Stone vs laminate makes a big difference

One of the biggest things that affects the timeline is your benchtop choice.

If you are going for stone, that usually pushes the timing out more. If you are going for laminate, it is generally much quicker. So if someone is wanting the fastest turnaround possible, that is one of the main things that can affect it straight away.

It is not necessarily that one is right and one is wrong. It just depends on what sort of finish you want and how quickly you want the kitchen back up and running.

Are we covering the existing footprint, or changing it?

That is a big one.

If we are putting the new kitchen back on the same footprint as the old one, it is usually a lot simpler. If you want to move everything around, go from a breakfast bar to an island, or change the layout completely, then obviously that can add more time because there is more involved.

A lot of the time, if people do not want to redo their flooring, then we can put the kitchen on exactly the same footprint as the existing kitchen. That is often the easiest way to do it.

If you are redoing your flooring, then it opens up a lot more freedom. You can change the footprint more easily, move to an island, and make bigger layout changes without having to worry about what is underneath.

Flooring can affect more than people think

People do not always realise how much flooring can impact the renovation.

Sometimes people want to change the footprint, but they do not want to redo the floor. In that case, we would be looking at whether there are spare tiles to patch with, or whether we need to keep the new kitchen covering the old footprint. Other than patching, the other option is usually redoing the floor.

So flooring can affect the design, but it can also affect the timing, because once you start changing the shape of the kitchen, you also extend the timeframe from kitchen removal to installation

Building work will usually make it a bigger job

Another thing that can affect timing is if you are removing a wall, closing in a window, removing a bulkhead, or doing anything structural, then it becomes a bigger renovation than just changing cabinetry.

We do work with builders if walls need to move or things need to be opened up, and that can completely change the space, which is great, but it also means there are more moving parts in the job. So when people ask how long a kitchen renovation takes, a lot of the answer comes down to whether it is just a kitchen renovation, or whether it is really part of a larger project.

Plumbing changes can add time too

With plumbing, we usually try to put the new cabinetry over the top of the existing waste pipe if we can. If we cannot, then the plumber may need to chase plumbing through the slab, which is obviously messier and more costly. If we can avoid that, we do, but if we have to do it, we can.

That is one of those things people do not always think about at the start, but it definitely affects how simple or how involved the renovation is.

The planning happens before the install

People often focus on how long they will be without the kitchen, but there is a whole process before installation starts. Usually, the process starts in the showroom. We run through the different finishes, doors, benchtops, handles and all of that, and get an idea of what you are looking for. From there, a wish list gets put together and then the design appointment is booked in.

After that, the home gets measured up, the kitchen gets designed, quoted, and then we bring you back in to run through the plans and show you what it is going to look like.

So the installation itself is only one part of the process. There is a fair bit of planning beforehand, and that is actually what helps the install side run more smoothly.

Good planning is what keeps things moving

A lot of keeping a renovation on time comes down to having all the details sorted properly upfront.

Once the design is locked in, the project managers go through all of the finer details as well, like which way doors are hinged, where handles are going, shelving details and all of those smaller things. That all helps keep the job organised once it gets to install time.

Some kitchens are quicker than others

Every kitchen is a bit different. There are customers who have had a working kitchen again in a couple of days, and there are also jobs that naturally take longer because they involve stone, layout changes, flooring, builders or plumbing changes.

That is why there is not really one blanket answer for every renovation. It is a little bit like how long is a piece of string. We can give you a usual range, but the actual timing depends on the choices you make and what needs to happen in the space.

What usually affects the timeline the most?

If you are trying to work out how long your renovation might take, the main things to think about are:

Your benchtop choice

Stone usually takes longer. Laminate is usually quicker.

Whether you are keeping the same footprint

Keeping the same footprint is generally simpler and faster.

Whether you are redoing the flooring

If you are not changing the flooring, that can limit layout changes. If you are redoing it, you have more freedom.

Whether any walls, windows or bulkheads are changing

That can turn it into more of a building project as well as a kitchen renovation.

Whether plumbing needs to move

If plumbing can stay where it is, that is easier. If it has to move, it adds time.

How organised the selections are upfront

The more decisions that are sorted early, the smoother the process tends to be.

So, how long does a kitchen renovation take?

As a general guide, if you are doing a stone benchtop, you are normally without your kitchen for about two weeks. If you are doing laminate benchtops, it can be more like three to four days.

But really, it comes down to how simple or how custom the overall renovation is.

If you are keeping the same footprint and keeping things fairly straightforward, it can be quite quick. If you are changing the layout, moving plumbing, doing building work or redoing flooring, then the timing will extend out. That is why every kitchen is a little bit different. 

Book a showroom tour at MKN

If you want to get a proper idea of what is going to work in your space, the best place to start is by booking a kitchen showroom tour at MKN. We can run through the different options with you, help you narrow down your wish list, and give you a much clearer idea of what is actually going to suit your kitchen, your style and your budget.