Most people budget carefully for a kitchen remodel and then get blindsided by the schedule. A New York City kitchen typically runs three to five weeks of active work, but the calendar time can stretch much longer if the sequence isn't planned before demolition starts.
The order matters because each phase locks in the one after it. Demolition comes first, then any framing changes to the layout. Rough plumbing and electrical follow, since they need open walls. Insulation goes in next where exterior walls are involved, then drywall, then taping and finishing. Tile, cabinets, countertops, backsplash, and paint close it out, roughly in that order.
Skip ahead anywhere in that chain and you pay for it. Cabinets hung on walls that were never checked for plumb will have gaps at the top. A countertop templated before the cabinets are shimmed level won't sit right. Tile set over a substrate that wasn't flat will lippage at every edge.
Three things cause most delays. The first is countertop lead time. Stone has to be templated after cabinets are installed, and fabrication typically runs one to two weeks after that. Nothing you do speeds it up, so it belongs in the schedule from day one.
The second is building approvals. In a co-op or condo, the alteration agreement, certificates of insurance, and board sign-off can take weeks before anyone swings a hammer. Start that paperwork the moment you're serious, not after you've picked tile.
The third is decisions made late. Every material you haven't chosen is a hold placed on a future phase. Cabinets, counters, tile, fixtures, and paint colors should be picked and ordered before demolition, not during it. The single best thing a homeowner can do to keep a remodel on schedule is to finish choosing early.
One more thing worth knowing: how many crews are involved. When framing, insulation, drywall, taping, and painting all come from different contractors, every handoff is a chance to lose days. We self-perform all of that, which is why our schedules hold better than most.
Thinking about a kitchen? Call GRKremodeling LLC at (347) 707-8480 for a free, itemized estimate with a real schedule attached.