What should I not miss in a kitchen remodeling project?

Why the Pre-Work Matters More Than You Think

Here’s the thing: the construction is the easy part. The decisions you make before anyone swings a sledgehammer determine whether your project stays on track or turns into a complete nightmare so make sure you think through your actual needs before browsing Pinterest boards or walking into a showroom.

How do you really use your kitchen? Do you cook elaborate meals three times a day, or mostly reheat leftovers? Does everyone crowd around the island during parties? Where do the traffic jams happen? The answers to these questions shape everything else.

Write down your frustrations with the current space. Not enough counter space, poor lighting over the sink, the fridge door hits the pantry, there’s no outlets where you need them. These will become your priorities when remodeling and planning.

Budget Reality Check

Kitchen remodeling in 2025 runs $15,000 to $45,000 for most standard projects with medium kitchens averaging around $71,000, while large kitchens can hit $137,000 or more. Costs depend on your location, materials, and how much you’re changing.

Budget 25 to 40% for cabinets alone because they’re the biggest expense, the foundation of everything else, and basically the glue for the whole kitchen. Countertops run $1,500 to $7,000 depending on the material. Then labor typically eats 20 to 35% of the total cost.

Also add a 20% contingency. Not 10%. Not 15%. Twenty percent minimum. Once walls come down, surprises tend to appear. Water damage behind old cabinets. Electrical that doesn’t meet current code. Floors that aren’t level. The contingency fund keeps these discoveries from derailing everything.

Permits and Inspections Can’t Be Ignored

Skipping permits is tempting but very silly. Building departments exist for good reasons, and getting caught working without permits creates real headaches. Fines, project shutdowns, and resale complications aren’t worth the risk.

Any electrical, plumbing, or structural work needs permits in most areas. Submit applications early. Some municipalities process permits in days, others take weeks. Factor that time into your schedule.

Inspections happen throughout the project. Rough electrical and plumbing get inspected before walls close up. Final inspections happen before you’re truly done. Make sure you schedule these ahead. Inspectors stay busy, and waiting two weeks for an available slot pushes back your entire timeline.

Choosing Your Kitchen Remodeling Company

Hiring matters more than any single material choice because a skilled contractor can manage the chaos, coordinate subcontractors, catch problems early, and keep the project moving forward. A bad contractor turns even simple projects into disasters not worth staying around for.

Interview at least three companies and make sure you ask for references and actually call them. Look at completed projects similar to yours. Check licenses and insurance and that they’re up to date. Just make sure you trust your gut about communication style because you’ll be talking to these people a handful of times a week for weeks.

Just make sure you get everything in writing. Things like scope of work, timeline, payment schedule, who provides what materials, & how changes get handled. Clear contracts prevent most disputes and makes sure everyone’s clear on what their job is.

Materials with Long Lead Times Need Early Orders

Here’s where projects get delayed: custom cabinets can currently take anywhere from 8 to 16 weeks to arrive (2-4 months). Appliances can take 6 to 10 weeks (1.5 – 2.5 months. Certain tiles and stone slabs sometimes ship from overseas and the Pinterest perfect specialty fixtures might not be in stock.

Order these items as soon as your design finalizes. Just waiting until you’re ready to install them pushes everything back. You’ll be shocked how much material delays cause more scheduling problems than almost anything else.

Confirm delivery dates in writing but still build some buffer into your schedule so everything can arrive on time. If cabinets are promised to come in 12 weeks, plan for 14. Supply chain issues haven’t disappeared; you never know when there could be another Suez canal blockage.

Layout Decisions Impact Everything

Moving plumbing or gas lines can add thousands to your budget. Relocating a sink costs $800 to $1,500 if plumbing stays nearby but moving it across the room? That jumps to $2,500 or more. Gas line relocations run similar numbers.

The kitchen work triangle still matters (who would’ve thought a concept from the 1940s still applies?). The distance between your sink, stove, and refrigerator should total 13 to 26 feet. Too small feels cramped. Too large means too much walking while cooking.

Think about how you actually move through the space. Where do you unload groceries? Where does dirty cookware land? Where do clean dishes go? Good flow makes cooking easier. Bad flow frustrates you daily.

Lighting Layers Make or Break the Space

Alright, let’s talk about lighting because most people underestimate this until it’s too late. One overhead fixture doesn’t cut it. Kitchens need three types: ambient (general overhead), task (focused on work areas), and accent (highlighting features).

Under cabinet lights eliminate shadows on countertops where you prep and cut. Pendant lights over islands add style and task lighting. Recessed lights provide ambient coverage. Dimmer switches also let you adjust the mood of the lighting.

Budget 8 to 10% of your total project for lighting. That includes fixtures and installation. Quality lighting fixtures run anywhere from $200 to $500 each for mid range options with some custom or designer pieces hitting the $2,000 mark or more.

The Actual Construction Timeline

Construction takes 8 to 12 weeks for most standard kitchen remodeling projects. Add 2 to 4 weeks for planning and design upfront. The total timeline from start to finish runs 4 to 6 months including material ordering and permitting.

Demo also happens first and goes quick. Three to five days clears out everything old. Then comes rough work (plumbing, electrical, HVAC), which takes about a week. Drywall and painting follow (4 to 5 days).

Flooring installs next (2 to 3 days). Cabinets go in after that (3 to 4 days). Countertops can only be templated after cabinets are installed but then need fabrication (2 to 3 weeks total). Backsplash, appliances, and final touches wrap things up.

Each step depends on the previous one finishing and any sort of delay can ripple through the entire schedule.

Setting Up Your Temporary Kitchen

You’ll be without a functional kitchen for weeks so make sure you plan ahead so this doesn’t derail life. Set up a temporary kitchen in another room. Things like a folding table, microwave, mini fridge, electric kettle, and hot plate handle all basic needs.

Stock up on paper plates and disposable utensils because though washing dishes in the bathroom sink is fun and new for the first week, it gets old fast. Keep a cooler with ice for extra cold storage and have a plan for fueling the coffee addiction (non-negotiable for most people).

Consider eating out more or batch cooking meals ahead with some families even planning a vacation during the messiest demo week. Others just embrace the chaos and make it work.

Don’t Skip These Final Checks

Before your contractor leaves for good test everything they’ve installed. Run every appliance, open every drawer and door, check every outlet, turn on every light, run water and check underneath for leaks.

Walk through the space with your contractor and create a punch list. A door that doesn’t close right. A drawer that sticks. A paint drip someone missed. These items should get fixed before final payment.

Keep all manuals, warranties, and care instructions organized. Note the paint colors used and where to buy matching touch up supplies. Save contact information for your kitchen remodeling company and subcontractors.

The Bottom Line on What Not to Miss

Kitchen remodeling rewards good planning and punishes shortcuts. Missing key steps early creates problems that cost more to fix later so make sure you budget realistically with that 20% buffer. Hire qualified professionals and order any long lead time materials as early as possible. Secure permits before work starts and think through layout changes carefully.

Most importantly remember this takes time. Construction happens faster than planning but both matter so much. The four to six month timeline from start to finish isn’t because contractors work slowly. It’s because doing the job right requires coordination, quality materials, and proper sequencing.

Projects that rush the planning phase to start construction sooner almost always take longer overall. Spend the time upfront making good decisions. Your finished kitchen will prove it was worth the wait.