How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take in Des Moines?

Whether the issues are functional or aesthetic, remodeling your kitchen offers important benefits. Renovations increase resale and home values and make the most-used room in your home more comfortable and attractive. As a homeowner considering a kitchen remodel, your first question is probably, “How long does it take to remodel a kitchen?” Our breakdown explores the timeline for kitchen remodeling in Des Moines and provides a step-by-step glimpse into the renovation process.

When Will My New Kitchen Be Ready?

A minor kitchen remodel could be completed in two or three weeks and an intermediate project in one or two months. If you’re completely overhauling your kitchen, the renovation could take three to six months or longer. Remodeling.com considers a minor kitchen remodel one that includes:

• Refaced cabinet doors and drawer fronts with new hardware
• New laminate counters
• New appliances
• Mid-price sink and faucet
• New resilient flooring
• New paint for walls, ceiling and trim

A major, mid-range kitchen remodel features:

• Semi-custom wood cabinets with laminate counters
• A 3 by 5’ island
• Double stainless sink and new faucet
• New appliances
• Resilient flooring
• Custom lighting
• New paint for walls, ceiling and trim

A major, upscale kitchen remodel in Des Moines might include:

• Custom cabinets
• Stone countertops and imported ceramic or glass backsplash
• New appliances, including a built- in refrigerator, commercial-grade cooktop, wall oven and built-in microwave
• High-end undermount sink and designer faucet
• New lighting
• Tile floors 

Of course, every kitchen remodeling project is unique and doesn’t necessarily include these exact elements. Generally, if you’ll be using the same footprint and won’t be relocating cabinets or plumbing, your Des Moines kitchen remodel won’t take as long as a renovation that involves completely changing the kitchen’s layout. Your project could exceed the six-month estimate if it includes an addition that doubles the square footage, or you purchase custom or one-of-a-kind cabinets that take months to arrive.

The Kitchen Renovation Breakdown

Kitchen remodeling involves these key steps:

Design

You’ll work with a designer who will turn your wish list into a set of plans. Creating the design may a few days to a week. The entire process from creation to approval may take anywhere from one to three weeks, depending on any changes you want to make to the design.

Demolition

Removing cabinets, countertops, flooring and plumbing may only take two or three days. More extensive demolition work, such as the removal of walls and windows, can extend the kitchen remodel timeline by days or weeks.

Roughing in Utilities

If you’re changing the layout of your kitchen, contractors will spend two days to a week roughing in plumbing and electrical lines and mechanical systems.

Adding Drywall

Drywall installation can be finished in as little as two days or as long as three or four weeks. If you have a lot of doors or windows, curving walls or complicated angles, the project will take longer.

Painting

Painting can usually be done in one to three days, depending on the size of your kitchen.

Installations

Once painting is finished, your remodeler can begin installing cabinets (two to four days), backsplashes (one day), lighting (one to two days), appliances (one to two days), flooring (one to three days), appliances (one to three days) and other features. Countertops may only take a day or two to install, but fabrication can take several weeks. Your countertops can’t be measured and ordered until the cabinets are installed.

Final Details

During the final day or week of the project, the renovators will add trim and molding, install toe kicks at the bottoms of cabinets, place hardware on cabinet doors and drawers, level and test appliances, applying crown molding and touching up the paint as needed.

The timeline will be extended if your renovation includes an addition, building new walls, and adding or removing windows.

Choosing an experienced kitchen remodeling company, like MBG Renovation can help you avoid renovation delays. If you’re ready to start the process, take a look at some of the kitchens we’ve remodeled in the Des Moines area then get in touch with us.