"How long will my kitchen be out of commission?" is the question every homeowner really wants answered — and the honest one is in two parts. Plan on 3 to 6 months end to end including design and ordering, with 8 to 16 weeks of actual on-site work. A standard Lehigh Valley remodel — new cabinets, countertops, flooring and finishes — usually runs about 8 to 10 weeks on site once it starts.
But here's what surprises people: very little of that is demolition. The clock is set by decisions, material lead times, permits and how well the phases are sequenced. Here's how the time actually breaks down.
A kitchen remodel isn't slow because of the building. It's slow because of waiting — and most of that waiting can be planned away.
The timeline, phase by phase
Design & selections — 2 to 6 weeks (before anything is touched)
This is the phase people skip mentally, and it's where projects are won or lost. Layout, cabinetry spec, stone, tile, fixtures and appliances all get chosen and finalized here. Every decision left open now becomes a stall later.
Ordering & lead times — the real schedule driver
This runs in the background, and it's usually the longest part of the whole project:
- Custom / semi-custom cabinets: 8–16 weeks to build, depending on the line.
- Stock cabinets: 1–3 weeks.
- Specialty tile, fixtures, appliances: anywhere from in-stock to many weeks.
A good contractor orders the long-lead items before demolition, so the cabinets are arriving as the room becomes ready — not eight weeks after. See our cabinets guide for how cabinet level affects this.
Permits — 1 to 3 weeks (in parallel)
If you're moving plumbing, electrical or walls, the municipality issues a permit before work begins. In our area this typically takes one to three weeks and runs alongside ordering. We pull it for you — more in our PA permit guide.
Demolition — a few days to 2 weeks
The dramatic part is the quick part. Demo runs from a couple of days to two weeks depending on size and what's behind the walls — and in older Lehigh Valley homes, this is where surprises surface (we plan for those in our older-homes guide).
Rough-in — 1 to 2 weeks
Plumbing, electrical and any HVAC/venting get moved and updated while the walls are open, followed by inspection. Then drywall, priming and prep for finishes.
Cabinet installation — 1 to 2 weeks
Once the room is ready and the cabinets have arrived, installation itself is fast — a week or two to set and level everything precisely. Level matters here: the countertops depend on it.
Countertops — 2 to 4 weeks after cabinets
This is the most misunderstood step. Stone is templated to your installedcabinets, not to drawings — so the fabricator can't measure until the cabinets are set. Templating, cutting and polishing then takes two to four weeks, and you'll live with a temporary surface in between. Worth knowing before you choose your material (see quartz vs. granite vs. quartzite).
Backsplash, flooring & finish — 1 to 2 weeks
Tile backsplash (which often waits for the counters to be in), flooring, paint touch-ups, hardware, fixtures, appliance hookups, and the final punch list. Then the inspection and the walkthrough — and your kitchen is back.
Why two identical kitchens finish weeks apart
Same size, same scope, very different timelines — it comes down to a few things:
- Cabinet choice: custom adds weeks of lead time over stock.
- Decisions: a single unmade selection can idle a whole crew.
- Older homes: rewiring, plumbing and floor leveling add time — and value.
- Sequencing: a contractor who overlaps trades and orders ahead beats one who works strictly step by step.
How we keep it moving
We lock selections early, order long-lead materials before demo, pull permits in parallel, and sequence trades so the next phase is ready the moment the last one finishes. We also tell you the realistic date up front — and the milestones along the way — so you're never wondering where the project stands.
Planning a kitchen and want a real number to go with the timeline? Try our cost calculator, see where projects land in our kitchen cost guide, or book a free in-home estimateand we'll map your schedule to your kitchen specifically.