Timeline: What to Expect During Your Kitchen RenovationCall Now on - 0115-824-4201
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The Reality of Kitchen Renovation Timelines
Most people think kitchen renovations take about 2 weeks. We get asked all the time: "How long will I be without a proper kitchen?" The honest answer is usually 4-5 weeks for a straightforward replacement, longer if there's structural work or extensions involved.
We've completed over 800 kitchen projects across Nottingham, and every single one has taught us something about timing. Some go like clockwork, others hit unexpected problems that add weeks to the schedule. Better to know what might happen than get nasty surprises.
The families who cope best are the ones who plan properly for the disruption. The ones who struggle are those who expect to be cooking Sunday roast after 10 days.
Before We Even Start - The Planning Phase
Week 1-2: Initial Consultation and Design
This is where we meet you properly, measure your space, and start understanding what you actually want. Not what you think you want, but what will work for your family's real daily life.
The measuring takes longer in older Nottingham properties. Victorian terraces in The Park need everything checked twice because nothing's quite square. 1930s semis in West Bridgford are more predictable, but we still find surprises.
We'll also be checking your electrics, plumbing, and any structural issues that might affect the project. Better to find problems now than when we're halfway through installation.
Week 3-4: Design Development and Material Selection
This is when you visit our partner showroom at Kudos Kitchens to see materials properly. Kitchen doors look completely different under showroom lighting compared to your phone screen.
We'll develop the detailed plans, work out exactly what's needed, and give you proper costings. No vague estimates - you'll know exactly what you're paying for and when payments are due.
The Johnson family in Carlton thought they knew what they wanted until they saw the actual samples. The "cream" they'd chosen online was actually quite yellow in their north-facing kitchen. Good job we found out before ordering.
Week 5-6: Final Approval and Ordering
Once you're happy with everything, we order all the materials and book the work into our schedule. Lead times vary - standard kitchen units might be 2-3 weeks, stone worktops can be 4-6 weeks, especially during busy periods.
We always add a bit of buffer time to these estimates. Better to be ready early than keep you waiting because one supplier is running late.
Week 7-8: Pre-Installation Planning
While we're waiting for materials, we're coordinating with other trades. Mike, our electrician, needs to know when he's needed for first fix work. The plasterer needs scheduling around the electrics. The flooring can't go down until everything else is finished.
This is also when we arrange any planning permissions or building control approvals if they're needed. Extensions always need building regs approval, even if planning permission isn't required.
Week-by-Week Installation Process
Week 1: Strip Out and First Fix
Day 1-2: Removing the Old Kitchen
We start by protecting your house. Dust sheets everywhere, plastic barriers to keep mess contained, and proper protection for floors and carpets. The strip-out creates more mess than you'd expect.
Old kitchens don't come out quietly. There's drilling, sawing, and quite a bit of banging. We try to keep the worst noise to daytime hours, but it's not pleasant.
Everything goes into a skip - old units, worktops, appliances, even the kitchen sink. We arrange skip permits if needed and make sure your neighbours know when it's arriving.
Day 3-4: First Fix Electrics and Plumbing
This is when Mike runs new cables for sockets, lighting, and appliances. Modern kitchens need much more power than old ones - induction hobs, combination ovens, and dishwashers all need dedicated circuits.
Plumbing for new sink positions, waste disposal units, and sometimes relocating the boiler if it's in the way. This usually means cutting into walls and lifting floorboards.
Day 5: Making Good and Plastering
Wherever we've chased walls for cables or pipes, we fill and make good. Any walls that need replastering get done now - much easier before the kitchen units go in.
What You're Living With:
No kitchen at all. No running water in the kitchen area. Dust and noise during working hours. We usually set up a temporary washing-up area in the utility room or downstairs toilet if possible.
Week 2: Structural Work and Second Fix
Day 1-2: Structural Changes
If you're removing walls, installing steel beams, or making structural openings, this is when it happens. Structural work is messy and noisy, but it transforms the space.
The family on Sherwood Road wanted to remove the wall between kitchen and dining room. Installing the steel beam took 2 days, but the difference was incredible - suddenly they had a proper family space instead of two cramped rooms.
Day 3-4: Flooring Installation
Kitchen flooring goes down before the units. Tiles, LVT, or whatever you've chosen. We work around where the units will be positioned to save money and avoid problems with appliance heights.
Day 5: Second Fix Electrics
Mike comes back to install sockets, switches, and lighting circuits. Everything's ready for connection once the kitchen units are in position.
What You're Living With:
Still no proper kitchen facilities. The space is starting to look like something though. Temporary cooking arrangements in other rooms become more important this week.
Week 3: Kitchen Unit Installation
Day 1-2: Base Unit Installation
This is when things start looking like a kitchen. Base units go in first, carefully levelled and aligned. Every unit gets checked for square and plumb - wonky units mean problems later.
Older Nottingham houses rarely have perfectly level floors. We use adjustable legs and packing pieces to get everything spot on. Takes time, but it's what makes the difference between a professional job and a bodge job.
Day 3: Worktop Templating
If you're having stone worktops, this is when the template is made, the fitter will make precise cardboard patterns. These go back to the workshop where your granite or quartz gets cut exactly to fit.
The templating has to be spot on - there's no adjusting stone worktops once they're cut. This is why we never rush the base unit installation.
Day 4-5: Wall Units and Tall Units
Wall cabinets and tall units go in next. This includes integrated housing for fridges, ovens, and other built-in appliances.
Everything gets checked again for level and alignment. Soft-close hinges get adjusted so every door closes perfectly. We're a bit obsessive about this - every door should feel exactly the same.
What You're Living With:
You can see your new kitchen taking shape, but still no worktops or appliances. Still camping in other rooms for cooking and washing up.
Week 4: Worktops and Appliances
Day 1-2: Worktop Installation
Stone worktops usually arrive early in the morning on a specialist lorry. They're heavy - granite worktops for an average kitchen weigh about the same as a small car.
Installation needs to be precise. Once stone worktops are in position, there's no moving them. Any adjustments to units have to be done before this point.
Laminate worktops are quicker to install and can be adjusted on-site if needed. Less dramatic than stone, but much more forgiving if something doesn't quite fit.
Day 3-4: Appliance Installation
Built-in appliances get fitted and connected. This includes gas safety checks for hobs and ovens, electrical connections for everything else.
Integration panels go on dishwashers and fridges so they disappear behind matching kitchen doors. When it's done properly, you can't tell where the appliances are.
Day 5: Final Electrical Connections
Mike comes back to connect everything up and test it all works. Induction hobs, oven circuits, lighting, even USB charging points in the sockets.
Everything gets properly tested and certified. You get certificates for gas and electrical work that you'll need for house insurance and when you sell.
What You're Living With:
Nearly a proper kitchen. You might even be able to make a cup of tea by the end of the week. Still no splashback tiles though, so careful with splashing when cooking.
Week 5: Finishing Touches
Day 1-2: Tiling and Splashbacks
Kitchen tiles go up after everything else is installed. Much easier to cut around sockets and switches than try to fit them exactly beforehand.
We always seal the edges properly where tiles meet worktops. Poor sealing is one of the commonest causes of problems later - water gets behind tiles and causes damage.
Day 3: Handles and Hardware
Cabinet handles get fitted last to avoid damage during installation. We check every door and drawer opens properly and adjust anything that needs tweaking.
Internal drawer fittings, spice racks, and other accessories get installed and adjusted to work smoothly.
Day 4: Final Cleaning and Snagging
Everything gets cleaned properly - inside cupboards, behind appliances, even the tops of wall units. We remove all protective films and packaging.
Any minor adjustments get done now. Door that doesn't quite close properly, drawer that sticks slightly, anything that's not quite right gets sorted.
Day 5: Handover and Demonstration
We show you how everything works. Soft-close mechanisms, integrated appliances, any special features. You get all your instruction manuals, warranties, and certificates.
Most importantly, you get your kitchen back.
What Can Cause Delays
Hidden Problems in Older Properties
Nottingham's full of old houses, and old houses have surprises. We've found rotten joists, dodgy wiring, and even archaeological remains that stopped work for a week.
The Victorian terrace in Carlton looked fine until we removed the old units. The back wall was held up by the kitchen worktop and 40 years of wishful thinking. Added 2 weeks for structural work, but the house is much safer now.
Planning Permission Delays
Kitchen extensions need planning permission in many cases. The process takes 8 weeks minimum, longer if there are objections or complications.
We always advise getting planning permission before ordering materials. Saves disappointment if changes are needed, or worse, if permission gets refused.
Material Delivery Problems
Stone worktops can take 6 weeks during busy periods. German appliances sometimes get delayed at ports. Custom-made units occasionally arrive with damage that means reordering.
We try to build buffers into the schedule, but sometimes external factors are beyond anyone's control.
Weather Affecting External Work
Extensions and structural work can't happen in all weather conditions. Concrete won't cure properly in freezing temperatures. Roof work stops in high winds.
The family in West Bridgford had their extension delayed 3 weeks because of the storms in February. Frustrating, but better than rushing work that won't last.
Living Through the Renovation
Setting Up a Temporary Kitchen
Most families need some basic cooking facilities during the renovation. A microwave, kettle, and portable hob in the dining room or utility room makes life bearable.
The Smith family in Arnold set up a temporary kitchen in their conservatory. Not ideal, but it meant they could still have proper meals and keep some normal routine.
Meal Planning Strategies
Plan easy meals that don't need much cooking. Ready meals aren't ideal, but they're better than takeaways every night for 5 weeks.
Batch cooking before the renovation starts helps. Casseroles and soups freeze well and just need reheating in the microwave.
Managing Family Routines
School morning routines need rethinking when there's no kitchen sink. Evening homework gets more complicated when the kitchen table's covered in dust sheets.
The families who cope best are those who plan alternative routines before the chaos starts. The ones who struggle are those who hope it'll just work out somehow.
Protecting the Rest of Your House
Good contractors protect your house properly, but dust gets everywhere during kitchen renovations. Seal off areas you want to keep clean and use separate entrances if possible.
We use proper dust barriers and industrial air filtration, but some disruption is inevitable. Better to expect it and plan accordingly.
After Completion - What's Next
The Settling-in Period
New kitchens take a bit of getting used to. Muscle memory means you'll keep reaching for the old light switch position for weeks.
Soft-close doors feel strange at first if you're used to traditional hinges. Some people try to slam them for the first few weeks.
Warranty Period
Everything's covered by warranty, but what that means varies. Our installation work has a 2-year guarantee. German cabinet hardware often has 10-year warranties. Stone worktops usually get 25-year guarantees.
Keep all the paperwork - warranty claims need proof of purchase and installation dates.
When to Call Us vs DIY
Minor adjustments to door hinges are fine to do yourself. Internal drawer organisation you can sort out as you start using the kitchen properly.
Anything involving gas, electricity, or plumbing should be left to qualified people. Same with structural issues or anything that might affect warranties.
Annual Maintenance
Different materials need different care. Stone worktops benefit from annual resealing. Cabinet hinges might need occasional adjustment. We send reminders for anything that needs regular attention.
The families who look after their kitchens properly are still delighted with them 10 years later. The ones who ignore maintenance often have expensive problems.
Making the Timeline Work for You
Kitchen renovations are disruptive. There's no getting around that. But proper planning makes the disruption manageable and ensures you get the kitchen you actually want.
We've guided hundreds of Nottingham families through this process. The ones who enjoy the experience are those who plan for the reality, not the ideal.
Yes, it's 5 weeks of camping in your own home. But at the end, you get a kitchen that works perfectly for your family and adds real value to your house.
Ready to start your kitchen renovation journey? Call us on 0115-824-4201 for a realistic timeline discussion based on your specific project needs.
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