How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take?
A full kitchen remodel usually takes 8 to 12 weeks of active construction, and a smaller refresh moves faster. But in an older home, one thing matters more than scope. It is what the crew finds once a wall opens. Hidden framing, old wiring, or old plumbing behind the wall can add real time to the job.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
A full kitchen remodel usually runs 6 to 9 months from the first design meeting to the final walkthrough. The active construction part of that is usually just 8 to 12 weeks. A small cosmetic refresh moves much faster than a full gut job. Want the cost and time by project scope? Read our South Shore kitchen remodel cost guide. This post covers something that guide does not. It covers what slows a remodel down once the work actually starts in an older home.
What actually slows down a kitchen remodel in an older South Shore home?
The design phase is not the real schedule risk. The real risk is what the crew finds once a wall opens. The median Hull home was built in 1946. About 65% of the town's homes were built before 1960. Homes from that era were often framed a different way than homes built today. Walls from that era can hide old wiring, old plumbing, and even work from an earlier renovation. Opening one of these walls is real structural work. It is not just demo.
Walbridge Construction works carefully in these older South Shore homes. The framing and plumbing in a home this age are not always square or level. The crew tells you what it finds. Then it tells you how it plans to fix it. We do not guess and hope the schedule holds. That honest conversation, not the cabinet order, is usually what decides whether a project finishes on time.
How much time does ordering cabinets and countertops add?
Cabinet installation itself only takes 3 to 5 days once the cabinets arrive at your home. The real time cost is the wait for the order to be built. Countertop fabrication and installation adds another 2 to 4 weeks after the cabinets go in. The countertop has to be measured and cut to fit the cabinets once they are installed. It cannot be ordered early. That is why you should pick your cabinets and countertop material before demolition starts, not after. Picking them early is one of the simplest ways to keep a remodel on schedule.
Do you need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Massachusetts, and how long does that take?
If your kitchen remodel moves plumbing, gas, or wiring, you need a permit. You also need one if you take out a wall. The Town of Hull runs its own Building Department. It enforces the Massachusetts State Building Code and posts its permit rules on the town site. A kitchen remodel permit can take about a month to six weeks to approve. The timing depends on the project and the town. A final inspection also has to happen before the job is done.
Michael holds a Massachusetts Unrestricted Construction Supervisor License. That means Walbridge Construction can file the permit directly and schedule the inspection as part of the job. You do not have to chase the town yourself.
Is a full gut remodel faster than doing the work in stages?
Often, yes. A full gut remodel lets the crew fix old wiring, old plumbing, and layout problems all at once, while the walls are already open. Request a free estimate and Michael will walk you through whether a gut remodel or a staged approach fits your kitchen and your budget. Splitting the job into stages can spread out the cost. But it usually means opening the same wall more than once. That adds calendar time. It does not save it.
Get a free estimate from Walbridge Construction
We are a veteran-owned general contractor based in Hull, MA. Michael has more than 20 years of hands-on building experience. We handle kitchen remodels from the first wall we open to the final inspection, and we tell you what we find along the way. Curious how permit review works for a different project? See how Massachusetts permit review works for a licensed CSL holder. If you are renovating an older Hull home, call or request a free estimate. We will give you a realistic schedule before any wall comes down.
Talk to Walbridge Construction
Questions about your general contractor job? We serve Hull and the surrounding area with honest, upfront advice.
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FAQ
Related questions
How far in advance should I order cabinets so they do not delay my kitchen remodel?
Order cabinets as soon as your design and layout are final, before demolition starts. Cabinets are templated and built after you order, so a late order can leave your kitchen torn out with nothing to install.
Does Hull require a final inspection before I can use my new kitchen?
Yes. Any kitchen remodel that moves plumbing, gas, or wiring needs a permit from Hull's Building Department and a passed inspection before the work is considered done. Michael holds a Massachusetts CSL and schedules these inspections as part of the job.
What should I decide before demolition starts so it does not add time to my project?
Pick your cabinets, countertop material, appliances, and finishes before the first wall comes down. Changing your mind mid-project, after materials are ordered, is one of the most common causes of added weeks.