The Number One Question We Get Asked
If you're thinking about remodeling your kitchen, the first question on your mind probably isn't about cabinet styles or countertop materials. It's this: how long is this going to take?
That's a fair question. Your kitchen is the most-used room in your home, and living without it for weeks on end isn't exactly appealing. The good news is that when you work with an experienced remodeling team in Pompano Beach, the process is predictable. You won't be guessing what's happening or wondering when your home will feel normal again.
Here's a realistic, week-by-week breakdown of what a typical full kitchen remodel looks like from start to finish. While every project is different, this timeline reflects what most homeowners in our area can expect for a mid-range to upscale kitchen renovation.
Before the Clock Starts: The Planning Phase
Before any demolition happens, there's a critical planning stage that usually takes two to six weeks depending on the scope of your project. This phase includes:
- Initial consultation and design meetings
- Selecting materials — cabinets, countertops, tile, flooring, fixtures
- Pulling permits through the City of Pompano Beach building department
- Ordering materials and scheduling subcontractors
This is the phase where patience pays off. Rushing through material selections or skipping the permit process leads to delays later. South Florida has specific building codes — especially related to moisture, ventilation, and hurricane impact — and your contractor should be handling all of that upfront.
One tip: if you're ordering custom cabinetry, lead times can run four to eight weeks. We always recommend finalizing your cabinet order as early as possible so it doesn't hold up the rest of the project.
Week 1: Demolition and Rough Prep
This is the week things get loud. Your old cabinets, countertops, flooring, and appliances are removed. If there are walls being opened up or relocated, that structural work begins here too.
During demo, your contractor may uncover surprises — outdated wiring, plumbing that doesn't meet current code, or water damage behind walls. In older Pompano Beach homes, especially those built in the 1960s and 70s, this is more common than you'd think. A good contractor builds a small contingency into the timeline and budget for exactly this reason.
By the end of week one, your kitchen is a blank canvas. It doesn't look pretty yet, but it's progress.
Week 2: Mechanical Rough-Ins
This is when the behind-the-scenes work happens. Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians come in to run new lines, relocate outlets, add recessed lighting circuits, or move plumbing to accommodate your new layout.
If you're adding a kitchen island with a sink or dishwasher, this is the week that plumbing gets routed through the slab — a common task in South Florida homes built on concrete slabs rather than basements.
At the end of this phase, a building inspector will need to sign off on the rough work before walls get closed up. Permit inspections in Pompano Beach are generally straightforward when the work is done correctly, but they do add a day or two to the schedule.
Week 3: Drywall, Patching, and Prep
With mechanical systems approved, the walls get closed up. New drywall is hung, taped, mudded, and sanded. Any ceiling repairs or modifications are completed during this stage as well.
This is also when your contractor preps the space for cabinetry — making sure walls are level, floors are prepped, and everything is squared up. It might seem like a slow week from the outside, but the precision work done here determines how clean the final result looks.
Weeks 4–5: Cabinets, Countertops, and Tile
Now the transformation becomes visible. Cabinets are installed first, followed by countertop templating. In most cases, your countertop fabricator will come out to measure after cabinets are set, then return a week or so later with the finished stone or quartz slabs.
While you're waiting on countertops, tile work can begin. Whether it's a custom backsplash, new floor tile, or both, this is where the design really starts to come together. Custom tile work takes time to do right — cuts need to be precise, grout lines need to be consistent, and patterns need to align.
For homeowners in Pompano Beach who want that coastal-modern or transitional look, this is the stage where the vision starts matching reality.
Week 6: Finishing Touches and Final Installations
The last week is all about the details:
- Countertops are set and sealed
- Sink, faucet, and garbage disposal are installed
- Appliances are delivered and connected
- Light fixtures, outlets, and switch plates go in
- Cabinet hardware is mounted
- Final paint touch-ups are completed
- Trim and molding are installed
Your contractor should do a thorough walkthrough with you at this stage, checking every detail against the original plan. This is your chance to flag anything that needs adjustment before the project is officially closed out.
So How Long Does It Really Take?
For a full kitchen remodel — new layout, new cabinets, new countertops, new flooring, updated plumbing and electrical — you're looking at six to eight weeks of active construction, plus the planning and material lead time beforehand.
Smaller projects, like refacing cabinets and installing new countertops without changing the layout, can wrap up in two to three weeks. Larger projects involving structural changes, additions, or high-end custom work may stretch to ten or twelve weeks.
The biggest factors that affect your timeline are:
- Material lead times — Custom and specialty items take longer to arrive
- Permit and inspection scheduling — Required but sometimes adds wait time
- Scope changes — Adding features mid-project pushes the finish date
- Discovery issues — Hidden problems behind walls or under floors
How to Keep Your Remodel on Schedule
Homeowners have more control over the timeline than they realize. Here are a few things you can do to keep things moving:
- Make decisions early. Indecision on materials is the number one cause of delays we see.
- Finalize your design before demo begins. Changes during construction are expensive and slow.
- Be available for questions. Quick responses to your contractor keep the crew productive.
- Trust the process. Weeks two and three always look worse before they look better.
Ready to Start Planning?
If you're a homeowner in Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach, or anywhere in the surrounding area, we'd love to walk you through what your specific kitchen remodel timeline would look like. Every home is different, and a quick consultation gives us enough information to map out a realistic schedule and budget.
At Local Basement Contractors, we handle every phase of the remodel — design, permitting, construction, and final walkthrough — so you have one team managing the entire process. No juggling subcontractors, no guessing what comes next.
Reach out today and let's talk about your kitchen.