Kitchen remodeling, what to expect and how to prepare for your Kitchen Remodel
Before you begin your journey into the world of a kitchen remodel there are some things you should
know. So many articles are written on how to plan, design, and hire a contractor for your kitchen
remodel. What almost none of these articles tell you is what to expect. Remodeling a kitchen is one of
the most intense projects one can embark on. There are a multitude of decisions to make and details to
review. Using my experience from being involved in hundreds of kitchen remodels I’ll try to give you
some advice on what to expect.
The first of many steps will be deciding on a budget. You will want to make sure you have an amount
of money you are willing to spend. This figure, your budget, needs to include everything you plan for the
kitchen as well as unforeseen expenditures. So when it comes time that you get your prices be sure there
is room left for added expenses. Keep in mind also that when your remodel is complete you’re going to
want new utensils, dishes, towels, etc.
Even if this is going to be a do it yourself project you’ll probably want to visit either a kitchen
showroom or a big box store kitchen center to get some design ideas and layouts. At this point some
questions will need to be addressed. Things like the type and style of cabinets and the types and size of
appliances. This is rarely a one step process and don’t expect to get the design down in one shot. Take
some ideas and in the comfort of your home analyze them. Make sure all the measurements are correct.
Get a feel for where the essentials will be located, like the sink and fridge and stove, and make sure the
layout feels right. Now is the time to refine your decisions. If the layout needs some adjustments, that
needs to be done first. Once you have planned your layout and chosen your cabinets you may be excited
to get started but don’t jump the gun.
Try to work out as many details as you can at this point. The more time you spend planning now will
mean less time fixing problems that arise when you try to make changes on an already started project.
Before your order for cabinets is placed make sure you covered all the bases. If you have glass doors
will there be glass shelves? If you are going to install under cabinet lighting will you need a light rail? Is
there crown molding and how much do you need? Is it going to be used in the room as well as on top of
the cabinets? What side panels do you need or any other wood related to the cabinets? The reason all of
this is so important is if you are missing something you need from the cabinet company, it can cause
delays later when you need to reorder. Some cabinet orders can take weeks. The last thing you want to
find out after you have begun is your going to be delayed.
Now that you have made your choices and picked a design and cabinet and all your appliances, you will
need to find out what the lead-time is for all the merchandise needed to arrive. Usually this is about 6
weeks but varies. Now you can proceed to the next step. If this is a DIY project and you have no
experience installing kitchens I would recommend at this stage you read everything about it you can get
your hands on. This is no easy task and after investing thousands of dollars in cabinets you won’t want
to mess up the install. I would not recommend this for a weekend project. Unlike the popular home
makeover shows on TV today, a kitchen generally does not get installed in 2 or 3 days. A much more
likely scenario is 2 or 3 weeks if all goes well and longer if there are any snags.
If you intend on being the GC on the project and don’t have experience with it, I would again
recommend that you do as much reading on the subject that you can. Do not attempt this unless you
have very strong organizational skills and have no problems making tough decisions. If this is the course
you are taking your work is just beginning. You’ll have to now find and secure all the trades needed for
your kitchen remodel. In most cases you will need to find the following trades: Demo company,
Carpenter, Plumber, Electrician, Tile installer, and Cabinet installer. There could be other trades involved
depending on the circumstances surrounding your project such as Alarm installer or an HVAC
contractor. Just to give an example of how difficult it can be to GC a job like this imagine finding and
then scheduling all these trades. Now imagine you did all that work and the day comes for the plumber to
show up and he doesn’t. You can’t get a hold of him for days. Now all the trades you scheduled after
him need to be rescheduled. It’s the busy season and they are three weeks out at least. I am sure you
can see what a stressful situation this could become. It doesn’t just take a bad sub-contractor. It could
be that when the walls are opened there is a problem such as termite damage or a leaky pipe or a
structural problem. Any of these things now means a delay that gets passed on to all the subs meaning a
massive rescheduling.
If you choose to have a General Contractor do the entire job you can avoid some of this headache. A
GC who has a good working relationship with his subs will be able to resolve scheduling conflicts much
more easily if a situation arises. Of course this does come with a price. A GC will generally be adding a
percentage on every aspect of the job. This is usually in the area of 25% but varies with each individual
contractor. In my opinion a good general contractor is worth every dime and will make the job go more
smoothly. Unless you have a great deal of time on your hands this is the way to go.
Now that everything has been decided and you know who is doing the installation, here is what you
can expect. Since any good kitchen install should include a complete gut of the room, a demolition crew
will first visit you. Make sure that before they arrive you have removed anything you care to keep from
the kitchen. A good tip is to buy some plastic drop cloths or use some old sheets. Cover things like
furniture in nearby rooms. You are going to see dust everywhere for several weeks and this can save
you some cleaning headaches later. If you have a basement below the demo area that is open, cover
anything there as well. Another tip is on any walls in the surrounding rooms from the kitchen, take things
like paintings or nick knack shelves down. Sometimes just the vibration from the work can knock stuff
off the walls.
At this point you will most likely want to set up a temporary kitchen somewhere. A dining room is a
good choice. Having a small microwave, coffee pot and a toaster and possibly a hot plate should suffice.
A small fridge or your existing one moved into the room. You most likely won’t be able to run all these
appliances at once unless you have some dedicated receptacle circuits in that area. Stock up on some
paper plates and disposable cups to minimize having to wash dishes in your bathroom sink which is
usually not too convenient.
The demolition should be a one-day affair but in some cases can extend to two days. The next step will
be the carpenter if there are any structural preparations such as new windows or doors or walls being
relocated or removed. If any of this work needs to be done the time will depend on how extensive it is.
Anywhere from one day to three days is about average. This is also the stage where any hidden problems
may come into view. Damage to existing structure like termite or water damage will now be visible.
Pipes or wiring that will have to be relocated is another problem you may encounter at this stage. If you
are going to be faced with any extra costs on the job, this is the most likely place they will arise.
Once the carpentry work is done or if there is none, the next trade in should be the plumber to do his
rough in. The plumbing should also be a one-day job but can be 2 or 3 if there is a lot of plumbing. After
the plumbing the next trade in should be the Electrician to do his rough in. Again this is usually a one-day
job but can extend to 2 or 3 if the work is extensive. One small tip when these trades come in. Before
they leave just take a quick stock and make sure you still have running water and heat and that lights and
power work. Sometimes workers in a rush will forget the most basic things like turning the water or
power back on. Checking before they go can save a headache of getting them back by days end.
If the work is being inspected this would be the time for the rough inspections or structure, plumbing
and electrical. Any other trades required such as an Alarm installer or HVAC contractor will be at this
stage. If not the next one in is the carpenter again, he will need to insulate and sheetrock. If you are
getting a tile floor installed it is usually installed at this stage. Be sure the right tile is on the job. I have
seen the wrong tile installed because the customer never looked and wasn’t home when it was installed.
Not a pretty sight. The tile installation can be 2 days or a week depending on how much area is being
tiled. Be sure to follow all instructions about not walking on the floor at this point.
After the tile is installed the spackling and taping should be done if it is not done at this point. I like to
see the room painted at this point and touched up later but your painter may want to wait until the job is
complete which works fine as well. Now the cabinets are ready to be installed. This job is usually at least
three days but can extend to more than a week if it is a large kitchen with a lot of details.
Once the kitchen is installed the next step depends on the counter material. If it is a laminate top and
installed now then it’s off to the finishing steps. If it is a stone or other material that needs to be made a
template will need to be made. This is generally a few hours at most. The countertop is usually promised
in 2-4 weeks time for delivery and installation.
Sometimes during the period of waiting for the counters, the other trades can come and do some of the
finish work. They will not however really be able to finish until the counters are in and in some cases
even the backsplash is in if it is a tile splash. After the counter is installed the tile backsplash can be
installed if that is the material being used. At this point all the trades can come in and finish. One or two
days for each trade are about the average.
The scope I have given you here is all based on the average job. Take into consideration that there may
be a day or two here and there where no one is working on the job. Since a kitchen remodel has so many
variables the scheduling may need to change and if it does there may be more down days than average.
As each trade comes in to do their work, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most of us like what we do
and love to talk about it with our customers. Try to make it easy for the trades to do their work by
making the house accessible. Keep areas they may have to get to clear like the water main, boiler, main
electrical panel and attics or basements. If it’s possible, have parking as close to the house as possible. If
you have pets or small children, keep them out of the workers path and work area. There are too many
dangerous activities for them to be in these areas. While the work is being done don’t turn on any water
valves, gas valves or circuit breakers without asking first. They could be off for a very good reason and
could cause a dangerous situation.
By planning ahead and knowing what to expect, your kitchen remodel can be a very rewarding
experience and not the nightmare that it can turn into when there is none.
(C)Copyright 2005 Forte Electric Inc. All rights reserved.
know. So many articles are written on how to plan, design, and hire a contractor for your kitchen
remodel. What almost none of these articles tell you is what to expect. Remodeling a kitchen is one of
the most intense projects one can embark on. There are a multitude of decisions to make and details to
review. Using my experience from being involved in hundreds of kitchen remodels I’ll try to give you
some advice on what to expect.
The first of many steps will be deciding on a budget. You will want to make sure you have an amount
of money you are willing to spend. This figure, your budget, needs to include everything you plan for the
kitchen as well as unforeseen expenditures. So when it comes time that you get your prices be sure there
is room left for added expenses. Keep in mind also that when your remodel is complete you’re going to
want new utensils, dishes, towels, etc.
Even if this is going to be a do it yourself project you’ll probably want to visit either a kitchen
showroom or a big box store kitchen center to get some design ideas and layouts. At this point some
questions will need to be addressed. Things like the type and style of cabinets and the types and size of
appliances. This is rarely a one step process and don’t expect to get the design down in one shot. Take
some ideas and in the comfort of your home analyze them. Make sure all the measurements are correct.
Get a feel for where the essentials will be located, like the sink and fridge and stove, and make sure the
layout feels right. Now is the time to refine your decisions. If the layout needs some adjustments, that
needs to be done first. Once you have planned your layout and chosen your cabinets you may be excited
to get started but don’t jump the gun.
Try to work out as many details as you can at this point. The more time you spend planning now will
mean less time fixing problems that arise when you try to make changes on an already started project.
Before your order for cabinets is placed make sure you covered all the bases. If you have glass doors
will there be glass shelves? If you are going to install under cabinet lighting will you need a light rail? Is
there crown molding and how much do you need? Is it going to be used in the room as well as on top of
the cabinets? What side panels do you need or any other wood related to the cabinets? The reason all of
this is so important is if you are missing something you need from the cabinet company, it can cause
delays later when you need to reorder. Some cabinet orders can take weeks. The last thing you want to
find out after you have begun is your going to be delayed.
Now that you have made your choices and picked a design and cabinet and all your appliances, you will
need to find out what the lead-time is for all the merchandise needed to arrive. Usually this is about 6
weeks but varies. Now you can proceed to the next step. If this is a DIY project and you have no
experience installing kitchens I would recommend at this stage you read everything about it you can get
your hands on. This is no easy task and after investing thousands of dollars in cabinets you won’t want
to mess up the install. I would not recommend this for a weekend project. Unlike the popular home
makeover shows on TV today, a kitchen generally does not get installed in 2 or 3 days. A much more
likely scenario is 2 or 3 weeks if all goes well and longer if there are any snags.
If you intend on being the GC on the project and don’t have experience with it, I would again
recommend that you do as much reading on the subject that you can. Do not attempt this unless you
have very strong organizational skills and have no problems making tough decisions. If this is the course
you are taking your work is just beginning. You’ll have to now find and secure all the trades needed for
your kitchen remodel. In most cases you will need to find the following trades: Demo company,
Carpenter, Plumber, Electrician, Tile installer, and Cabinet installer. There could be other trades involved
depending on the circumstances surrounding your project such as Alarm installer or an HVAC
contractor. Just to give an example of how difficult it can be to GC a job like this imagine finding and
then scheduling all these trades. Now imagine you did all that work and the day comes for the plumber to
show up and he doesn’t. You can’t get a hold of him for days. Now all the trades you scheduled after
him need to be rescheduled. It’s the busy season and they are three weeks out at least. I am sure you
can see what a stressful situation this could become. It doesn’t just take a bad sub-contractor. It could
be that when the walls are opened there is a problem such as termite damage or a leaky pipe or a
structural problem. Any of these things now means a delay that gets passed on to all the subs meaning a
massive rescheduling.
If you choose to have a General Contractor do the entire job you can avoid some of this headache. A
GC who has a good working relationship with his subs will be able to resolve scheduling conflicts much
more easily if a situation arises. Of course this does come with a price. A GC will generally be adding a
percentage on every aspect of the job. This is usually in the area of 25% but varies with each individual
contractor. In my opinion a good general contractor is worth every dime and will make the job go more
smoothly. Unless you have a great deal of time on your hands this is the way to go.
Now that everything has been decided and you know who is doing the installation, here is what you
can expect. Since any good kitchen install should include a complete gut of the room, a demolition crew
will first visit you. Make sure that before they arrive you have removed anything you care to keep from
the kitchen. A good tip is to buy some plastic drop cloths or use some old sheets. Cover things like
furniture in nearby rooms. You are going to see dust everywhere for several weeks and this can save
you some cleaning headaches later. If you have a basement below the demo area that is open, cover
anything there as well. Another tip is on any walls in the surrounding rooms from the kitchen, take things
like paintings or nick knack shelves down. Sometimes just the vibration from the work can knock stuff
off the walls.
At this point you will most likely want to set up a temporary kitchen somewhere. A dining room is a
good choice. Having a small microwave, coffee pot and a toaster and possibly a hot plate should suffice.
A small fridge or your existing one moved into the room. You most likely won’t be able to run all these
appliances at once unless you have some dedicated receptacle circuits in that area. Stock up on some
paper plates and disposable cups to minimize having to wash dishes in your bathroom sink which is
usually not too convenient.
The demolition should be a one-day affair but in some cases can extend to two days. The next step will
be the carpenter if there are any structural preparations such as new windows or doors or walls being
relocated or removed. If any of this work needs to be done the time will depend on how extensive it is.
Anywhere from one day to three days is about average. This is also the stage where any hidden problems
may come into view. Damage to existing structure like termite or water damage will now be visible.
Pipes or wiring that will have to be relocated is another problem you may encounter at this stage. If you
are going to be faced with any extra costs on the job, this is the most likely place they will arise.
Once the carpentry work is done or if there is none, the next trade in should be the plumber to do his
rough in. The plumbing should also be a one-day job but can be 2 or 3 if there is a lot of plumbing. After
the plumbing the next trade in should be the Electrician to do his rough in. Again this is usually a one-day
job but can extend to 2 or 3 if the work is extensive. One small tip when these trades come in. Before
they leave just take a quick stock and make sure you still have running water and heat and that lights and
power work. Sometimes workers in a rush will forget the most basic things like turning the water or
power back on. Checking before they go can save a headache of getting them back by days end.
If the work is being inspected this would be the time for the rough inspections or structure, plumbing
and electrical. Any other trades required such as an Alarm installer or HVAC contractor will be at this
stage. If not the next one in is the carpenter again, he will need to insulate and sheetrock. If you are
getting a tile floor installed it is usually installed at this stage. Be sure the right tile is on the job. I have
seen the wrong tile installed because the customer never looked and wasn’t home when it was installed.
Not a pretty sight. The tile installation can be 2 days or a week depending on how much area is being
tiled. Be sure to follow all instructions about not walking on the floor at this point.
After the tile is installed the spackling and taping should be done if it is not done at this point. I like to
see the room painted at this point and touched up later but your painter may want to wait until the job is
complete which works fine as well. Now the cabinets are ready to be installed. This job is usually at least
three days but can extend to more than a week if it is a large kitchen with a lot of details.
Once the kitchen is installed the next step depends on the counter material. If it is a laminate top and
installed now then it’s off to the finishing steps. If it is a stone or other material that needs to be made a
template will need to be made. This is generally a few hours at most. The countertop is usually promised
in 2-4 weeks time for delivery and installation.
Sometimes during the period of waiting for the counters, the other trades can come and do some of the
finish work. They will not however really be able to finish until the counters are in and in some cases
even the backsplash is in if it is a tile splash. After the counter is installed the tile backsplash can be
installed if that is the material being used. At this point all the trades can come in and finish. One or two
days for each trade are about the average.
The scope I have given you here is all based on the average job. Take into consideration that there may
be a day or two here and there where no one is working on the job. Since a kitchen remodel has so many
variables the scheduling may need to change and if it does there may be more down days than average.
As each trade comes in to do their work, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most of us like what we do
and love to talk about it with our customers. Try to make it easy for the trades to do their work by
making the house accessible. Keep areas they may have to get to clear like the water main, boiler, main
electrical panel and attics or basements. If it’s possible, have parking as close to the house as possible. If
you have pets or small children, keep them out of the workers path and work area. There are too many
dangerous activities for them to be in these areas. While the work is being done don’t turn on any water
valves, gas valves or circuit breakers without asking first. They could be off for a very good reason and
could cause a dangerous situation.
By planning ahead and knowing what to expect, your kitchen remodel can be a very rewarding
experience and not the nightmare that it can turn into when there is none.
(C)Copyright 2005 Forte Electric Inc. All rights reserved.
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