How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? A Clark County Timeline

One of the most common questions homeowners ask before a kitchen remodel is how long it will take. The honest answer is that the overall project usually takes longer than the construction itself. A kitchen remodel is mostly waiting: for designs, for cabinets, for permits, for inspections and for the countertop shop to come measure. The hammering is the short part.

This guide walks through each phase so you can build a realistic schedule for a kitchen remodel in Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield, Battle Ground or anywhere in Clark County. We’re not going to promise you a number of weeks, because nobody honest can without seeing your project. What we can do is show you what takes time, and what you can do to keep it moving.

Phase 1: Planning and design

This is where you decide what you actually want: same layout or new layout, which cabinets, which counters, which appliances, and how much you’re willing to spend. It is also where most of your time savings live. Every decision you make now is one the crew won’t have to stop and wait for later.

• Moving the sink, range or walls takes more time than keeping the layout. New plumbing, gas or electrical routes and structural changes add design, permit and inspection steps.
• Pick appliances early. Cabinet and electrical plans depend on their exact sizes and power needs.
• Get more than one written bid and compare the scope line by line (see how to compare contractor bids).

Phase 2: Ordering and lead times

Cabinets, windows, special-order appliances and some tile can take a while to arrive, and lead times change with the season and the supplier. Ask your contractor and suppliers for current lead times in writing, and whether demolition will wait until key materials are on site. Waiting on materials after demolition can leave you without a working kitchen longer than planned.

Phase 3: Permits

Many kitchen remodels need permits, especially when you move plumbing, add circuits, change gas lines or touch walls. Who issues them depends on where you live: inside Vancouver city limits it’s the city (City of Vancouver permits), other cities run their own offices, and unincorporated areas like Hockinson, Brush Prairie or Salmon Creek go through Clark County building permits. In Washington, electrical permits are often issued by L&I rather than the city (L&I electrical permits). Our Clark County permit guide has the full list. Permit review takes time, so ask your contractor to apply early.

Phase 4: Demolition

Demo is fast and satisfying, and it’s also when surprises show up: water damage under the sink, old wiring, a rotten subfloor, or the mysterious layers of linoleum your house has been hiding. Build a contingency into your budget and your schedule for whatever is behind the walls. If your home was built before 1978, ask whether your contractor is lead-safe certified under the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program, and consider an asbestos survey first (the Southwest Clean Air Agency’s asbestos FAQ explains why).

Expect dust barriers, protected floors and some disruption to daily routines during this phase. For practical tips, read what it’s really like to remodel while living at home.

Phase 5: Rough-in and inspections

With the walls open, plumbers, electricians and HVAC installers run new lines. Then the work usually has to be inspected before walls are closed up. Inspections are scheduled with the permit office, so there can be gaps between “ready” and “inspected.” Ask your contractor how they’ll sequence trades and what happens if an inspection needs a correction.

Phase 6: Walls, floors and cabinets

After rough-in inspections pass, insulation and drywall go up, then flooring (depending on the plan), then cabinets. Drywall needs mud, sanding and paint, and each step takes time to dry. Cabinet installation is the moment it starts to look like a kitchen again, though there are still several steps to go.

Phase 7: Countertops (the part nobody warns you about)

For stone and quartz countertops, the fabricator usually measures (“templates”) after the base cabinets are installed, then cuts the slabs in their shop, then comes back to install. That means a gap between cabinets and counters while you stare at bare boxes. Ask your contractor or fabricator how long templating to install typically takes for your material right now. Sinks and cooktops often can’t be finished until counters are in.

Phase 8: Backsplash, appliances and finish work

Backsplash tile, plumbing fixtures, appliance hookups, light fixtures, trim and touch-up paint come next. Final inspections happen once the permitted work is complete.

Phase 9: The punch list

The punch list is the list of small fixes at the end: a door that rubs, a missing outlet cover, a scratch to touch up. Walk the kitchen with your contractor and write it all down. Agree on how and when final payment is tied to the punch list being done.

Living without a kitchen in the meantime

Set up a temporary kitchen before demo: a microwave, an electric skillet or toaster oven, a coffee maker, the old fridge in the garage, and a bin for washing dishes in the laundry sink or bathtub. Plan a few slow-cooker meals and give yourself permission for takeout. The more comfortable the temporary setup, the less tempting it is to rush the decisions that keep the real kitchen on schedule.

What makes kitchen remodels take longer

• Changing the layout or moving walls
• Late decisions and mid-project changes
• Long material lead times, or ordering after demo
• Permit review and inspection scheduling
• Hidden damage found during demolition
• Custom or special-order items

How to keep your kitchen remodel on schedule

• Finalize design and selections before demo.
• Ask for a written schedule with phases, and update it together when things change.
• Have materials delivered (or confirmed) before demo starts.
• Answer crew questions quickly. Pick one decision-maker in the household if you can.
• Put change orders in writing with the price and schedule impact (more in what contractors wish homeowners knew).

Finding help

Browse general contractors and remodelers in Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield, Battle Ground and Washougal, or check handyman services for smaller kitchen updates like new hardware or a faucet swap. Before you sign, look up the contractor on WA L&I Verify a Contractor (how to check a contractor with L&I) and read red flags when hiring a contractor.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a kitchen remodel take?

It depends on scope. Keeping the same layout is usually faster than moving plumbing, gas lines or walls, and planning, ordering, permits and countertop fabrication often take as long as the construction itself. Ask each contractor for a written, phase-by-phase schedule for your specific project.

Do I need a permit to remodel my kitchen in Vancouver, WA?

Often, yes, especially if you change plumbing, electrical, gas or walls. Inside Vancouver city limits, the City of Vancouver issues building permits; unincorporated Clark County uses Clark County Community Development, and electrical permits are often issued by L&I. Confirm with your permit office.

Why is there a gap between cabinets and countertops?

Stone and quartz fabricators usually measure after the base cabinets are installed, then cut the slabs in their shop before installing. Ask your fabricator how long that takes for your material.

What’s the biggest cause of kitchen remodel delays?

Late decisions and materials that aren’t on site when they’re needed are common culprits, along with hidden damage found during demolition and inspection scheduling.

Clark County Contractors is a free directory. We don’t vet, rate, recommend or guarantee any business listed here. This guide is general information; confirm details with your permit office and the businesses you hire.