The home remodeling programs on HGTV are fun to watch. Magic happens in minutes. Presto! Old and outdated becomes new and modern. This is the magic of home remodeling in DC.
But the TV shows only give you glimpses of the remodeling process the pleasing parts. They don’t show the planning and preparation that goes into a successful kitchen design and remodeling.
And they don’t even come close to showing a realistic timeline to complete the project. The viewer gets the sensationalized version. We think you deserve the truth.
Perception versus reality
If you live in the Washington DC area, you probably have friends who have remodeled their kitchens. You’ve may have heard some of them say, “I thought it would be done by now.”
There are three likely reasons for this complaint:
The most common concern or question we get from clients, and prospective clients, is “when will it be completed?” They fear the renovation will go on and on forever.
Some home renovation projects can be completed quickly. Some take several months. It really depends on the scope of the project.
The time needed for designing and remodeling a kitchen depends on the scope of the project, availability of materials, and the requirements of the design.
If the kitchen design program is straightforward, new components replace the old ones in the same layout. This is called a replacement kitchen. There is minimal construction or customization involved. Replacement kitchen projects average 6-8 weeks for a moderate sized kitchen.
Kitchen remodeling projects that involve a larger space, wall removals, structural changes, and reconfiguration of the floor plan take longer. A fair expectation is 10-12 weeks. That’s the timeframe for a custom kitchen renovation.
An efficient kitchen remodeling project is built around a schedule. Your project manager lays out a series of steps to be completed in sequence.
Still, even with the most carefully planned renovation projects, delays can occur — not necessarily because of incompetence or carelessness.
Many specialty subcontractors and a lot of special ordered products are involved in a kitchen remodeling project. That makes for tricky scheduling. Everything is tied together in sequence.
Little hiccups are bound to happen. Most of the time they are smoothed over by project management so that delays — if they occur — aren’t show stoppers.
Here’s a detailed look at a custom kitchen renovation timeline. There are two phases: pre-construction and construction.
The kitchen pre-construction phase includes the following components:
1. Design Meetings
This covers:
2. Selections
You'll choose:
3. Construction Drawings
4. Apply for Permits
5. Order materials (delivery dates align with construction schedule)
Week 1
Week 2
Sub-contractors rough in:
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8 & 9
Week 10
There you have it. We’ve shared the truth based on our 35 years of experience in home renovation and kitchen remodeling. Obviously, it is important to set clear expectations with customers. Renovation is a significant investment. We think the more you know going into it, the better you will appreciate the entire process and the team you have partnered with to enrich your experience in a new kitchen. The weeks of construction will be over before you know it. Of course, a replacement kitchen schedule will be shorter and a custom kitchen renovation that includes structural work may be longer, but we think that’s the magic of expert kitchen remodeling for your DC home —making it all seem quick and easy.
Learn about how to approach a kitchen design and remodeling project by downloading The Definitive Guide to Kitchen Design & Remodeling Success. If you are ready to engage in a home renovation, please reach out to the experts at Gilday Renovations to get started.