Kitchen remodeling, built in the order it has to be built
A kitchen job runs long when the trades show up in the wrong order. We remodel kitchens in Lincolnshire and the north Chicago suburbs as one licensed general contractor: we pull the permits, book the plumber and electrician, and keep every step waiting for the one before it.
What six weeks of a full kitchen replacement look like
Same layout, new cabinets, counters and floor. Real jobs run three to six weeks.- Crew on site
- Village inspection
- Counters being cut off site
- Kitchen out of use
Which size of kitchen job do you need?
Most kitchens fit one of three sizes. The size decides the weeks, whether the village wants a permit, and how much of the house gets dusty. Pick it before you pick a countertop color.
Refresh
Layout and cabinet boxes stay
- What changes
- Cabinet doors or paint, counters, backsplash, sink and faucet, lighting fixtures
- Usually takes
- 1 to 2 weeks
- Permit
- Usually none
- Pick it when
- The kitchen works, the boxes are dry and solid, and it only looks tired
Full replacement
Back to the studs, same footprint
- What changes
- New cabinets, counters, flooring, lighting and appliances, with the sink and range where they are now
- Usually takes
- 3 to 6 weeks
- Permit
- Sometimes, depending on the electrical and plumbing work
- Pick it when
- The layout is fine but the cabinets are failing, or you want everything new at once
Layout change
Walls, pipes or wiring move
- What changes
- A wall opened or removed, the sink or range moved, an island with power or water added
- Usually takes
- 6 to 10 weeks
- Permit
- Yes, with inspections before the walls close
- Pick it when
- The way the room is laid out is the real problem, not the finishes
The steps in a kitchen job that cannot trade places
Managing a remodel mostly means holding this order. Each pair below is a place where a kitchen loses a week when two trades book themselves.
- Closing the wallswaits forRough-in inspection
Once drywall is up, an inspector cannot see the new wiring or drain lines, and the village can ask for the wall to be opened again.
- Cabinet installwaits forFlooring decision
Whether the floor runs under the cabinets or stops at them changes the cabinet height and where the dishwasher fits under the counter.
- Countertop templatewaits forCabinets set and leveled
Stone is measured off the finished boxes. A template taken from drawings is how counters arrive a quarter inch short.
- Backsplash tilewaits forCounters installed
The tile starts on top of the counter, so it cannot go up while the counter is still being cut.
- Sink and faucet hookupwaits forCounter with the sink cut-out
The plumber comes back for the final connection only after the top is in place, which is why the kitchen stays dry until near the end.
Planning for the weeks without a kitchen
The kitchen goes out of use the day demolition starts and comes back when the sink is connected to the new counter. In a full replacement that is most of the job, so it is worth planning like a short move.
A temporary corner
Where there is room, we set the fridge and microwave up in another space, so breakfast and leftovers still happen.
Dishes and water
Without a kitchen sink, a laundry tub or bathroom sink does the washing. Paper plates for a few weeks save a lot of trips.
The counter gap
Between template and install the cabinets are set but there is no top. It looks finished from the doorway and it is not usable yet.
Dust and doors
We close off the work area and haul debris out the same day, but the rooms next to the kitchen will still see some dust.
Refacing or new cabinets: which one is worth the money?
New doors or paint on the old boxes costs far less than new cabinets, and in many kitchens it is the right call. In some it is money spent on a part that is about to fail.
Refacing or painting is enough when
- The boxes are solid wood or plywood, square, and dry
- The sink base has never had a leak that swelled the bottom
- You like where everything is and only the look has aged
- The drawers run well or only need new slides
New cabinets are the better spend when
- The sink base or dishwasher side is swollen from water
- Particleboard boxes are sagging or the shelves bow
- You want a different layout, an island or a taller upper run
- The floor is being replaced and the old boxes would sit on the old floor
We look inside the sink base and under the dishwasher at the consultation. That is where water damage hides, and it is the one thing that makes refacing a bad idea.
What one contract covers
You sign with us, and we book everyone the job needs. Licensed plumbing and electrical work is done by licensed trades and inspected where the village requires it.
Layout and design
Planned within your budget before anything is ordered, with measurements taken in the room.Demolition and disposal
The work area closed off and debris hauled away.Cabinets and counters
Supplied and installed by us, or we install the cabinets you bought yourself.Plumbing and electrical
Rough-in and final connections by licensed trades.Flooring, tile and backsplash
Laid in the right order with the cabinets. See flooring.Paint and trim
Walls, crown and finish carpentry at the end. See painting.Permits and inspections
Pulled and scheduled by us, not left to you.A written schedule
Given to you before demolition, so you know which weeks the kitchen is out.
A kitchen is a big bill at once. We offer a 0% in-house plan for up to 24 months and longer terms through home-improvement lenders, with no down payment and a soft-pull pre-qualification. All financing is subject to approval.
See financingQuestions before a kitchen remodel
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
A refresh that keeps the cabinets and layout usually takes one to two weeks. A full replacement on the same layout runs three to six weeks. Moving walls, plumbing or wiring typically takes six to ten weeks, because permits and inspections sit inside that time. You get a written schedule before demolition starts.
Can I use my kitchen during the remodel?
Partly. From demolition until the countertops are installed the kitchen is out of use, and that stretch is most of the job. We tell you in advance when it starts and ends, and where there is room we set up a temporary spot for the fridge and microwave.
Do you handle the plumbing and electrical?
That work is done by licensed trades and inspected where the village requires it. We schedule and coordinate those trades as your general contractor, so the kitchen stays one contract with one person to call from demolition to the last outlet cover.
Can you install cabinets I bought myself?
Yes. Send us the cabinet order before it ships so we can check it against the measurements of the room. A missing filler strip or a box that does not fit, found on install day, is one of the most common reasons a kitchen schedule slips.
Start with a free kitchen consultation
We measure the room, look under the sink, talk through which size of job fits, and give you a written scope and price.
Related services
Want this looked at?
We inspect for free, document what we find and prepare a code-compliant estimate you can hand to your insurer. Our partner, a licensed public adjuster, State Adjusting Services, can represent you on the claim.
Call (866) 992-2982. Free Inspection