Spoiler alert: our kitchen renovation was completed on time and on budget. Truthfully, I was surprised because of everything on the internet seems to say that these types of renovations take longer than expected and cost more (but to be fair, our kitchen is not large). It seems like our experience is not the norm. As we started this journey, I had no idea what to expect as far as the order things were supposed to get done or how quickly they could get done. I’ve detailed out the order of activities and how long each took in the paragraphs below.
About our home
When we first laid eyes on our home, its original 1980s design transported us back in time. We saw potential in the outdated decor and had intentions of renovating whatever we could whenever we had the time and money for it. We spend most of our time in the kitchen and living room, so the kitchen was definitely one of our top priorities. We wanted to brighten up the space since our home doesn’t get a ton of sunlight, and it was also really bothersome that when you look out into the living room, the cabinets hung so low that you couldn’t see what was going on in the living room without having to bend down.
After saving up some funds, we kicked off our kitchen renovation towards the end of 2023 by hiring a full-service design-build remodeling company to oversee the transformation, from design to completion.
The size of our kitchen is approximately 8 x 11 feet.
Renovation timeline summary
Overall:
- Design and planning: ~3 weeks
- Material ordering and delivery: ~3 weeks
- The renovation itself: ~28 days
- The renovation completion time felt really quick, but it was also in the winter, which perhaps is during a slower season. Some days when the crew stayed late, and some days it was light with just one or two things completed. There were also a few days in between where we had a dependency on materials.
What we updated/added
- Ceiling
- Cabinets
- Countertops
- Backsplash
- Recessed lighting
- External venting
- Outlets (updated to GFCI)
- Over-the-range microwave
What we did NOT update or add
- Adding or moving plumbing
- Adding or moving electrical
- Structural changes/walls
- Flooring
The 6 stages of our kitchen renovation (and their timelines)
Our kitchen reno was a 28-day whirlwind (the crew was on site only Monday – Fridays).
To provide a better idea of how it all unfolded, below are the six stages of our renovation.
1. Demolition: 1 day
Out with the old! This stage involved clearing out the space for the new design.
Demo took approximately 1 day. The crew prepared the area, and removed and disposed of materials noted in our contract. They also brought in the cabinets to store in our home on this day.
2. Rough-in: 2 days
Rough-in is when mechanical, electrical, and/or plumbing lines are set up behind walls or cabinetry. In our case we set up our vent, updated our outlets, and installed recessed lighting.
- Day 1 – set up the external exhaust vent
- Day 2 – upgrade our outlets and install recessed lighting
3. Drywall and paint: 4 days
Once the rough-in was complete, the crew shifted to installing new drywall and applying fresh coats of paint. This stage brought the walls (and ceiling) to life.
- Day 1 – drywall and mudding
- Day 2 – more mudding
- Day 3 – sanding, priming, and painting
- Day 4 – more painting
Note that it seems like flooring often comes after this step and right before cabinet installation (which we did not do).
4. Cabinets and countertop: 5 days
Obviously a major turning point in the renovation! Cabinets were installed ahead of countertop measurements being taken.
- Days 1-2 – cabinet installation
- Day 3 – over-the-range microwave installation
- Day 4 – someone came to take countertop measurements
- Day 5 – a team came to install countertops
5. Backsplash, appliances, and hardware: 3 days
With the main components in place, attention turned to the finishing touches. Installing the backsplash, appliances, and hardware added functionality and style to the kitchen.
- Day 1 – Sink, faucet, and dishwasher hookups, additional adjustments to cabinetry trim, and finalized recessed lighting
- Day 2 – backsplash and floating shelves installation
- Day 3 – 1 day for hardware installation and “final” walkthrough
6. Inspection and punch list: 1 day
After the project manager gave our “final” walkthrough, we came up with a follow-up list of punch list items which was completed a few days later. This consisted of paint touch ups, among other minor adjustments.
In conclusion
Overall we are happy with how things turned out. There were a couple hiccups as far as attention to detail towards the end, but nothing alarming. The overall project also seemed to be on the lower end of the cost spectrum for a full design-build service. Very curious about anyone else’s experiences if you’re willing to share. Wishing you success on your current/future renovation projects!
