Depending on the size of your kitchen, the design you want, and how much you’re willing to spend, a kitchen remodel can seem like a daunting task. It’s important to understand the timing and scope of your remodel before your kitchen becomes inoperable for 6 to 8 weeks.
Any large-scale remodel can be a stressful process, but at the end of the day, you deserve to have your dream kitchen exactly the way you want it. Remodels take time, effort, money, and of course, a lot of patience to pull off.
That’s why it’s important to know how a remodel will impact your life during construction and beyond. From cost to permits to home insurance
rates, there are a lot of questions you should answer before you take a sledgehammer to your cabinets. Lucky for you, Jerry
, the insurance super app
, is here to help! We’ve compiled all the information you need to plan your remodel before you start. In this article, we’ll go over your timeline, the costs you can expect, when to get a permit and how to reassess your home insurance once you have your perfect kitchen. Timeline for a kitchen remodel
Assuming you work with a reliable and experienced contractor, the average US kitchen remodel takes around six to eight weeks to complete.
Once you start working with a contractor, they’ll be able to give you an estimate that’s specific to what you’re looking for. Here are some general estimates for how long your remodel might take:
If you’re just looking for a facelift—maybe to replace your cabinets and countertops—it might take as little as four weeks for demolition and installation with a contractor
The average kitchen renovation that includes new sinks and appliances can take anywhere from six to eight weeks to complete
For larger remodels that include plumbing, flooring, and structural additions like new islands or surfaces, you’re looking at 10 to 12weeks for your timeline
Full-scale additions that involve tearing down walls, extending your floor plan, and replacing heating and plumbing, can take as much as three to five months.
Ultimately, the more you’re looking to change about your kitchen, the longer you can expect your remodel to drag on.
Why do kitchen remodels take so long?
With everything involved in a kitchen remodel—like intricate plumbing, gas, and electrical systems—it makes sense that kitchen renovations take so long. Plumbing, gas lines, heating, and electrical wiring require an extensive design process to take apart and reinstall. You’ll likely need to hire a professional to deal with these complicated systems, as well.
Redoing these systems doesn’t take into account the planning needed for demolition and construction. Before you start tearing up the tile, you need a solid plan for what you’d like the kitchen to be in the future.
While this can be overwhelming, this is part of the fun! Designing your dream kitchen is a blast, especially when you have a clear vision for the space. If you need a good starting spot, there are tons of resources online for designing a kitchen that suits your needs.
What to do while your kitchen is being remodeled
Once you’re deep in the remodel process, it can feel like a race against the clock—how long until you’re absolutely sick of microwave meals?
Your best bet for surviving your kitchen remodel is to set up a temporary kitchen somewhere else in the house. Rescue your microwave from the demolition area, and find somewhere you can set up a table to act as your counter space.
From there, consider purchasing a portable stove or countertop burner to cook easy meals. If you’re planning on replacing your fridge as part of your remodel, getting a mini-fridge to tide you over isn’t a bad idea either.
Finally, make sure you budget for eating out often. There will be times when you can’t even look at a box of mac and cheese without groaning, and that’s okay! Eating out is a great way to relieve the stress of cooking in less than ideal circumstances. Just make sure you’ve budgeted for the extra cost of eating at restaurants more often once your remodel is in full swing.
What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Speaking of extra costs, it’s good to know what you’re getting into before you start. Kitchen remodels are expensive. Depending on what you want for your kitchen, here’s where you can expect to spend the most money.
Cabinets
New cabinets tend to be the most costly feature of a kitchen, and replacing them will be your biggest expense.
Stock or ready-to-install cabinets can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 for materials and installation. These are your Ikea variety cabinets, functional and nothing fancy.
Higher quality cabinets can cost upwards of $15,000, especially if you’re adding custom features or choosing high-quality wood.
While that sounds like a scary number, if you can spare the extra money to have well-built, stylish cabinets with custom features, it’s definitely worth it. You’ll be looking at the cabinets daily, and they will get a lot of use from being opened every time you need a plate or a box of cereal.
Durable cabinets have a better chance of lasting longer and will retain their quality—making them a better long-term investment.
Counters
Next to cabinets, countertops will be your biggest expense.
The average cost to replace countertops is about $3,000 for basic tile, but that number depends on the size, material, and the number of your counters.
Bigger jobs with higher-end materials (like marble) can cost you as much as $5,000 to $10,000 for a full remodel.
Like cabinets, it’s a good idea to put money into your countertops. Your counters see a lot of action throughout their lifetime and can wear down from constant use. When shopping for new countertops, it may be a good idea to choose a more durable, but more expensive, material like marble to prevent you from having to replace them too quickly.
Installation
There’s a reason people make a living off installing new cabinets and countertops; it is a big job that requires manual labor and skill with tools. If you’re planning on hiring a contractor for the entire project, expect an extra cost for installation.
Installation of cabinets can cost you an extra $200 to $300 each, maybe more depending on the job.
If you’re at all handy with tools or even just willing to learn, DIY installation can save you a lot of money during your remodel.
While DIY installation will save you money, it will also add to your remodel time. Not only are you possibly learning a new skill, but the job will take longer with one person versus a team of hired hands. That’s why you should only consider DIY if you’re confident in your ability and willing to forgo the time-saving convenience of a hired service.
Key Takeaway Kitchen remodels can cost a pretty penny, and cabinets, countertops, and installation can really hike up the price. Consider installing counters and cabinets yourself if you feel handy and want to save some cash.
At what point do you need a permit?
Whether you need a permit for a kitchen remodel depends on the scale of your project.
Any job that involves electrical, plumbing, or floor plan changes requires a permit. For cosmetic jobs like refacing cabinets and replacing countertops, you probably don’t need to get one.
If you’re working with a contractor, they should be well-versed in your city’s permit laws for renovations and can help you through the process. Even so, it’s a good idea to get familiar with your city’s renovation requirements before you make any changes.
Ultimately, it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to make sure a renovation is up to code. Here are some aspects of your renovation that will likely require a permit.
Floor plan changes, including room additions or extensions
Adding to or changing existing plumbing
Any changes in electrical work
Parking a dumpster on the street (if this is needed for your project)
Adding exterior doors, windows, or skylights
Anything involving the sewer line
Installing water heaters, air conditioning, or any changes to ventilation
As a rule of thumb, you can generally expect structural and utility changes to require permission from the city. Other than that, you should be okay.
Key takeaway: Changes to your floor plan and utilities will likely require a permit from the city. Do your research before starting any major projects.
In what order should you remodel your kitchen?
Depending on the size of your job, parts of your remodel will need to be done elsewhere before you begin. That’s why it’s a good idea to think about the long-term strategy of the project before breaking out a hammer.
Here is the most common order of operations when remodeling your kitchen:
Planning and design: Work with an interior designer or contractor to plan your remodel
Demolition: Tear out your existing kitchen and prepare for construction
Framing, pipes, and wiring: Decide on any changes you need to make to utilities and be sure you have the right contractors in place to make the upgrades
Professional inspection: If you’ve made, utility changes (like gas and electric) it will likely require inspection by relevant health and safety inspectors before the drywall goes up
Installing windows and doors: Once new utilities are installed, doors and windows can be replaced—unless you’re changing the floor plan
Flooring: This depends on your contractor, but floors are typically relaid after windows are put in
Cabinets, faucets, and countertops: The outer-facing details will be installed go in after the structural work is complete
Appliances: These are the final touches—a stove, refrigerator, oven, etc. will all be replaced last.
You may skip one or more of these steps if your remodel isn’t as extensive, but most projects follow this process. As always, your contractor will be your point person for most of the project, so consult with them on a timeline.
How does a kitchen remodel impact your home insurance rates?
According to the 2021 Cost vs. Value Report
by Remodeling Magazine, a new kitchen remodel can boost your recouped value by upwards of 50%. This means that the value a new kitchen adds to your home is more than the expense of remodeling. Depending on your policy, adding value to your home may increase your insurance rates. When planning your remodel, talk to your insurance agent (like the helpful agents at Jerry
!) about the possible bump in the cost of your home insurance. They can help you make sure you have enough coverage while also getting you any discounts you may be eligible for. Finding affordable home insurance
If you’re looking to remodel your kitchen, you need to budget for any changes to your insurance, which may mean shopping for a new policy. But updating a policy can be a lot of work—and you don’t have time for that if you’re remodeling your kitchen! That’s where Jerry
comes in. When shopping for a home insurance
new policy, Jerry does all the paperwork for you and even helps cancel your old policy! Download the app, answer a few questions, then set your insurance updates to autopilot. Jerry will even send you new quotes every six months, so you get the best policy for you, no matter how your life (or home) changes. “When using Jerry
, I was impressed at how their representative took care of my situation. He was so knowledgeable about my state’s insurance laws!” —Rabi B.
RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
4.7
