“How long is this going to take?” That’s the first question almost every homeowner asks me. And honestly, it’s the right question. A kitchen remodel affects your daily life more than any other project in the house. You lose your sink, your stove, your counter space. You’re eating takeout and washing dishes in the bathroom. Nobody wants that to last a day longer than it needs to.
I’ve been in the trades for over 20 years and have been remodeling kitchens in Puyallup and Pierce County since starting Pacific Remodeling in 2018. I’ve completed hundreds of them. And the honest answer? A mid-range kitchen remodel typically takes 10 to 16 weeks of construction time, with the full process from first phone call to final walkthrough running 4 to 6 months. But that number swings wildly depending on your choices, your home’s age, and how early you start ordering materials.
Here’s the real kitchen remodel timeline, broken down phase by phase.
Phase 1: Design and Planning (2 to 4 Weeks)
This is where everything starts. You pick your layout, finalize your cabinet style, choose countertops, select appliances, and nail down a budget. I spend a lot of time in this phase with homeowners because rushing it causes problems later. Decision fatigue is real, and I’ve watched it stall projects by weeks when homeowners second-guess choices mid-build.
For a straightforward kitchen with the same basic footprint, this phase takes about 2 weeks. If you’re moving plumbing, relocating a wall, or changing the entire layout, plan on 3 to 4 weeks. This phase costs nothing in construction time but saves you thousands later.
Phase 2: Material Ordering and Permits (3 to 10 Weeks)
This is the phase most people don’t expect. You’re waiting, and it feels like nothing is happening. But cabinets and countertop materials need to be ordered and manufactured.
Here’s the reality in 2026: stock cabinets ship in 1 to 3 weeks. Semi-custom cabinets take 4 to 8 weeks. Fully custom cabinets? 8 to 16 weeks, depending on the manufacturer. I’ve seen popular cabinet lines running 16-week lead times right now because of high demand combined with tariff-driven price surges on imported products.
On the permit side, if your remodel involves electrical, plumbing, or structural work, you need a building permit. In Pierce County, residential permit review timelines vary, but you should budget 2 to 4 weeks for a standard kitchen remodel permit. For more on what needs permits in our area, see my Puyallup remodeling permits guide. I always submit permits early so we’re not sitting idle waiting for approval.
My advice: order your cabinets and appliances the same week you finalize your design. Don’t wait.
Phase 3: Demolition (2 to 5 Days)
Demo day is when it finally feels real. We tear out old cabinets, countertops, flooring, backsplash, and sometimes drywall. For an average-sized kitchen (around 150 square feet), demo takes 2 to 3 days. Larger kitchens or those with multiple layers of old flooring might take 4 to 5 days.
This is also the phase where surprises show up.
On a recent kitchen in Puyallup, we pulled out the base cabinets and found galvanized steel plumbing from the 1960s that was almost completely corroded. The homeowner had no idea. We also discovered knob-and-tube wiring hidden behind the drywall that needed to be completely replaced before we could pass electrical inspection. That added about 5 days and $3,200 to the project. It happens. Especially in Pacific Northwest homes built before 1980, where galvanized pipes, outdated wiring, and even hidden water damage behind walls are common.
Phase 4: Rough-In Work (1 to 2 Weeks)
| Trade | Typical Duration | What’s Happening |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing | 2-4 days | Moving supply lines, drain relocations, gas lines |
| Electrical | 2-4 days | New circuits, GFCI outlets, under-cabinet wiring, panel upgrades |
| HVAC | 1-2 days | Duct modifications, range hood venting |
| Framing | 1-3 days | Wall modifications, header installation, blocking for cabinets |
Rough-in covers all the work behind the walls. You’ll never see it once the drywall goes up, but it matters more than anything else in your kitchen. Plumbers run new supply and drain lines. Electricians wire new circuits (a kitchen typically needs 2 dedicated 20-amp small appliance circuits, plus separate circuits for the dishwasher, disposal, and range).
Washington state requires GFCI protection on all kitchen counter outlets and AFCI protection on most kitchen circuits per current code. After rough-in, we schedule inspections, which usually happen within 2 to 5 business days in Pierce County.
Phase 5: Drywall and Paint (3 to 7 Days)
New drywall goes up wherever we opened walls: hanging, taping, mudding (usually 3 coats with drying time between each), sanding, and priming. For moderate wall work, figure 3 to 5 days. If we opened every wall, it might stretch to 7 days because of dry times between mud coats.
We paint walls and ceiling before cabinets go in. Much easier to cut clean lines on an empty wall than to tape around 30 cabinet boxes.
Phase 6: Cabinet Installation (2 to 4 Days)
This is the day homeowners get excited. Cabinets define the look and function of the kitchen more than any other single element. A standard kitchen with 20 to 30 cabinets takes our crew 2 to 3 days to install, including leveling, shimming, securing to studs, and hardware. Larger kitchens with specialty pieces or a big island can take 4 days.
One thing I always tell homeowners: check every single cabinet when they arrive. Open every box. I’ve had shipments arrive with a damaged door or a wrong-sized filler piece, and if you catch it on delivery day, the replacement ships immediately. If you don’t notice until install day, you’re looking at another 2 to 4 week wait for a replacement part.
Phase 7: Countertop Template and Fabrication (2 to 3 Weeks)
You can’t template countertops until cabinets are fully installed and level. That’s a hard rule. The fabricator comes out, laser-measures every surface, and then cuts your stone at their shop.
Quartz and granite fabrication typically takes 10 to 15 business days from template to install. The install itself usually takes a single day. There’s no way to speed up this waiting period, so I use the gap to complete flooring, backsplash tile prep, or other finish work.
Phase 8: Backsplash, Flooring, and Finish Work (1 to 2 Weeks)
The order here depends on the project. I prefer to install flooring before cabinets when possible (it creates a cleaner look and makes future cabinet replacements easier), but many kitchens have the flooring installed during this phase instead.
Backsplash tile usually takes 1 to 2 days to set and another day for grouting. Flooring for a standard kitchen runs 1 to 3 days depending on the material. LVP goes fast. Tile takes longer.
Finish electrical work happens now too: installing outlet covers, pendant lights, under-cabinet lighting, and connecting the range and dishwasher.
Phase 9: Final Details and Walkthrough (2 to 3 Days)
The sink drops in, faucet goes on, garbage disposal gets connected. Appliances get set in place and tested. Cabinet door adjustments, touch-up paint, caulking, and a thorough cleaning. Then we walk through every inch together.
I keep a punch list during this walkthrough. If anything needs attention, we handle it before calling the project done.
The Full Kitchen Renovation Timeline at a Glance
| Phase | Duration | Running Total |
|---|---|---|
| Design and planning | 2-4 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
| Material ordering and permits | 3-10 weeks | 5-14 weeks |
| Demolition | 2-5 days | 6-15 weeks |
| Rough-in (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) | 1-2 weeks | 7-17 weeks |
| Drywall and paint | 3-7 days | 8-18 weeks |
| Cabinet installation | 2-4 days | 8-19 weeks |
| Countertop template and fabrication | 2-3 weeks | 10-22 weeks |
| Backsplash, flooring, finishes | 1-2 weeks | 11-24 weeks |
| Final details and walkthrough | 2-3 days | 12-25 weeks |
A straightforward mid-range remodel lands around 12 to 16 weeks of total construction time. A full gut remodel with layout changes, custom cabinets, and complex tile work can push to 20 weeks or beyond.
What Causes Kitchen Remodel Delays?
How long do cabinet lead times really take in 2026? Right now, stock cabinets ship within 1 to 3 weeks. Semi-custom lines run 4 to 8 weeks. Custom cabinets from popular manufacturers are running 8 to 16 weeks. Tariffs on imported cabinets have pushed some homeowners to rush orders, creating backlogs at domestic manufacturers too. The single best thing you can do for your timeline is order cabinets as early as possible.
What hidden problems cause delays in older kitchens? In the Pacific Northwest, homes built before 1980 frequently have galvanized steel plumbing, aluminum wiring, knob-and-tube electrical, or undersized electrical panels. We find these issues during demolition. Corroded pipes need replacement. Old wiring needs to be brought up to current Washington state code. Hidden water damage behind walls sometimes means structural repair. These surprises typically add 3 to 10 days and $1,500 to $5,000 depending on the scope. I always recommend budgeting a 10-15% contingency for exactly this reason.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Washington state? If you’re doing any electrical, plumbing, or structural work, yes. Cosmetic updates like painting cabinets or swapping hardware don’t need permits. But most real kitchen remodels involve at least electrical and plumbing changes, which require permits and inspections in Pierce County. Skipping permits creates liability problems when you sell your home and can void your insurance coverage.
How can I speed up my kitchen remodel timeline? Make all your design decisions before demo starts. Order cabinets and appliances the week you finalize your design, not after demo. Avoid changing your mind mid-project, because a layout change can add 4 to 8 weeks. Pick a contractor who schedules subcontractors in advance. And be available for quick decisions on site. I’ve seen 2-day delays happen simply because a homeowner was out of town and couldn’t approve a tile layout.
Planning Your Kitchen Remodel
The biggest factor in staying on schedule? Planning. The more decisions you make upfront, the fewer delays you’ll face once construction starts. I tell every homeowner the same thing: the weeks you spend planning before demo day will save you more time than anything else. Get your materials ordered early. Have a contingency budget.
If you’re thinking about a kitchen remodel in Puyallup, Tacoma, Lakewood, or anywhere in Pierce County, I’d love to talk through your timeline and give you a realistic estimate for your specific project.
Contact us for a free estimate or call me directly at (253) 392-9266. No pressure, just straight answers about what your kitchen project will take.
