Planning a kitchen renovation can feel exciting until you think about how long you will be stuck eating takeaway or cooking outside. In Sydney, most homeowners can expect a kitchen renovation timeline of 10-15 weeks from the initial quote and planning through to the final handover. The good news is that the on-site disruption is typically much shorter.
When factoring in how long a kitchen renovation will take, it’s important to consider the full kitchen renovation timeline, as there are a lot of factors that can drag it out. Kitchen design drawings, material selection, benchtop fabrication, custom joinery, trade schedules and final adjustments all play a role in how long the process will take from start to finish. Ultimately, the duration will depend on the scope and complexity of the project.
Having a knowledgeable team that can guide you through the renovation process ensures that kitchen renovation timelines stay on track. At Vitality Kitchens & Joinery, we have two decades of experience in end-to-end project management of kitchen renovations and custom joinery across Sydney.
A Kitchen Renovation Has Three Main Timelines
Kitchen renovation timelines work across three separate stages: planning, manufacturing and installation. In order for a smooth kitchen renovation, every stage must be effectively planned and completed before moving forward.
Planning and Design
The planning and design stage can take around 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how quickly decisions are made around the cabinetry layout, storage, appliances, lighting and finishes. This is the stage at which the job is scoped and quoted for.
It typically includes:
- Initial consultation
- Layout planning
- Quote approval
- Site measure
- CAD drawings and renders
- Material selections
- Finalise layout
- Appliance ordered/secured
- Sink and tapware ordered
- Finalise selections
- Drawings are approved and ready for manufacturing
When it comes to bespoke cabinetry, the planning and design phase is where timelines vary the most, often due to indecision around layouts, materials and finishes. It’s an important step to not breeze over but once all the key decisions are made, the smoother and more efficient the renovation process will be. At Vitality Kitchens & Joinery, we have a team of in-house designers and joiners who provide guidance every step of the way, ensuring accuracy and streamlined process. If you already have a builder or an interior designer on board, we are also happy to work with your trades to make your vision come to life.
Manufacturing and Ordering
Once the designs have been decided on, the ordering of materials and manufacturing process usually takes around 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the demand and the scope of work.
In this stage, you can expect:
- Custom cabinetry manufacturing begins
- Materials and hardware ordered
- CAD drawings nested and sent to our CNC for manufacturing
- Doors and panels painted
Before moving on to the one-site renovation stage, materials and custom cabinetry are ordered or manufactured to help reduce the length of time homeowners are without a working kitchen. If you have chosen custom joinery over a flat pack kitchen design, having accounting for detailed manufacturing timelines is especially important, as this typically takes more planning and production time. Partnering with experienced custom joiners in Sydney can make a big difference in a quick turnaround and quality control, ensuring the design-led bespoke cabinetry seamlessly integrates into the architecture of the home.
On-Site Renovation and Installation
Depending on the complexity of the on-site renovation, this stage can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks and is the most disruptive part of the process, as your kitchen won’t be fully usable during this stage.
As the final stage, it includes:
- Demolition
- Plumbing rough-in
- Electrical rough-in
- Cabinet installation
- Benchtop installation
- Splashback installation
- Appliance fit-off
- Final adjustments
- Handover
Week-by-Week Kitchen Renovation Timeline
Every kitchen renovation timeline is a little different, but here is a general breakdown of what to expect week by week once the final stage begins.
Before Week 1: Finalise Key Decisions
Before demolition can begin, all major design decisions must be confirmed. If homeowners make changes after manufacturing has started, it can cause major disruptions to the renovation schedule. Ensure all strata approval and council approvals are finalised for work to begin the following week.
Week 1: Demolition and Rough-In
The existing kitchen is removed, and the site is prepared for construction. During this stage, you can expect rough-in plumbing and electrical as well as gas services to be adjusted. This is typically where hidden issues or delays start to appear. In older homes in Sydney, issues such as water damage, uneven walls, faulty wiring or asbestos risks that weren’t originally apparent will need to be addressed.
Week 2: Prepare Walls, Floors and Services
Next, the walls, floors and services will be prepared for installation. This looks like patching walls, floor prep, plumbing relocation, any adjustments to electrical or service upgrades.
Week 3: Install Cabinetry
Cabinet installation is where the new kitchen starts to take form. During this stage, cabinets and storage systems are installed, panels and doors are fitted, and levelling is checked.
Weeks 4 to 5: Install Benchtops, Splashback and Appliances
Once the cabinets and your integrated appliances are installed, we organise the stone mason to conduct a check measure of the space for stone benchtops and splashback installation. Stone benchtops are usually installed approximately 14 days from stone check measure date. Delays can happen at this stage if trades are not properly managed, lack of trade availability, or material lead times are delayed.
Week 6: Final Adjustments and Handover
This is the final stage of your kitchen renovation timeline. In this stage, we will conduct defect checks and make any final door and drawer adjustments. It focuses on quality control and adding the finishing touches before handing the kitchen over to the homeowner.
How Long Will Your Kitchen Be Out of Use?
One of the biggest deterrents to a kitchen renovation is how long you will be living without a functional kitchen. For most custom kitchen renovations, you can expect 2 to 3 weeks of demolition and installation.
The overall length depends on the scope of works involved. Such as if walls need to be removed, solid flooring to be repaired or replaced; these works may add to the renovation timeline when compared to a renovation where the new kitchen is being installed within the existing space.
To make this process easier, we recommend:
- Keeping the fridge accessible
- Make a temporary kitchen by setting up a microwave, kettle or air fryer in another room of the home
- Prepping freezer meals before demolition
- Planning simpler meals during this time
- Make use of the BBQ
What Can Delay a Kitchen Renovation?
There are many reasons why a kitchen renovation timeline can be delayed, but it often comes down to poor planning, material lead time disruptions or hidden site conditions.
Some common factors are:
- Late design changes
- Complex custom cabinetry
- Benchtop templating and fabrication
- Material lead time delays
- Appliances going out of stock
- Plumbing or electrical relocation
- Hidden water damage
- Old wiring
- Uneven walls or floors
- Strata approval delays
- Apartment access restrictions
- Trade scheduling
- Variations after work begins
With proper planning and realistic timelines, many of these delays can be avoided. Partnering with experts in kitchen renovations and custom joinery, like Vitality Kitchens, helps ensure everything runs smoothly from start to finish.
How to Keep Your Kitchen Renovation on Schedule
One of the most important things a homeowner can do to keep their kitchen renovation timeline is to make major design decisions early on, stick to them and have clear communication throughout the project. Making sure strata and council approvals are obtained and finalised beforehand also makes a big difference to project timelines.
Another factor is choosing a renovation company that handles everything in-house, as this can minimise delays and communication disruptions between trades and suppliers. At Vitality Kitchens & Joinery, our team supports homeowners from design through to completion to help the renovation schedule stay on track while making the renovation process as smooth and stress free as possible.
Ready to Plan Your Kitchen Renovation?
How long a renovation takes comes down to how well the project is planned out before the demolition even begins. Having a clear direction around what layout, appliances, cabinetry, benchtops and finishes you want for the home can help keep the renovation timeline on track. With organised project management, Sydney homeowners can expect around 10-15 weeks from initial consultation to the final installation.
Working with an experienced custom kitchen and joinery team can help make the process feel smooth from start to finish. If you are considering a kitchen renovation or custom joinery for your home, get in touch with our team for a free quote.
