How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? Real Timelines from St. Pete Projects

A kitchen remodel takes anywhere from 4 weeks to 6+ months of construction, depending on scope. A cosmetic refresh — new cabinets, countertops, and fixtures without moving walls — typically wraps in under a month. A full remodel with layout changes runs 1 to 3 months of construction. But here's what most timelines leave out: the 3 to 5 months of pre-construction work that happens before a single wall comes down. For a full project in St. Petersburg, plan for 4 to 8 months total from first design meeting to cooking dinner in your new kitchen.

We've managed kitchen timelines in St. Pete for over 20 years — Revolution is a Florida licensed general contractor (verify at myfloridalicense.com), and 70% of our projects come from repeat clients and referrals. Here's what the schedule actually looks like.

Pre-Construction: The Phase Most Timelines Skip

The biggest scheduling mistake homeowners make is assuming the project starts when demolition begins. In reality, the pre-construction phase — design, selections, permitting, and estimate sharpening — takes 3 to 5 months and determines whether your construction phase stays on track or spirals.

Here's what happens before hammers swing:

Design (4-8 Weeks)

Your kitchen layout gets finalized — where cabinets go, whether walls move, how plumbing and electrical need to shift. High-end projects pair with an interior designer. Budget-conscious projects use vendor-provided free design services from cabinet companies, tile suppliers, and flooring showrooms. Either way, the layout needs to be locked before anything else moves forward.

Selections (Concurrent with Design)

Cabinets, countertops, appliances, tile, fixtures, lighting — every choice you make before construction starts saves time during it. As Jeremy, Revolution's owner, puts it: “An hour with selections saves two hours in the field.” Cabinet lead times alone run 6 to 12 weeks depending on the manufacturer, so ordering early is critical.

Estimate Sharpening (2-3 Weeks)

Allowances — placeholder budget amounts for items you haven't selected yet — get converted to real numbers. Hard bids come in from subcontractors for MEPs (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work). By the time construction starts, 75% of your line items are confirmed fixed-price, giving you 90-95% budget certainty. That's how our Time & Materials model works — you see the same invoices we do, and weekly budget reports track actuals against the estimate line by line.

Permitting (2-5 Weeks in St. Pete)

If your remodel moves any plumbing or electrical, you'll need a permit from the City of St. Petersburg. Permit review currently takes 2 to 5 weeks. Cosmetic-only work — cabinet swaps, new countertops, backsplash — doesn't require permits.

Construction Timeline by Scope

Once permits are in hand and materials are ordered, construction follows a predictable sequence. Your timeline depends on how much you're changing.

Cosmetic Refresh (3-4 Weeks Construction)

You're keeping the existing layout. New cabinets, countertops, backsplash, fixtures, paint, and possibly flooring. No walls move, no plumbing relocates. This is the fastest path to a new kitchen.

Full Remodel with Layout Changes (1-3 Months Construction)

Walls come down or move. Plumbing and electrical get rerouted. The construction sequence runs: demolition, rough-in for plumbing/electrical/HVAC, framing modifications, insulation, drywall, cabinet installation, countertop fabrication and install, tile and backsplash, fixtures, appliances, then punch list. Each phase depends on the one before it — skip a step or delay a decision, and the whole schedule shifts.

Major Structural Remodel (3+ Months Construction)

Load-bearing wall removal, full layout transformation, or kitchen expansion into adjacent rooms. These projects require structural engineering and often uncover surprises in older St. Pete homes — cast iron plumbing that needs replacing, outdated wiring, or previous owners' DIY framing buried inside walls.

Before

After

What Pushes Kitchen Timelines Longer

Three things consistently cause kitchen remodels to take longer than planned:

1. Starting Without a Finalized Design

This is the most expensive delay. Jeremy has seen it firsthand: “If we have people that come to us without a design and ask us to push forward as fast as possible but go into the project and start the project without the design in place, that can create uncomfortable conversations because the costs have not totally been laid out.” Layout changes after framing and plumbing rough-in mean backtracking — and that costs thousands of dollars and weeks of schedule.

2. Material Lead Times

Custom cabinets take 6 to 12 weeks. Specialty countertop slabs may need sourcing. Appliances — especially luxury brands like Wolf, Thermador, or Sub-Zero — can have unpredictable availability. Your project timeline is only as fast as your slowest delivery.

3. Surprises Behind the Walls

In St. Petersburg, many kitchens sit in homes built before 1990. As Jeremy describes it: “We know that there have been four generations of grandpas and dads doing their DIY bullshit work, so everything from electrical to the flooring to the framing inside the floor — things that we don't know, that we can't see until we really are doing some destructive demo.” Cast iron plumbing replacement alone can add $10,000 to $20,000 and 1-2 weeks to your schedule.

How In-House Labor Keeps Your Kitchen on Schedule

Most general contractors in St. Pete subcontract their carpentry. That means your cabinet installation, custom trim, and millwork wait in line behind whatever other jobs those subs are running. Revolution has 20+ W-2 carpenters on payroll — they show up because they work here, not because they're fitting your project between three other jobs.

What that means for your timeline: when the cabinets arrive, installation starts. When framing modifications are needed, the crew is already on site. There's no two-week gap waiting for a sub to become available. For a kitchen remodel where every phase depends on the previous one, that scheduling control is the difference between a 6-week construction phase and a 10-week one.

Revolution's design-build approach also compresses the pre-construction timeline. Because the construction team is involved from the first design conversation, your selections get checked against buildability and budget in real time — not after your designer hands off a plan that doesn't account for what's actually behind your walls.

Living Without Your Kitchen

One reality worth planning for: as Jeremy puts it, “A kitchen takes the house out of play largely — it means the house is no longer functioning as it usually does. Doing a kitchen remodel or any large remodel creates a level of stress that a lot of people don't expect.” No sink, no dishwasher, no stove for the duration of construction. Most clients set up a temporary station — microwave, mini-fridge, and a coffee maker in the dining room or garage. Others lean on takeout and restaurants for the duration. A few relocate entirely for major remodels.

Plan for the disruption. Budget for eating out. And know that the more decisions you make before construction starts, the shorter that uncomfortable stretch lasts.

Key Takeaways

• A cosmetic kitchen refresh takes 3-4 weeks of construction; a full remodel runs 1-3 months, plus 3-5 months of pre-construction
• Pre-construction (design, selections, permitting) is where your schedule is won or lost — don't rush it
• The three biggest timeline killers: starting without a final design, material lead times, and hidden surprises in older St. Pete homes
• In-house carpentry crews eliminate subcontractor scheduling gaps that stretch most kitchen remodels by weeks
• Cabinet lead times (6-12 weeks) often set the pace — order early

Kitchen Remodel Timeline FAQ

How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take from Start to Finish?

Plan for 4 to 8 months total. A cosmetic refresh runs 3-4 weeks of construction. A full remodel with layout changes takes 1-3 months of construction, plus 3-5 months of pre-construction for design, selections, and permitting. Cabinet lead times (6-12 weeks) often set the pace — we build ordering into the pre-construction schedule so cabinets arrive when the kitchen is ready.

Can I Live in My Home During a Kitchen Remodel?

Yes, but it's the most disruptive room to lose. No functioning kitchen means no sink, no dishwasher, no cooking surface for weeks or months. Most clients eat out, use delivery, or set up a temporary station with a microwave and mini-fridge in another room. Some relocate for the duration, especially on full remodels. We'll give you a realistic timeline so you can plan accordingly.

Do I Need a Permit for a Kitchen Remodel in St. Pete?

If any plumbing or electrical is being moved: yes. Permitting in St. Petersburg currently takes 2-5 weeks. If you're doing a straight swap — new cabinets, countertops, backsplash, appliances in the same location — no permit is required. We handle all submittals and schedule all inspections with the city.

What Causes Kitchen Remodels to Take Longer Than Planned?

Three main causes: (1) starting construction without a finalized design — layout changes after framing and plumbing rough-in mean costly backtracking, (2) material lead times — custom cabinets take 6-12 weeks and luxury appliances can have unpredictable availability, and (3) surprises behind the walls — cast iron plumbing, outdated wiring, and previous DIY work that isn't visible until demo.

What Decisions Should I Make Before Kitchen Construction Starts?

The more you finalize during pre-construction, the faster the build. Lock in these before demo day: cabinet style and finish, countertop material, appliance brands and models, tile for backsplash and floors, fixture styles, lighting plan, and final layout approval. An hour with selections saves two hours in the field.

How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost in St. Petersburg?

Kitchen remodel costs in St. Petersburg range from $40,000–$60,000 for a cosmetic refresh to $100,000–$150,000+ for a full remodel with layout changes. Scope, material selections, and hidden conditions behind the walls are the biggest cost drivers. Revolution's Time & Materials model gives you 90-95% budget certainty before construction starts. Read our full breakdown of kitchen remodel costs in St. Petersburg.

Want a Realistic Timeline for Your Kitchen Project?

Call Revolution at 727-888-6161 or request a free consultation. We'll assess your kitchen, discuss your scope, and map out a schedule that accounts for your specific home — no surprises.

Wondering about costs? Read our guide on kitchen remodel costs in St. Petersburg. Have an older home with a small kitchen? See our guide to small kitchen remodels in older St. Pete homes. Looking for design inspiration? Browse kitchen trends worth the investment, or explore our kitchen remodeling services to see how our design-build process works.