KITCHEN REMODEL
Transform your cramped, outdated kitchen into the heart of your home. From design through completion, Revolution brings collaborative expertise and transparent pricing to every St. Petersburg kitchen project.
Signs You Need a Kitchen Remodel
Multiple Systems Past Their Prime
If your kitchen has old cabinets, old flooring, old countertops, AND old appliances all at once, that's when a full remodel makes sense.
Small, Cramped Layout
Small galley kitchens stuffed onto the back of the house, often created as afterthoughts with poor layouts.
Outdated Concept
Pre-1990s kitchens were designed purely for utility. Modern kitchens are the focal point of entertainment.
Physical Plant Issues
Older kitchens often need structural changes—walls removed, plumbing and electrical moved, foundations beefed up.
Our Kitchen Remodel Process
Timeline
Simple Replacements
Cabinets, counters, appliances
Less than 1 month
Layout Changes
With utility relocation
1-3 months
Major Structural
Walls, foundation work
3+ months
Sequence of Work
Demolition
Remove existing materials
Framing & Foundation
Any structural changes to the layout
Rough-in Trades
Plumbing, electrical, HVAC run inside walls
Drywall & Cabinetry
Walls closed up, cabinets installed
Flooring & Millwork
Happens somewhat simultaneously with cabinetry
Countertops & Fixtures
Final installation and finish work
Living Situation
Homeowners typically cannot use their kitchen at all during a remodel. There's no sink for dishes (you'd be washing them in a bathtub), no cooking, no dishwasher. Most people doing a full kitchen remodel either rent a place, stay with relatives, or live off-site. The only workaround is a very large house with a wet bar that can double as a kitchen sink.
Kitchen Remodel Cost in St. Petersburg
Entry-Level
$40K–$60K
Basic RTA cabinets, minimal layout changes
Mid-Range
$75K–$100K+
Larger, nicer kitchen with quality finishes
High-End
$100K+
Luxury finishes, premium appliances, custom stonework
What Drives Costs
- •Appliances: Luxury kitchens commonly spend $30,000–$50,000 on appliances alone
- •Stone countertops: Thickened edges and waterfall islands add thousands
- •Layout changes: Moving walls, plumbing, and electrical significantly increases cost
- •Structural work: Foundation reinforcement when changing layouts
What Causes Overruns
- •Plumbing surprises: 80 years of bacon grease in cast-iron pipes often means upgrading plumbing all the way to the street—can add $10,000–$20,000 quickly
- •Starting without design: Pushing forward without a complete design creates uncomfortable conversations about costs
- •Mid-project changes: Changing a layout after framing and plumbing rough-in costs thousands to backtrack
How We Prevent Surprises
Our time-and-materials approach verifies every number possible beforehand. Every sub works under a strong estimate they've committed to. Every finish and fixture gets identified with allowances, then filled in with actual client selections. By the time fieldwork starts, we've converted the estimate into a budget with 90–95% of costs known. Surprises are minimized, and any overruns are clearly explained—driven by pre-existing conditions or client changes, not things we left out.
Ready to Discuss Your Kitchen Remodel Project?
Get expert guidance and a detailed estimate for your St. Petersburg kitchen transformation.
Planning Your Kitchen Remodel
Pre-Construction Decisions
The more decisions made before construction, the faster it goes. We tell clients: an hour spent on selections and allowances saves two hours in the field of staring at a wall wondering where a light fixture should go.
Push to have as much of the design process laid out as possible before starting.
Design Process
Revolution is capable of helping with design on anything other than very high-end projects. We work with interior designers when projects call for them and can afford them. There are different types of designers:
- •Aesthetic designers: Focus on colors, textures, appliances, furniture
- •Technical designers: Like engineers—extremely discerning about dimensions and placement
Overwhelmed by choices?
Most people actually come in with a pretty good idea of what they want thanks to Build.com, Pinterest, and social media. The real challenge is usually sorting through a limited budget and figuring out how to prioritize—what stays and what goes for someone without an open checkbook.
Kitchen Trends Worth Considering
Recommended
Workstation sinks
Used to be expensive, now more affordable. Allows drying racks, cutting boards, prep bowls right in the sink—much more utilitarian
Natural stone
Quartzite, granite, even delicate marble over man-made quartz
Wood-grain cabinets returning
Modern blonde and gray tones (white oak, poplar, walnut)—not the old yellow oak and hickory from the '70s and '80s
Thinner cabinet profiles
Standard white shaker remains timeless, but slimmer frame profiles are trending
Semi-open layouts
A push away from fully open floor plans—kitchens that are still entertaining-friendly but with some separation from common areas
Avoid
Man-made quartz
Has gotten as expensive as actual quarried stone while natural materials look better and last longer
Chasing appliance trends
Nothing groundbreaking in appliances—they're still pretty much the same. No trends worth chasing there.
Permits for Kitchen Remodels in St. Petersburg
Requires a Permit
- •Any plumbing changes
- •Any electrical work
- •Layout changes
- •Structural modifications
No Permit Needed
- •Cabinet swap-out
- •Appliance swap-out
- •Countertop replacement
- •Backsplash installation
Permit Timeline: Permitting in St. Pete takes 2–5 weeks for a kitchen remodel.
Special Considerations
Cast Iron Plumbing in Older Homes
On any remodel of any size, cast iron usually gets replaced—the best time is now while walls are open. There's nothing wrong with cast iron in great shape (it's strong when new), but 50 years of Drano and high-pH solvents cause rust and cracking.
Camera scope is only a few hundred bucks, so we almost always get a camera down the pipes to know what we're dealing with and explain the situation to homeowners.
WHY CHOOSE REVOLUTION FOR YOUR KITCHEN
What sets us apart from other contractors in St. Petersburg.
IN-HOUSE LABOR
Our skilled craftsmen are Revolution employees, not subcontractors. This means better quality control, accountability, and a team that truly cares about your project.
T&M TRANSPARENCY
Our Time & Materials billing model means you see exactly where every dollar goes. No hidden markups, no surprises—just honest, transparent pricing.
LOCAL EXPERTISE
Deep knowledge of St. Petersburg permits, historic district requirements, and coastal building codes. We navigate local regulations so you don't have to.
TILE & WATERPROOFING
Specialized expertise in wet areas that most contractors lack. Proper waterproofing and tile installation prevent costly failures down the road.
Kitchen Remodel Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
A like-for-like swap of cabinetry, counters, and appliances takes less than a month. If we're moving utilities, changing wall layouts, or beefing up the foundation, you're looking at 3+ months. The systems inside walls, ceilings, and floors drive the timeline more than anything.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in St. Petersburg?
An entry-level facelift with basic RTA cabinets runs $40,000–$60,000. A larger, nicer kitchen is $75,000–$100,000+. High-end luxury kitchens with premium appliances ($30–50K alone) and custom stonework easily exceed $100,000.
Can I live in my home during a kitchen remodel?
Most people doing a full kitchen remodel don't stay in the house. There's no sink for dishes, no cooking, no dishwasher. You'd be eating out, doing Uber Eats, or staying with relatives. The only workaround is a very large house with a wet bar that can serve as a temporary kitchen sink.
What permits do I need for a kitchen remodel?
Typically you need a permit because there's plumbing or electrical work. Cabinet swaps, appliance swaps, countertops, and backsplashes don't require permits. In St. Pete, permit approval takes 2–5 weeks.
What causes kitchen remodel budgets to go over?
The biggest culprit is old plumbing—80 years of bacon grease in cast-iron pipes often means replacing plumbing all the way to the street, adding $10,000–$20,000 quickly. Starting without a finalized design or making layout changes mid-project also creates expensive backtracking.
What decisions do I need to make before starting?
As many as possible. Every hour spent on selections before construction saves two hours in the field. Lock in your layout, cabinet style, appliances, countertop materials, flooring, and tile selections during permitting. The more you decide upfront, the faster and smoother the project goes.
How does Revolution's time-and-materials approach work?
It allows a collaborative approach from day one. Instead of giving arbitrary allowances, we drill down on specific costs together. It provides flexibility for the surprises in older St. Pete homes—four generations of DIY work in 100-year-old walls. We communicate clearly and bill fairly without guessing what we'll find.
What's the hardest part of a kitchen remodel?
Taking a house out of play creates stress people don't expect. Even a perfect project with an accurate budget is a big undertaking. We encourage people to consider their major life calendar—don't do a six-figure remodel during a major life milestone. We've seen divorces, illnesses, and deaths not helped by being mid-remodel.
LOVED BY OUR CUSTOMERS
Nothing means more to us than making our clients happy, unless perhaps it is making them so happy they come back to us or refer us to their friends and family!
"We had multiple contractors tell us that our 100-year old bungalow in Old Southeast should be torn down instead of remodeled. Revolution worked with us on an extensive plan to rebuild structural components and remodel the entire house. Now we have the best house in the block!"
"The guys at Revolution have done projects for us in two houses now. They added a master bathroom for us in northeast St Pete and then remodeled every square inch of a 4500-sq. ft house in Pinellas Pt. Through every challenge over two years of construction they have been there pushing our projects forward. We wouldn't use anybody else!"
"Awesome company! I had Revolution Contractors do some work on my house and did an amazing job!!! The guys there are great to work with and very professional and knowledgeable on there work. I am very happy they way there work came out and will be getting more work done on my house from them."
"Find them to be very professional, provide sufficient info for bidding, easy to contact, and most importantly they pay good. All and all NuTrend really enjoys a very productive and lucrative relationship with Revolution Contractors would recommend them and do often"
"On a challenging structural project for an investment property Revolution saw me through all sorts of headaches with the building department and were able to carry off multiple layout changes with gorgeous results. They've done multiple projects for my family as well as my group of closest friends and are now working on my primary residence!"
"Revolution Contractors have helped my family on numerous projects, providing guidance and honesty throughout all projects. The crew is hardworking and reliable. The owners are quick to respond and very honest. Definitely would recommend!"
