Kitchen remodel steps in order

The steps in order

1. Plan the layout and pick your finishes. Cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, sink, faucet, lighting and appliances.
2. Get a written estimate and sign a contract.
3. Permits. Your contractor applies for what the scope requires.
4. Order the long-lead items. Cabinets, countertops and appliances should be ordered early so they are on hand when needed.
5. Demo. Old cabinets, counters, flooring and any walls that are coming out.
6. Structural changes. Framing for a moved or removed wall, if the plan has one.
7. Rough-in. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical lines are run inside the open walls and ceiling.
8. Rough inspection. The inspector checks the work before it is covered.
9. Close-up. Insulation if needed, drywall, patching and primer.
10. Flooring, cabinets, then countertops. The countertop is usually measured after the cabinets are set.
11. Backsplash, fixtures, appliances, paint and trim.
12. Final inspection, punch list and walk-through.

Some of these overlap and the exact order shifts with the design. We give no number of days or weeks here, because a kitchen's schedule depends on the scope, the order lead times and the inspections. Your written estimate should state the timeline.

Steps 1 to 4: plan, price, permit, order

Most of the work that makes a kitchen go smoothly happens before anyone swings a hammer. Decide the layout. Pick the finishes. Then get a written estimate that spells out the scope. Our guide on how to compare estimates shows what to check.

Permits come next. Manatee County lists standard permit types that include Electrical, Plumbing, Residential and Mechanical. Which ones a kitchen needs depends on the scope. A refresh in the same footprint is different from a job that moves walls, plumbing or wiring. If the house is inside the City of Bradenton or the City of Palmetto, those cities run their own building departments. See our guides to Manatee County permits and kitchen remodel permits.

Order cabinets, countertops and appliances early. They have to be on site when the crew needs them, and a late delivery can stall everything behind it.

Steps 5 to 8: demo, rough-in and inspection

Demo is when the old kitchen comes out. This is also when surprises show up. Behind the walls and under the floor, the crew may find water damage, old wiring or pipes that need replacing. A fair contractor stops, shows you and prices it in writing before going on. Read our guide to change orders.

If a wall is moving, the framing happens next. Then the rough-in: the plumbing, electrical and mechanical lines are placed inside the open walls and ceiling. In a Hildebrand job, plumbing and electrical are done by licensed trade partners that Hildebrand manages and coordinates.

The rough inspection comes before anything is covered. This is the point of the inspection: the inspector can see the pipes and wires before drywall hides them. Manatee County says a permit expires after 180 days if no required inspections have been approved, so inspections also keep the permit alive.

Steps 9 to 12: close-up, cabinets, countertops, finish

After the rough inspection, the walls and ceiling are closed up. Drywall goes up, seams are finished and the surfaces are primed. Flooring may go in before or after the cabinets, depending on the plan. Ask your contractor which.

Cabinets are set next. Then the countertop installer measures the actual cabinets and fabricates the tops. That is why the counters usually come after the cabinets, and why you may have a few days with no countertop. Ask about that gap before demo.

The last pieces are the backsplash, the sink and faucet, the lighting, the appliances, the paint and the trim. Then comes the final inspection. Manatee County's permitting page says a project is complete only after it passes final inspection, fees are paid and all conditions are met.

Where homeowners get caught

• Finishes picked late. A decision made on the day the crew needs it can slow the job or cost more.
• The countertop gap. There is a gap between cabinets and countertops. Plan for it.
• No water. The sink is off while plumbing is moved. Ask when.
• Hidden problems. Open walls can reveal things nobody could see. Ask how the contractor handles them.
• Living in the house. See living at home during a remodel for how to set up a temporary kitchen.

Decisions to make before demo

Some choices have to be made early because other parts of the job depend on them. Make these decisions before demo day:

• Appliance models. The cabinet openings are built around the exact size of the range, fridge and dishwasher.
• Sink and faucet. The countertop cutout and the plumbing lines depend on them.
• Lighting and outlets. Where they go is set at rough-in, while the walls are open.
• Cabinet layout and hardware. Changing the layout after cabinets are ordered is expensive and slow.
• Countertop material and edge. The fabricator needs it to measure and cut.

If you wait on any of these, the schedule may wait with you. Ask your contractor for a list of what is due before each stage.

How Hildebrand runs a kitchen remodel

Hildebrand follows the same five steps on every project: a free in-home consultation, a written estimate and plan, permits and schedule, the build under one licensed contractor, and a final walk-through with warranty. The company pulls every required permit and meets the Florida Building Code inspections. Before the first day of demo, you know when the crew starts and the order the work happens in.

The crew seals off the work area and keeps the job site clean. You get an update each week the crew is on site. At the end, you and the crew build a punch list together, and the job is not complete until every item on it is done. Read more on the process page or see the kitchen remodel service page.

Questions homeowners ask