Renovation guide
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
By The Calico Designs and Renovations team · Updated
The short answer
A kitchen renovation has two clocks: the whole project, from first call to finished room, and the time you are actually without a working kitchen. The second is the one that matters day to day, and it depends on when demolition happens. At Calico Designs and Renovations the old kitchen stays usable through design and sign-off; demolition and preparation start 7 to 9 days after design approval, cabinets go in in one day, and countertops and everything else follow the next day. In total, you are without a working kitchen for 2 days.
Two different timelines
When people ask how long a kitchen takes, they usually mean one of two things.
The project timeline runs from your first phone call to the day the kitchen is finished. It includes conversations, a site visit, design, revisions, ordering, and construction. Much of it happens on paper while you carry on cooking as usual.
The time without a kitchen runs from the day the old cabinets come out to the day you can cook again. This is the part that disrupts a household, and it is the part worth minimising.
The two are connected by one decision: when does demolition happen?
The usual way, and why it drags
A common sequence goes like this. The contract is signed, and the crew arrives soon after to tear out the kitchen. Then the design is finalised, cabinets are ordered, and everyone waits. The household lives with an empty room and a microwave on the dining table while decisions are made and materials are manufactured.
Every delay in that sequence, a changed mind, a back-ordered door style, a slow permit, is a delay with no kitchen.
Design first, demolition last
We reverse the order. We don’t demolish at contract signing. Your old kitchen stays in place, and usable, through the whole design stage.
| Stage | What happens | Your kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Phone conversation and free site visit | We learn what you want and measure the room | Usable |
| Budget and design | We agree on a budget and design to it from your inspiration photos | Usable |
| 3D rendering and revisions | You see the kitchen and ask for changes | Usable |
| Design approval | You sign off | Usable |
| Demolition and preparation | Start 7 to 9 days after design approval | Out of service |
| Cabinets | Installed in one day | Out of service |
| Countertops and everything else | The next day | Back in service |
In total, you are without a working kitchen for 2 days.
Because demolition and installation happen back to back, the gap between losing the old kitchen and using the new one is as short as it can be.
What affects the project timeline
How quickly decisions are made
Design moves at the pace of the person approving it. Clients who arrive with a mood board and a clear budget get to an approved design sooner. A 3D rendering helps here: it is faster to decide when you can see the result.
Layout changes
A kitchen in the same footprint is the quickest. Moving the sink, relocating a gas line, or removing a wall adds plumbing, gas, electrical, and structural work to the preparation stage.
Permits
A like-for-like kitchen generally needs no building permit. Removing a load-bearing wall or relocating plumbing does, and the municipality’s review happens before construction. Our guide to renovation permits in Ontario explains what triggers one.
Lead times
Cabinets, countertops, tile, and appliances each have their own lead time, and custom items take longer than stock. Appliances are worth choosing early, because their exact dimensions affect the cabinet design.
Surprises behind the walls
Old wiring, corroded plumbing, or water damage found during demolition has to be repaired before cabinets go in. A careful site visit catches many of these in advance.
How to shorten your own renovation
- Bring your ideas. Saved photos and a mood board give the designer a direction from the first meeting.
- Set the budget early. It prevents a design that has to be redrawn.
- Choose appliances before the design is final.
- Make decisions once. Changes after approval are the most common cause of delay in any renovation.
- Clear the room on time. Empty cabinets and counters before demolition day.
- Set up a temporary kitchen in advance: fridge, microwave, kettle, and somewhere to wash dishes.
Living through the days without a kitchen
- Move the old fridge to the dining room or garage and keep it running.
- A microwave, kettle, toaster oven, and slow cooker cover most meals.
- Use paper plates for a few days if washing up in a bathroom sink wears thin.
- Cook and freeze meals the week before.
- Keep children and pets clear of the work area and the route the crew uses.
Next steps
See how the timeline fits into the whole project on our renovation process page, read about our kitchen renovation service, or check the kitchen renovation cost guide. When you are ready, book a free consultation.
Quick answers
How long are you without a kitchen during a renovation?
It depends on when the contractor demolishes. If the old kitchen is removed before design and ordering are finished, a household can be without a kitchen for many weeks. If demolition waits until the design is approved, the time without a kitchen shrinks to the construction stage alone. In total, you are without a working kitchen for 2 days.
What takes the longest in a kitchen renovation?
Usually waiting, not building. Design decisions, cabinet manufacturing, countertop fabrication after templating, and permit review where one is needed take longer than the on-site work itself.
Does a building permit slow down a kitchen renovation?
Only if the kitchen needs one. A kitchen in the same layout usually needs no building permit in Ontario. Removing a wall or relocating plumbing does, and the municipality's review time is added before construction can start. Applying while the design is being finalised keeps the delay off the time without a kitchen.
Can I live at home during a kitchen renovation?
Yes. Set up a temporary kitchen in another room with the fridge, a microwave, a kettle, and a hot plate or toaster oven, and use a bathroom or laundry sink for washing up.
Why do some kitchen renovations take months?
Common causes are demolishing before materials are ordered, changing the design after work has started, back-ordered cabinets or appliances, problems found behind walls, and trades scheduled with gaps between them.
About the author
The Calico Designs and Renovations team
Renovation contractor, Greater Toronto Area
Calico Designs and Renovations has renovated kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and commercial spaces across the Greater Toronto Area for 8 years. More about us.
This guide is general information for homeowners in Ontario, not legal or engineering advice. Rules and fees change; confirm the details for your address with your municipality.