Right after “what will it cost?”, the question every Orlando homeowner asks is “how long will I be without a kitchen?” The honest answer depends on scope — and on a few lead times that surprise almost everyone. Here's the realistic breakdown, phase by phase, from the projects we run across Orlando, Windermere, and Winter Garden.
The Short Answer: Timelines by Scope
- Cosmetic refresh (paint, hardware, backsplash, fixtures — no cabinet or layout changes): 1–2 weeks
- Mid-range remodel (new cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliances — same layout): 5–8 weeks of construction
- Full custom remodel (layout changes, walls moving, custom cabinetry): 8–12+ weeks
Those are construction windows. The part most homeowners don't budget for happens before a hammer swings.
The Weeks Nobody Budgets For: Pre-Construction
On a typical mid-range kitchen, expect 4–8 weeks between signing and demo day, driven by three things:
1. Design and selections (2–4 weeks)
Layout decisions, cabinet door styles, countertop slabs, tile, plumbing fixtures, lighting, paint. This phase moves exactly as fast as your decisions do — homeowners who lock selections quickly can cut it in half.
2. Cabinet lead times
Cabinets set the schedule for the whole project. In-stock lines can ship in days; semi-custom lines typically run several weeks; full custom cabinetry — built to your kitchen's exact dimensions — takes the longest. We place the cabinet order as soon as the design is final, because nothing else can be scheduled until we know the delivery week.
3. Permitting (1–3 weeks)
Any kitchen remodel touching electrical, plumbing, or structure needs a permit — in Orange County, approval typically takes 1–3 weeks. We submit while the cabinets are in fabrication so the permit wait overlaps with the lead time instead of adding to it. Not sure what your project needs? See our Orlando remodeling permit guide.
Construction, Phase by Phase
Here's how a mid-range kitchen actually unfolds once demo starts:
- Demolition (2–4 days). Old cabinets, counters, flooring, and backsplash come out. The room looks dramatically worse before it gets better.
- Rough-in plumbing and electrical (3–7 days). New circuits, moved outlets, under-cabinet lighting wiring, plumbing changes — followed by the rough inspection.
- Drywall and paint (3–5 days). Patches, texture, ceilings, and the first coats while the room is still empty.
- Flooring (2–4 days). Tile or luxury vinyl goes down before cabinets so the finished floor runs underneath them.
- Cabinet installation (2–5 days). The day the project visibly becomes a kitchen again.
- Countertop template → fabrication → install (1–2 weeks). The famous mid-project pause — more on this below.
- Backsplash and finish work (3–5 days). Tile, finish plumbing and electrical, appliance hookups, hardware.
- Final inspection and punch list (2–5 days). The inspector signs off, and we walk the room with you and fix every last detail.
The Countertop Gap, Explained
Countertops cannot be templated until the cabinets are permanently installed — the fabricator measures the real cabinets, not the drawings. Fabrication then takes one to two weeks. So every kitchen remodel has a stretch where the cabinets are in, the room looks 80% done, and nothing visible happens for a week or two. It isn't a stalled project; it's stone being cut. We use that window for paint touch-ups, trim, and scheduling the finish trades so the backsplash starts the day after the counters land.
What Actually Causes Delays
- Appliance backorders. A missing range can hold up the final inspection on an otherwise finished kitchen. Order appliances before demo.
- Cabinet delivery problems. A damaged door or a mis-sized box means a reorder — we inspect every delivery the day it arrives so replacements are in motion immediately.
- Layout changes mid-project. Moving the sink or adding an island after rough-in means re-permitting and redone work. Lock the layout before demo.
- Hidden conditions. Older Orlando homes — especially pre-1970s neighborhoods like College Park — can hide outdated wiring or plumbing behind the walls. We price honestly and fix it right when we find it; see our College Park bungalow guide for what tends to be back there.
- Change orders. Different tile, different paint, one more circuit — each is doable, and each adds days.
How We Keep Projects on Schedule
The pattern behind every on-time kitchen we deliver: all selections locked before demo, long-lead items ordered first, permits overlapped with fabrication, and the same layout kept whenever it works. When those four things are true, a mid-range Orlando kitchen reliably lands inside the 5–8 week window.
Living Through a Kitchen Remodel
Nearly all of our clients stay home during the work. We wall off the kitchen with dust barriers, protect the floors along the work path, and keep the site broom-clean at the end of each day. Set up a temporary kitchen — microwave, coffee maker, paper plates, and the grill — and plan on it from demo day until the countertops are in. It's two months of takeout nights that end with a kitchen you'll cook in for twenty years.
Planning a Kitchen Remodel?
Call (407) 634-4099 or visit our Kitchen Remodeling page for a free phone consultation — we'll give you a realistic schedule along with the number.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a kitchen remodel take in Orlando?
A cosmetic refresh takes 1–2 weeks. A mid-range remodel — new cabinets, countertops, flooring, and appliances in the same layout — typically runs 5–8 weeks of construction. A full custom remodel with layout changes runs 8–12+ weeks. Add 4–8 weeks up front for design, selections, cabinet lead times, and permitting before construction starts.
Can I live at home during a kitchen remodel?
Almost all of our clients do. We seal the work zone with dust barriers and keep a walkable path through the house. Plan on a temporary kitchen — microwave, coffee maker, and a bathroom or laundry sink for dishes — for the weeks between demo day and countertop install.
Why do countertops add two weeks to the schedule?
Countertops can't be templated until the cabinets are permanently installed, and fabrication typically takes 1–2 weeks after templating. That gap in the middle of every kitchen remodel surprises homeowners — the kitchen looks nearly finished, then seems to pause. It's normal, and we schedule the finish trades around it.
Does permitting add time to a kitchen remodel?
If the project involves electrical, plumbing, or structural changes it needs a permit, and approval in Orange County typically takes 1–3 weeks. We submit early — usually while cabinets are in fabrication — so the permit wait overlaps with material lead times instead of delaying the start.
When should I order appliances?
Before demo day. Appliance dimensions drive the cabinet openings, panel-ready models change the cabinet order itself, and a backordered appliance is one of the most common reasons an otherwise-finished kitchen sits waiting on its final inspection. We confirm the full appliance spec during design.