Kitchen Remodel Timeline: What to Expect Week by Week

Why 6-10 Weeks Is a Range, Not a Guarantee

Full kitchen remodels in Metro Detroit typically take 6-10 weeks from demo to final inspection, but where your project lands in that range depends mostly on two things: cabinet lead times and the amount of structural or mechanical change involved. Semi-custom cabinets often ship faster than full custom, and a kitchen that keeps its existing layout moves through rough-in faster than one that's relocating a sink or removing a wall.

Weather and municipal inspection scheduling can also shift the calendar by a few days in either direction, particularly in winter when inspectors are managing a backlog across the municipality. None of that changes the fixed price in your contract, but it's worth knowing going in that the calendar has some real-world variables baked into it beyond the crew's control.

Weeks 1-2: Demo and Rough-In

Demo typically takes 2-4 days depending on kitchen size and whether cabinets, flooring, and drywall are all coming out or just some of them. Once demo is complete, the space is opened up for inspection of what's behind the walls, which occasionally surfaces issues (outdated wiring, undersized plumbing) that weren't visible before demo started.

Rough-in follows immediately: this is where electrical circuits get run for new appliance locations, island outlets, and updated lighting, and where plumbing lines are relocated if the sink or dishwasher is moving. Because electrical and plumbing are in-house trades rather than separately scheduled subcontractors, rough-in typically moves without the gaps that come from waiting on an outside crew's availability.

This is also the point where the municipality's rough-in inspection happens, since inspectors need to see wiring and plumbing before walls close up. Scheduling that inspection promptly is part of what keeps the rest of the timeline on track.

Weeks 3-5: Drywall, Flooring, and Cabinet Delivery

Once rough-in passes inspection, drywall goes back up, and flooring is typically installed before cabinets arrive so the cabinet boxes sit on a finished floor rather than around it. This stretch is often the least visually dramatic part of the project, since a lot of it is behind-the-scenes prep work.

Cabinet lead time is usually the single biggest variable in the entire schedule. Stock cabinets can arrive in as little as 2-3 weeks from order; semi-custom often runs 4-6 weeks; full custom cabinetry can take 8-12 weeks or more. Ordering cabinets as early as possible in the design phase, before demo even starts, is the single best way to avoid the project stalling mid-remodel while everyone waits on a delivery truck.

Weeks 6-8: Cabinet Install and Countertop Templating

Cabinet installation typically takes 3-5 days for a standard kitchen. Once cabinets are set, countertop fabricators come out to template (measure the exact cabinet dimensions), which is necessary because quartz, granite, and natural stone are all cut to fit after the cabinets are in place, not before.

Countertop fabrication after templating usually takes 1-2 weeks depending on the fabricator's schedule and whether the material is in stock or a special order. This is a normal point in the schedule where the kitchen looks nearly finished but isn't functional yet, since the sink and cooktop typically can't be hooked up until the counters are set.

Weeks 8-10: Finish Work and Final Inspection

Once counters are installed, plumbing and electrical trades come back to connect the sink, dishwasher, range, and any under-cabinet or pendant lighting. Backsplash tile, if included, is typically installed in this window as well, followed by final punch-list items like hardware, trim, and touch-up paint.

The project closes with a final municipal inspection to confirm the completed work meets code, at which point the kitchen is fully functional and ready to use. Daily site cleanup throughout the project means the disruption to the rest of the house is limited to the kitchen itself, not a construction zone spreading through adjoining rooms.

Every project comes with a two-year workmanship warranty starting at this final walkthrough, so if anything settles or needs adjustment after you've been living with the space for a few months, it's covered.