Kitchen Renovation Timeline: Where Sarah Started
When Sarah from Glen Waverley made a call to Metro Kitchen and Tiles this past winter, her first question was, before anything else, “How long is this going to take?” She saw how, one day, she could be amazed by a work that lasts six months; she took the time to read all the horror stories she could on the internet, and with two small children, she didn’t want a salesman to pitch the idea to her.
Probably one of the first things that almost all homeowners asked us for. It’s a legitimate question, to be honest. Your kitchen isn’t merely a room; it’s the main factor of your home, and it may merely be an interruption living in the absence of a kitchen for more than the mandatory amount. Let’s get into the nuts and bolts of what an actual kitchen remodel timeline consists of without any leaps of faith.
In this post, Brian shows why the “It Depends” answer actually makes sense.
Everyone involved in a trade has likely heard the phrase “it depends” at some point, and though it may seem like a way of escape, that’s always a safe bet. The full kitchen fit-out is not one job; it’s a series of interwoven jobs that start with demolition, electrical and plumbing rough-ins, cabinetry, benchtops, splashback tiling, and the fit-off. Each stage is reliant on the previous one being carried out correctly.
Most projects take 4 to 8 weeks after actual work commences in the kitchen, depending on the scope of work for a typical suburban Melbourne kitchen project. Galloon architecturally can take 10 to 12 weeks for larger renovations or additions or custom joinery where structural changes or additions are involved. However, the build time at site is not the only important part.
The Real Kitchen Renovation Process, Step by Step
Most of the time, the time taken to plan a kitchen renovation is longer than the time the renovation takes to become reality. Therefore, it makes sense to have realistic expectations as regards a kitchen renovation and, in particular, the planning process. This is also the stage to settle on small kitchen storage ideas before cabinetry is ordered.
As for most of our clients, it goes something like this:
- Design & planning (2 to 4 weeks): Bids, materials selection, finalize product before order is placed
- Ordering and lead times (2 to 6 weeks): Cabinetry, benchtops, and tiling must be ordered and delivered, and can be a major variable
- Demolition/rough in (3 to 5 days): Chambering, kitchen removal of old, and electrical and plumbing rough-in
- Fit the new kitchen structure (3 to 5 days)
- A spot where our team usually gets involved when we’re requested to do precision work is tiling and splashback (2 to 4 days), so decide early between subway or large format tiles
- Final fit-off and benchtop installation (2 to 3 days): Taps, appliances, handles, finishing off holes, finishes, etc.
The timeline for getting your phone call to get in your finished kitchen is typically about 8 to 14 weeks, but there is a planning component, and there are material lead times that will add another few weeks.
Things That Are Delaying a Kitchen Remodel
With hundreds of Melbourne properties in our portfolio, we’ve found that delays are not usually due to the trades doing them. They’re quite predictable, and if you know them in advance, you can save yourself actual time.
Custom or imported materials are most often to blame. If a range is not available locally, you may find that when the first tradesperson arrives on site, a weeks-long process begins. The second source of significant structural surprises relates to older Melbourne homes; walls, wiring or plumbing do not align with original plans as demolition commences. You have to factor in that the indecision process at the Selection stage counts as well; every single time a person changes their mind as to the color of a tile or cabinet, that time is a null time on the ordering time clock.
That’s why we take clients through the material selection choices at an early stage, and we freeze all the choices before we begin any of the demolition work. A small step that takes away the most significant delay. Removing a wall adds engineering and permit time, so read before knocking down a kitchen wall.
Choosing the Ideal Size of a Kitchen Update and the Time to Do It
The entire process is not required for all projects. Retiling a splashback, replacing benchtops, or fitting new kitchen doors are cosmetic changes and will complete a kitchen renovation much quicker.
We were able to find a middle ground for Sarah’s kitchen. Her cabinetry needed to be replaced, but with it, we only replaced the benchtop, retiled the splashback with a warm terrazzo-look tile, and replaced the hardware. Their kitchen ended up being a kitchen refresh in 3 weeks instead of 8 weeks, and her kitchen was done before her daughter’s birthday.
It is important to have this conversation with your renovator ahead of time. A clever partial renovation can provide 80% of the aesthetics in a much shorter amount of time.
To Keep Your Timeline on Track
Several of the following good practices will help a renovation run smoothly:
- Complete all material choices prior to demolition.
- Place long lead orders with the tile company and custom cabinetry.
- Create temporary kitchens while you are living in the home during work.
- Get the renovation stage-by-stage plan in writing, rather than a ballpark figure, from your renovator.
- Allow a small cushion (1 to 2 weeks) for any unexpected discoveries in houses older than 25 years.