The Seven Steps, In Order
Every kitchen remodeling Portland project we take on follows this same sequence, whether it’s a refresh or a full renovation.
Initial Consultation & Walkthrough
We walk the space with you, talk through what’s working and what isn’t, and take rough measurements. This is also when we flag anything visible that could affect scope — an old panel, visible water staining, a layout constraint. No cost yet, just an honest first look.
Design & Material Selection
Layout, cabinet style, countertop material, and finishes get decided here. We provide a detailed, line-itemized quote based on your actual selections — not a rough estimate you’ll renegotiate later. See our full pricing guide for what drives cost at this stage.
Permitting
We submit and manage the permit application with the City of Portland’s Bureau of Development Services ourselves — you’re not the one on hold with the city. Review time averages around 70 days for anything touching structural, electrical, or plumbing work. Cosmetic-only projects usually skip this step.
Material Ordering
Cabinets, countertops, and appliances get ordered once selections are finalized, since custom and semi-custom cabinetry often has its own lead time separate from the permit timeline. Ordering early keeps this from becoming the bottleneck later.
Demolition
Old cabinets, countertops, and flooring come out. This is also when anything hidden behind the walls — old wiring, corroded plumbing, water damage — actually becomes visible. If we find something, we tell you before continuing, not after.
Construction
Rough-in electrical and plumbing happens first, followed by drywall, flooring, cabinet installation, countertops, and finish work in that order. Larger structural changes extend this phase; a cosmetic refresh moves through it much faster.
Final Walkthrough
We walk the finished kitchen with you, work through a punch list of any small fixes, and don’t consider the project done until that list is clear. For what daily life looks like during these phases, see our guide to living through a remodel.
How Long Does Each Phase Actually Take?
| Phase | Typical Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation & design | 2–4 weeks | Faster if you already know your material choices |
| Permitting | ~70 days average | Skipped entirely for cosmetic-only work |
| Material lead time | 3–8 weeks | Runs alongside permitting, not after it |
| Demolition | 1–3 days | Longer for full-kitchen structural demo |
| Construction | 2–5 weeks | Cosmetic refresh is fastest; structural work is slowest |
| Total, start to finish | 4–6 months | Design-to-completion, most projects |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be home during construction?
Not for most of it. We’ll coordinate access in advance, and you don’t need to be present for routine work — just reachable if a decision comes up.
What happens if you find something unexpected once demo starts?
We stop, show you what we found, and explain the cost and timeline impact before doing anything further. Nothing gets added to the project without your approval first.
Can I make changes once construction has started?
Sometimes, but it depends on the phase. Changes before rough-in is complete are usually straightforward; changes after cabinets or countertops are ordered can affect both cost and timeline.
Who handles the permit paperwork?
We do, start to finish — submission, responding to any city review comments, and scheduling inspections. It’s part of the process, not an extra step you manage yourself.
Real Clients on Working Through Our Process
Not just the finished kitchen — what it was like to get there.
“We knew going in that permitting would take a while, because they told us upfront instead of promising a faster timeline just to win the job. When it took about as long as they said, there were no surprises.”
“My kitchen is small, so I was worried the design phase would drag on. It didn’t — we landed on a layout in a couple of meetings, and once materials were ordered, construction moved fast.”
“When they opened a wall and found something unexpected, they stopped and called us before doing anything else. That’s the part of the process I’d tell other homeowners to ask about before hiring anyone.”
Ready to Start Your Kitchen Project?
Tell us about your kitchen below and we will follow up with real pricing, usually within one business day.