The most common question we get after "what will this cost" is "how long will this take." The honest answer depends on scope, but a full kitchen remodel within the existing footprint — no walls moving, no plumbing relocation — follows a rhythm that's remarkably consistent across the projects we've built in Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, and Noblesville. Here's what actually happens, week by week.
Weeks 1–2: Design lock, ordering, and prep
This is the phase homeowners underestimate because nothing visible is happening in the house yet. Final cabinet specs, countertop template dates, tile selections, and appliance orders all get locked here — and it's the single biggest lever on your overall timeline. Custom cabinetry alone typically has a 6–10 week lead time from order to delivery, which is why we start this clock before demo ever begins.
What you're doing: finalizing selections, signing off on cabinet shop drawings, confirming appliance model numbers so cutouts are sized correctly.
Week 3: Demo
Demo itself usually takes 2–4 days for a standard kitchen. This is the loudest, dustiest part of the project and the point where "surprises behind the walls" — outdated wiring, old plumbing that doesn't meet current code, subfloor damage under old cabinetry — get discovered. We flag anything that changes scope immediately rather than after the fact.
Week 4: Rough-in — electrical, plumbing, and any structural work
Any new circuits for under-cabinet lighting or a new range location, plumbing moved for a relocated sink, and framing adjustments happen here, followed by inspection before anything gets closed up. This is also when we schedule the countertop template appointment, which has to happen after cabinets are set but before the top can be fabricated.
Weeks 5–6: Cabinet install and finish work
Cabinets go in first, followed by countertop install (typically 1–2 weeks after templating, since fabrication takes time), then backsplash tile, plumbing fixtures, electrical trim, and appliances. This stretch is when the kitchen visibly transforms — it's also when a lot of the finish-level decisions (hardware placement, outlet cover selection) get finalized in person.
What actually pushes a timeline out
| Delay source | Typical impact |
|---|---|
| Late selections (tile, hardware, paint colors) | 1–3 weeks — everything downstream waits |
| Custom cabinet lead time | 6–10 weeks, ordered before demo to overlap |
| Structural or electrical surprises behind walls | Days to 2 weeks, depending on scope |
| Appliance backorders | Highly variable — we confirm stock before ordering |
A realistic total: 6–9 weeks for a same-footprint remodel
Add layout changes, moved plumbing, or a load-bearing wall removal, and 10–14 weeks is more realistic once permitting and inspections are factored in. We build your specific timeline into your proposal — not a generic range — because the actual driver is almost always the lead time on cabinetry and the number of decisions still open when demo starts. The fastest way to keep your project on schedule is having every selection made before the first hammer swings.