, creating your needs and wants lists, and conceptualizing your ideal floor plan.
Demo Stage
Depending on how much of your existing footprint you are removing, this stage can take anywhere from 2-4 days to 2 weeks. This includes removing cabinets, counters, flooring, walls, and plumbing or electrical work.
Rough-In/Finishing Details Stage
Building out structural details and framing is included in the rough-in, which can take 1-6 weeks, depending on the amount of work. Adding in all the finishing details like the flooring, counters, etc. can take 2-3 months. Custom cabinetry and the size of the kitchen can affect this timeline.
Inspection Stage
Having an inspection once the rough-in stage is complete is important and shouldn’t be overlooked. This will only take a couple of days at most, and it ensures your renovation can continue as planned.
Average Costs of a Kitchen Renovation
The average cost of your remodel largely depends on the size of your kitchen, the scope of the remodel, and the region where you live. The average for a minor renovation is around $20,000, $70,000 for a mid-range renovation, and $120,000+ for an upscale renovation.
What People Wish They Knew Before a Renovation
- The importance of setting a budget and sticking to it
- Prioritize the cabinetry
- Function comes before anything else
- Hire a pro – it will save you money in the long run and prevent issues
- Have all materials on hand before starting the renovation
- Prepare where you will be living and/or cooking during the renovation
- Stay in constant contact with your renovation team and contractor to make sure everything is running smoothly and on time
There are several steps to a successful kitchen renovation. From planning and hiring a contractor to ordering products, demoing, rough-in work, inspections, and finishing details, it's important to be knowledgeable and approach each step wisely to ensure a successful renovation.
Check out our Cabinet Visualizer to start planning your kitchen renovation.
FAQS
What is the order of work in a kitchen remodel?
- Plan- build a budget and research all materials needed for your reno. Make a list of all your wants and needs.
- Hire a contractor- make sure they are reliable, trustworthy, and have good references.
- Choose and order products
- Demo
- Rough-in work- structural changes and utility work
- Inspections
- Finishing details- cabinets, flooring, painting, hardware, backsplash, etc.
What is a typical timeline for a kitchen remodel?
This depends on the scope of your renovation and the size of your kitchen. The average renovation takes 6-12 weeks, with major renovations taking 3-6 months.
How do I choose a contractor?
Consider your potential hire’s industry experience, check their credentials and references, and review their portfolio. Once you zero in on your top choices, make sure you get everything in writing, including their bid. Scrutinize their contract and make sure it includes all relevant details like the scope of work, site plan, and procedural list.