How long does a kitchen remodel take? Discover a clear 8–12 week timeline from demo to final walkthrough so you can plan your remodel with confidence 

Wondering how long a kitchen remodel really takes? For a full gut renovation, plan on 8–12 weeks from demolition to your final walkthrough. At Remodeling Right, we follow a step-by-step process designed to keep projects on schedule, reduce stress, and deliver incredible results. 

Whether you’re knocking down walls, upgrading cabinets, or adding high-end finishes, here’s a clear, week-by-week kitchen remodel timeline so you know exactly what to expect. 

Step 1: Design Comes First 

Before any construction starts, you need a solid design. Here’s how that process typically works: 

1. Find the right contractor – You hop on Google and search “Kitchen remodeling contractors near me” or “Best kitchen remodeling company in Portsmouth RI.” That’s how most of our clients find us. 

2. Schedule your consultation – You’ll have an initial call to learn more about the process and the company you’re considering hiring. 

3. The in-home visit – Think of this as our “second date.” We meet in your space, take measurements, discuss pain points, and map out exactly what needs to change. 

Step 2: Finalizing Your Design 

Once we know what’s staying and what’s going, it’s time to dive into the fun details: 

● Cabinet layout & storage solutions 

● Appliance selections 

● Lighting plans & finishes 

● Countertops, backsplash, and flooring 

We use 2D drawings, 3D renderings, and realistic visuals so you can see exactly how your new kitchen will look before we order a single material. After some back-and-forth on ideas and numbers, you approve the final design, sign the contract, and we order materials. 

Then we schedule your start date, line up the team, and get ready for demo day. 

NOW the real fun begins. Let’s break it down week by week so you know exactly what to expect once demo day hits. 

WEEK 1 – DEMO & SETUP 

This is the week where everything old gets the boot. Cabinets, counters and flooring are all gone. If we’re taking down walls or opening ceilings, it happens now. We’ll set up dust protection, floor coverings, and get a dumpster on site. You’ll hear saws, hammers, and maybe some classic rock coming from the crew. This is probably every contractor’s favorite day because it marks the start of a new fun project and it helps relieve a little stress too. 

Pro tip: If you haven’t set up a temporary kitchen by now, do it. Think microwave, fridge in the garage, maybe even a coffee maker in the bathroom if you’re hardcore. 

WEEK 2-3 – FRAMING & Rough Mechanicals and Inspections 

If we’re building out new walls, soffits, or opening up a pass-through, framing happens now. Its important to complete all framing before your mechanicals to give them accurate places to complete their installs. Once complete we can roll into relocating your utilities. It doesn’t look pretty—but it’s the stuff that makes your kitchen function the way you need it to. 

#1 rule we follow when laying out a schedule is to bring your HVAC before plumbing and plumbing before electrical. Its so much easier to run your wires around pipes and duct work but not the other way around. Get all of the bulky, hard to run stuff done first. 

Once this is all complete its time for inspections. Your local building department will want to verify that all work completed is up to current code and all done correctly. Once that is complete 

WEEK 4-5 – Insulation, Drywall & Flooring 

Once we know all of your utilities are installed correctly we would insulate your exterior walls and ceiling if needed, get that inspected to ensure all proper steps were taken then the fun really begins! 

Now its time to close up the wall,. Drywall goes in, we prefer plaster veneer due to the speed and quality finish but some like to tape and mud their walls which can be a bit cheaper but more labor intensive and not to mention dusty. This is the stage where everything starts to really feel like a room again. 

Heads up….this is a dusty week. Even with protection in place, fine dust always finds a way. 

Depending on your floor choice, hardwood, tile, or vinyl plank, we get everything installed, leveled, and ready for cabinets. If it’s tile, we’ll give it a few days to cure before we do anything else. 

We’re laying the foundation (literally) for everything to sit square and tight from here on out. 

WEEKS 6&7– Cabinet Installation, Countertop template, Painting 

This is where it starts to get exciting. Cabinets arrive and the transformation kicks into high gear. We install everything level, plumb, and tight—taking time to scribe trim, fillers, and crown if your design calls for it. 

This part isn’t rushed. We’d rather spend the time to do it right than have gaps and regrets later. Finishing off the carpentry by installing any additional trim your room needs and getting it ready for the painters. 

Once all of your beautiful new cabinets are installed we can have your countertop templated. The stone fabricators come to your home and measure everything with precision then 7-14 days later they come back to install everything. 

During the downtime we are still doing our best to make headway with lots of details that still remain. First comes primer to seal in all the new wallboard. This is a vital step to ensuring a long lasting paint job. Next is your ceiling paint and trim preparation followed by the final coatings on all of your trim. Last but not least is your wall colors! We really bring this room to life by adding a touch of color (or white if that’s your style) to the walls. Keep in mind that with all of the work still ahead you may need to account for some touch-ups at the end. 

WEEKS 8, 9 & 10 – Bringing It All Together 

This is the home stretch…the point where your kitchen actually looks and feels like a kitchen again. Countertops get installed first (finally, right?). Once the stone is in place and secured, we can start setting your sink and hooking up the plumbing fixtures. Backsplash tile goes in next, and this is where the personality of your kitchen really pops. Whether you picked a clean 

subway tile, a bold mosaic, or something custom, this is the jewelry of your kitchen, small details, big impact. 

After that, we install all of your appliances. Some slide right in, others need a bit more finesse (built-ins, vent hoods, or panel-ready dishwashers, for example). Once power and water connections are complete, your kitchen is technically functional again, always a great milestone for homeowners who’ve been living off paper plates and takeout for weeks. 

The finishing touches: 

● Cabinet hardware 

● Final touchups 

● Light fixtures 

● Outlet covers 

These are the small details that elevate a space from “nice kitchen” to “wow, this looks amazing.” 

FINAL WALKTHROUGH & Punchlist 

Before we hand you back your brand-new kitchen, we do a full walkthrough together. We’ll open every drawer, check every door, test every outlet, and make sure you’re 100% happy. If we spot anything that needs adjusting (a cabinet door tweak, paint touch-up, etc.), it goes on the punch list and gets handled before we call the job complete. 

SO, HOW LONG DOES IT REALLY TAKE? 

A full gut kitchen remodel like this typically runs 8 to 12 weeks, depending on scope, material lead times, and the occasional hiccup (every remodel has at least one!). Smaller kitchens or cosmetic updates can be done much faster (5-7 Weeks) but if you’re moving walls, running new utilities, and customizing every detail, give yourself a solid three months from demo to that first home-cooked meal. 

READY TO START YOUR OWN KITCHEN TRANSFORMATION? 

Remodeling a kitchen is a big investment of time, money, and trust, but when done right, it completely changes how you live in your home. At Remodeling Right, we guide you through every step, design, construction, and all the little details so you’re never left wondering what’s next. 

If you’re ready to take the first step, schedule your consultation today. Your dream kitchen is closer than you think.