The Short Answer: 6 to 12 Weeks

A typical kitchen remodel in Miami-Dade takes 6 to 12 weeks from the first day of demo to the last coat of paint. Smaller projects (countertops and backsplash swap) can be done in 2 to 3 weeks. A full gut-and-rebuild with layout changes stretches to 10 to 14 weeks.

But the timeline does not start when hammers swing. Planning and material ordering happen before construction. Add those phases and you are looking at 10 to 18 weeks total from "let's do this" to cooking in your new kitchen.

Here is the week-by-week breakdown.

Phase 1: Planning and Design (2 to 4 Weeks)

This is where most homeowners underestimate the time. You cannot start construction without knowing exactly what you want.

What happens in this phase:

Walk-through and measurements
Layout decisions (keeping same layout vs. moving things)
Material selections: cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, lighting, fixtures
Getting quotes and finalizing scope of work
Pulling permits if needed (plumbing, electrical, structural changes)

Why it takes 2 to 4 weeks. Decision-making takes time. You need to visit showrooms, compare materials, and get aligned on budget. Rushing this phase causes changes during construction, which always costs more.

Pro tip. Make all your material selections before demo day. Every. Single. One. If you wait until the cabinets are in to pick a countertop, you add weeks of waiting. The countertop template cannot happen until cabinets are installed, and fabrication takes 1 to 2 weeks after that.

Phase 2: Material Ordering (1 to 3 Weeks)

Once selections are final, materials need to be ordered.

Cabinets: 1 to 6 weeks. Stock cabinets from a big box store can arrive in 1 to 2 weeks. Semi-custom cabinets take 3 to 4 weeks. Fully custom cabinets take 6 to 10 weeks. This is the single biggest variable in your timeline.

Countertops. These are ordered after cabinets are installed and templated. But you can pre-select the slab and reserve it so there are no surprises.

Tile, flooring, fixtures. Most in-stock items arrive in 1 to 2 weeks. Special orders can take 3 to 4 weeks. Order everything early.

Appliances: 1 to 4 weeks. In-stock models ship fast. Popular models go in and out of stock. If you have your eye on a specific appliance, order it early and store it until install day.

The overlap. Smart scheduling means ordering materials during the planning phase so they arrive before or right at demo time. Your remodeling team should coordinate this timeline.

Phase 3: Demo Day (2 to 3 Days)

This is the exciting (and messy) part.

What gets demoed:

Old cabinets and countertops removed
Old backsplash tile chipped off
Old flooring pulled up (if replacing)
Drywall removed where needed for access
Old fixtures and appliances disconnected and removed

Timeline: 2 to 3 days for a typical kitchen. Larger kitchens or kitchens with tile floors that need to be jackhammered up take closer to 4 to 5 days.

What to expect. Dust everywhere. Even with plastic sheeting and dust barriers, fine dust gets into adjacent rooms. Cover furniture in the living and dining areas. Move anything you care about.

Temporary kitchen setup. Before demo starts, set up a temporary cooking station. A folding table, microwave, electric kettle, and a cooler for cold items. Some homeowners set up in the garage. You will be living this way for 4 to 8 weeks.

Phase 4: Rough Work (1 Week)

After demo, the behind-the-wall work happens. This is the stuff you will never see but that makes everything work.

Plumbing. If you are moving the sink, adding a dishwasher line, or relocating the fridge water line, the plumber comes first. Moving a sink drain more than a few feet can add $500 to $2,000. New supply lines run $200 to $800.

Electrical. Adding outlets, moving switches, running wire for under-cabinet lights, installing a dedicated circuit for a new appliance. Most kitchen remodels need electrical updates, especially in older homes in Kendall and The Hammocks where kitchens have two or three outlets total.

HVAC. If ductwork needs to be rerouted (common when walls are removed), the HVAC tech comes during this phase.

Inspections. If permits were pulled, the plumbing and electrical rough-in inspections happen now, before walls are closed up. In Miami-Dade, the inspector needs to see the work before drywall goes up.

Timeline: 3 to 7 days depending on scope of changes.

Phase 5: Cabinet Installation (3 to 5 Days)

Cabinets set the foundation for everything else. They need to be level, plumb, and precisely positioned.

Upper cabinets go in first. This might seem backward, but installing uppers first means the installer can work without base cabinets in the way.

Base cabinets and filler strips follow. Shims, screws, and leveling. Older CBS homes in Miami often have uneven floors and walls. A good installer accounts for this and makes everything look straight even when the walls are not.

End panels and trim. These finish pieces close the gaps between cabinets and walls.

Timeline: 3 to 5 days for a standard kitchen. Complex layouts with corner cabinets, pantry towers, and custom details take closer to a week.

Phase 6: Countertop Template and Fabrication (1 to 2 Weeks)

This is the biggest wait during construction.

Templating. Once cabinets are installed, the countertop fabricator comes out to measure with a laser template. This creates an exact map of the countertop with cutouts for the sink, cooktop, and any other features. Takes about 1 to 2 hours.

Fabrication. The template goes to the fabrication shop. For quartz and granite, cutting, polishing, and edge profiling take 5 to 10 business days.

Installation. The fabricated slab comes back and gets installed. This usually takes half a day to a full day depending on complexity.

Timeline: 7 to 14 days from template to installation. During this wait, other work can happen (backsplash prep, painting, flooring).

Why you cannot skip this wait. Countertops are cut to exact measurements of the installed cabinets. If measured before cabinets are in, the fit will be off. A countertop that does not fit cannot be trimmed on site. It goes back to the shop or gets replaced, adding more weeks.

Phase 7: Backsplash Installation (2 to 3 Days)

The backsplash goes in after countertops are installed.

Day 1. Wall prep and tile layout. The installer marks centerlines, plans cuts around outlets and switches, and checks that the tile pattern lines up with the countertop and cabinets.

Day 2. Tile installation. Setting tile, cutting around outlets, adjusting spacing.

Day 3. Grouting and cleanup. Grout fills the joints. After it cures (usually 24 hours), the installer cleans the tile surface and caulks the joint where the backsplash meets the countertop.

Timeline: 2 to 3 days for a standard backsplash. Full-wall tile or complex patterns like herringbone add another day.

Phase 8: Finishing Touches (2 to 3 Days)

This is the home stretch.

Plumbing fixtures. Faucet, garbage disposal, dishwasher connection, under-sink plumbing.

Electrical finish. Light fixtures, under-cabinet lights, outlet covers, switch plates. GFCI outlets near sinks (required by code in Miami-Dade).

Appliance installation. Range, dishwasher, microwave, fridge get placed and connected.

Paint touch-ups. Walls, ceiling, any patching from demo or new openings.

Hardware. Cabinet pulls and knobs go on last so they do not get damaged during construction.

Final clean. Construction cleanup, dust removal, glass and surface cleaning.

Timeline: 2 to 3 days for finishing.

The Complete Kitchen Remodel Timeline

| Phase | Duration |

|-------|----------|

| Planning and design | 2 to 4 weeks |

| Material ordering | 1 to 3 weeks (overlaps with planning) |

| Demo | 2 to 3 days |

| Rough work (plumbing, electrical) | 3 to 7 days |

| Cabinet installation | 3 to 5 days |

| Countertop template and fab | 7 to 14 days |

| Backsplash | 2 to 3 days |

| Finishing touches | 2 to 3 days |

| Total construction time | 4 to 7 weeks |

| Total including planning | 6 to 12 weeks |

What Causes Delays

Even with perfect planning, delays happen. Here are the most common ones in Miami-Dade:

Permit delays. Miami-Dade building department can take 1 to 3 weeks for permit approval. Some complex projects take longer. Plan for this.

Material backorders. A specific cabinet door style, a particular quartz color, or that one fixture you saw online. If it is backordered, you wait or you choose something else.

Change orders. Changing your mind about the backsplash tile after cabinets are in means the tile you wanted is returned, new tile is ordered, and the installer reschedules. Every change order adds 1 to 2 weeks minimum.

Hidden damage. When walls come down, you sometimes find water damage, termite damage, or outdated wiring that needs to be addressed before work continues. This is more common in homes built before 1990 in areas like Westchester and South Miami Heights.

Weather. For kitchens with exterior wall modifications, heavy rain can delay work. Miami's rainy season (June through October) can add scheduling complications.

Scheduling conflicts. Plumber, electrician, tile installer, countertop fabricator. All need to come in a specific order. If one trade is delayed, it pushes the others back.

How to Keep Your Remodel on Track

Make all decisions before demo. Tile, countertop, fixtures, hardware, paint color. Everything.

Order materials early. Cabinets and countertop slabs especially. Reserve your materials weeks before construction starts.

Communicate weekly. Your remodeling team should give you a weekly update on progress and upcoming milestones.

Set up a functional temporary kitchen. If you are stressed about not having a kitchen, you will make rushed decisions to speed things up. A good temp setup makes the wait manageable.

Build in a buffer. If your remodeling team says 8 weeks, plan for 10. You will be pleasantly surprised if it finishes early and not frustrated if something takes an extra week.

Ready to Plan Your Kitchen Remodel?

Broke & Fixed Home Solutions handles kitchen remodeling projects across Miami-Dade County. We map out the full timeline before we start, coordinate materials and trades, and keep you updated every step of the way.

For pricing details, check our kitchen remodeling cost guide.

Call us at (786) 363-7039 to get started with a free estimate.

How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? Realistic Timeline