“How long is this going to take?”

That’s literally the second question everyone asks, right after “how much will it cost?”

And it’s a good question because you’re about to not have a functioning kitchen for a while. You need to know when you’ll be able to cook actual meals again.

Here’s what the timeline actually looks like for a kitchen remodel in Montgomery County.

Before Construction Even Starts (6-12 Weeks)

Design and planning takes longer than people think. We measure your kitchen, you tell us what you want, we work up designs, you make material selections. Figure 3-6 weeks for this phase.

Then permits. Montgomery County or your city reviews the plans, which takes 2-4 weeks typically. Sometimes longer if your plans need corrections or if they’re backed up.

Material ordering happens during this time too. Stock cabinets arrive in 1-2 weeks. Semi-custom takes 4-6 weeks. Custom cabinets? 8-12 weeks sometimes.

Smart contractors order long-lead items early so they’re ready when construction starts.

Week 1: Demo and Rough-In Starts

We protect your floors and surrounding areas, then tear out the old kitchen. Cabinets come out, countertops, appliances, sometimes flooring.

Demo usually takes 2-3 days. Disposal of the old stuff takes another day or two.

If you’re moving walls or changing the layout, that starts now. Plumbing and electrical rough-in begins—running new lines, moving outlets, all the stuff that happens before walls close up.

Week 2: Rough-In Continues, Inspections

Electrical and plumbing rough-in finishes up. If you’re doing any HVAC work, that happens now too.

County inspectors come look at everything before we close it up. They’re checking that electrical is to code, plumbing is done right, everything’s safe.

If something fails inspection, we fix it and schedule a re-inspection. This can add a few days.

Week 3: Drywall and Painting

Any new drywall goes up and gets finished. We’re mudding seams, sanding, priming, painting.

This phase takes 3-5 days typically. Can’t rush it—mud needs to dry between coats.

Week 4: Cabinets Arrive and Install

This is when things start looking like a kitchen again.

Base cabinets go in first, get leveled and secured. Wall cabinets next. This takes 2-3 days for a typical kitchen.

Good installers take their time getting everything perfectly level and square. Bad installers rush it and you end up with gaps and doors that don’t close right.

Week 5: Countertops

Once cabinets are in, countertop fabricators come measure (template) for exact dimensions. That takes maybe an hour.

Fabrication takes about a week. Then they come back and install the countertops, cut holes for the sink and cooktop, seal seams.

Installation is usually one day for a standard kitchen.

Week 6: Backsplash and Details

Tile backsplash installation takes 2-3 days typically. One day to install tile, one day to let it set, one day to grout.

Flooring goes in if you’re replacing it—2-4 days depending on material and size.

Plumbing fixtures get installed. Faucet, sink, maybe a pot filler or water dispenser.

Light fixtures and electrical finish work—switches, outlets, under-cabinet lighting.

Week 7: Appliances and Final Details

Appliances get delivered and installed. Cooktop or range, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, whatever you’re putting in.

Final trim and touch-ups. Paint touch-ups where needed. Hardware on cabinets. Final cleaning.

Punch list walkthrough where we make sure everything’s done right.

Total Timeline by Project Size

Minor refresh (painting cabinets, new counters, backsplash): 2-3 weeks

Mid-range remodel (new cabinets, counters, appliances, no layout changes): 4-6 weeks

Major remodel (new everything, layout changes, moving plumbing/electrical): 6-10 weeks

Ultra-complex (structural changes, adding space, high-end custom everything): 10-14 weeks

What Slows Things Down

Custom cabinets take forever. If you’re dead-set on custom, build that 8-12 week lead time into your schedule.

Permits taking longer than expected. Sometimes the county’s just backed up. Sometimes your plans need corrections.

Special order materials. That unique tile from Italy, the specific appliance model that’s on backorder, any unusual materials can add weeks.

Surprises when we open walls. Old wiring that needs updating, plumbing that’s not to code, structural issues. These aren’t delays—they’re necessary fixes. But they add time.

Change orders. Every time you change your mind about something mid-project, it pushes the timeline back.

Living Without a Kitchen

You need a plan for eating during construction.

Set up a temporary kitchen in another room. Microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, mini fridge. Use paper plates. It’s not glamorous but it works.

Meal prep before we start. Make and freeze meals you can reheat.

Plan for eating out more. Budget for it financially and mentally.

Use your grill for actual cooking if weather permits.

Ask if you can have access to the sink during certain phases. Sometimes we can leave it functional for hand-washing and filling water.

Our Timeline Approach

We give you a realistic schedule upfront. Not the best-case scenario, but what actually happens accounting for inspections, material lead times, and normal construction pace.

We communicate constantly. If something’s delayed, you know about it immediately.

We protect other parts of your house so you can keep living there semi-normally.

We show up when we say we will and work efficiently. No disappearing for days at a time.

Most of our kitchen remodels finish on schedule or within a few days of the target date.

Ready to remodel your kitchen and want a realistic timeline? Call us at 240-449-5164 for a detailed project schedule.