The honest answer
A full kitchen renovation in Australia — from finalising the design to cleaning up after completion — typically takes 8–18 weeks. The on-site construction phase is usually 2–4 weeks. The other 6–14 weeks is design, quoting, lead time for cabinets, and scheduling trades. Most homeowners underestimate this significantly.
Week-by-week timeline
| Phase | Typical duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Design and quoting | 2–4 weeks | Longer if you're getting multiple quotes or need design revisions |
| Selections and approvals | 1–2 weeks | Finalising every material, handle, appliance before manufacture begins |
| Cabinet manufacture (custom) | 4–10 weeks | This is the longest lead time in most projects |
| Cabinet manufacture (flat-pack) | 1–3 weeks | Faster but requires scheduling installer separately |
| Demolition | 1–2 days | Usually the first day of on-site work |
| Rough-in trades (plumber, electrician) | 1–2 days | Happens after demolition, before cabinet installation |
| Cabinet installation | 2–5 days | Depends on kitchen size and complexity |
| Benchtop templating | 30–60 mins | Happens after cabinets are fully installed |
| Benchtop fabrication | 1–2 weeks | Stone requires this lead time after templating |
| Benchtop installation | Half to 1 day | |
| Splashback (tile) | 1–2 days | Including grout curing time |
| Splashback (glass) | 2–4 week lead time + 1 day install | Glass panels are made to order |
| Final trades (plumber, electrician) | 1 day | Connect sink, dishwasher, appliances, lighting |
| Touch-ups and cleaning | 1–2 days |
The benchtop templating bottleneck
Stone benchtops cannot be templated until cabinets are fully installed and level. They then require 1–2 weeks for fabrication. This creates a mandatory pause in the project between cabinet installation and the final trades. Plan your living arrangements around this gap — your kitchen will be without a benchtop for 1–3 weeks.
What causes renovations to run over schedule
Late selections. If you change your mind about the benchtop material after the cabinets are installed, you're resetting the fabrication timeline. Every selection should be locked in before work begins on site.
Unexpected site conditions. Old asbestos, rotted subfloor, outdated electrical, non-standard plumbing — any of these can add days or weeks depending on what's required to address them.
Trade scheduling conflicts. In capital cities, quality tradespeople have full schedules. If your plumber can't come until 2 weeks after cabinet installation, the project pauses. Scheduling all trades at the outset reduces this risk.
Material delays. Imported items (specific tiles, appliances, hardware) can be delayed by weeks. Order these early and have confirmed delivery dates before committing to a construction start date.