Most of our kitchen cabinet projects take 6–10 weeks from final design approval to installation. The exact timing depends on door style, finish, and current shop volume. Here's what happens at each stage, and what you can do to keep your project moving.
Stage 1: Free In-Home Consultation
We come to your home, measure the space, and talk through how you use your kitchen: who cooks, what you store, and what bothers you about the current layout. Bring photos of kitchens you love. They help us understand your style faster than any description.
Stage 2: Design and 3D Preview
We turn the measurements and conversation into a design, including a 3D preview so you can see the finished kitchen before anything is built. Use this stage to fine-tune door styles, finishes, and storage. It moves as fast as decisions get made.
Stage 3: Final Approval and Selections
Once the design, finishes, and hardware are locked in, the 6–10 week clock starts. Changing selections after approval can delay your project, so take your time here.
Stage 4: Fabrication
Your cabinets are built and finished. Painted and specialty finishes take longer than standard stains because they require more coats and curing time. Full custom pieces generally take longer than semi-custom.
Stage 5: Preparation
While your cabinets are being built, coordinate anything else that needs to happen first, such as plumbing or electrical changes, flooring, or drywall work. If you're replacing cabinets, plan for when the old ones will come out. We'll coordinate the schedule with you so your kitchen is out of service for as little time as possible.
Stage 6: Installation
Our own crew handles installation, not a subcontractor. They level, shim, and scribe the cabinets to your walls and floors, then install doors, drawers, and hardware. How long installation takes depends on the size and complexity of your kitchen. We'll give you a schedule before work starts.
Stage 7: Countertops and Finishing Touches
If you're getting new stone countertops, the fabricator templates them after the cabinets are installed, because the counters must fit the actual cabinets. Then backsplash, lighting, and final adjustments complete the job.
What Can Slow a Project Down
- Design changes after final approval
- Specialty finishes or custom glass
- Hidden issues found during demolition, such as water damage or out-of-level floors
- Condo or HOA approvals and restricted work hours
- Waiting on other trades like plumbers, electricians, or countertop fabricators
How to Keep Your Project on Schedule
- Make your key decisions (door style, finish, hardware, and appliances) before final approval.
- Have appliance specs ready early. Cabinet openings are built around them.
- If you're in a condo, start the HOA approval process right away.
- Plan a temporary kitchen setup for while your kitchen is out of service.
Thinking about refacing instead? Refacing projects are generally faster because there's no demolition or new box installation. Compare the two in our refacing vs. replacement guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get custom kitchen cabinets?
Most of our kitchen cabinet projects take 6–10 weeks from final design approval to installation, depending on door style, finish, and current shop volume.
How long does cabinet installation take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the kitchen, and we'll give you a schedule before work begins. Countertops, backsplash, and finishing touches follow after the cabinets are in.
Can I use my kitchen during a cabinet project?
During design and fabrication, yes, nothing changes in your home. The kitchen is out of service during removal and installation, and until countertops are in if you're replacing them.