When remodeling a kitchen, what comes first? Most people grab a sledgehammer, but demolition is actually step three, not step one. Get the order wrong and you will pay for it — literally. Cabinets go in before the floors are finished, countertops get measured only after the cabinets are set, and appliances get picked out before any of that. This guide walks you through the exact 10-step order the pros use, with real costs and timelines for a typical 10-by-10-foot kitchen.
A finished kitchen remodel — following the right order gets you here faster — Photo: Tomwsulcer, via Wikimedia Commons
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Plan and Budget First
- Step 2: Finalize the Design and Order Everything
- Step 3: Demolition — Out With the Old
- Step 4: Rough-In — Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC
- Step 5: Close the Walls — Drywall and Paint
- Step 6: Install the Flooring
- Step 7: Install the Cabinets
- Step 8: Template and Install the Countertops
- Step 9: Backsplash and Wall Finishes
- Step 10: Appliances, Fixtures, and Final Touches
- FAQs
- Final Thoughts
Step 1: Plan and Budget First
Measuring carefully before anything is ordered — Photo: Tomwsulcer, via Wikimedia Commons
Planning comes before everything — even before you call a contractor. Decide what you want to change, what you want to keep, and what you can spend. For a 10-by-10-foot kitchen, a cosmetic refresh runs $10,000 to $15,000, a mid-range remodel $25,000 to $50,000, and a high-end job $60,000 or more, following National Kitchen & Bath Association budgeting guidelines.
Write your must-haves and nice-to-haves on paper. Measure your kitchen twice and sketch the layout. Check whether your project needs permits — most cities require them for electrical, plumbing, or wall changes. This paperwork step feels slow, but it prevents the expensive surprises that blow up budgets later.
Step 2: Finalize the Design and Order Everything
A finished kitchen design — lock the layout and materials before demolition — Photo: Martin Mraz, Julie Wimmer, via Wikimedia Commons
Lock in your design before demolition starts. Choose your cabinets, countertops, flooring, paint colors, and — this is the big one — your exact appliance models. Appliances dictate cabinet dimensions, so order them now even though they arrive last. Custom cabinets can take 8 to 12 weeks to build, so this step sets your whole timeline.
Pick a style direction early to make every later choice easier. If you love warm wood tones, our brown kitchen ideas show how wood cabinets pair with stone and brass. Prefer farmhouse charm? Browse our country kitchen ideas for inspiration. Get confirmed delivery dates for everything before the first wall comes down.
Step 3: Demolition — Out With the Old
A kitchen stripped back to the bones on demo day — Photo: Tomwsulcer, via Wikimedia Commons
Now the fun part: tear out the old kitchen. Remove appliances, cabinets, countertops, flooring, and anything else that is going. Shut off the water and power first, and rent a dumpster — a full kitchen demo fills one fast. Expect dust everywhere, so seal off nearby rooms with plastic sheeting.
Do not smash blindly. Check for asbestos in old flooring or insulation first, especially in homes built before 1980. Keep anything worth donating — Habitat for Humanity ReStores take cabinets and appliances free. A careful demo takes 2 to 5 days and costs $1,000 to $3,000 if you hire it out.
Step 4: Rough-In — Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC
Opened walls ready for new plumbing and wiring — Photo: Tomwsulcer, via Wikimedia Commons
With the walls open, the pros run the hidden stuff: new plumbing lines, electrical wiring, outlets, and venting for the range hood. This is also when walls move or come down. Everything gets inspected before the walls close — that inspection is not optional in most places.
This answers a top Reddit question: yes, you almost always need permits for this stage. Moving a sink or adding outlets means opening walls, and doing it after the cabinets are installed costs triple. Rough-in work takes 1 to 2 weeks and runs $3,000 to $8,000 depending on how much moves.
Step 5: Close the Walls — Drywall and Paint
New drywall going up after inspections pass — Photo: City of Boston Archives, via Wikimedia Commons
Once inspections pass, the walls go back up. Hang drywall, tape the seams, and sand it smooth. This Old House pros have taught the same lesson for decades: the finish only looks as good as the prep underneath — lumpy drywall shows through every coat of paint.
Prime the walls now and roll on the first coat of paint before the cabinets arrive. Painting empty walls is ten times faster than cutting around installed cabinets. Use a scrubbable satin or semi-gloss paint made for kitchens — it wipes clean when spaghetti sauce splatters.
Step 6: Install the Flooring
Laying tile flooring before the cabinets go in — Photo: MTA Capital Construction, via Wikimedia Commons
Floors go in before cabinets — this is the standard pro order, and it settles the internet's favorite debate. Flooring under the cabinets gives a clean, seamless look, and it keeps the dishwasher opening at the right height so the appliance slides in and out for years.
Protect the new floor with heavy paper or ram board before the cabinet crew arrives. Tile, luxury vinyl plank, and engineered hardwood all work in kitchens — just keep solid hardwood away from the sink and dishwasher. Flooring takes 3 to 7 days and costs $3,000 to $7,000 for a 10-by-10 kitchen.
Step 7: Install the Cabinets
Base cabinets going in on the new floor — Photo: Akpeski, via Wikimedia Commons
Cabinets are the backbone of the kitchen, so they go in on a flat, finished floor. Installers hang the upper cabinets first, then set the lowers — working this way means nobody has to lean over the base cabinets. Corner units go in first to set the reference lines.
Family Handyman's golden rule applies here: never trust that your walls are straight. Shim every cabinet level and plumb, and screw them into the studs, not just the drywall. Cabinet installation takes 3 to 5 days. Stock cabinets run $5,000 to $12,000; semi-custom or custom can double that.
Step 8: Template and Install the Countertops
Stone slabs waiting to be cut for countertops — Photo: Stilfehler, via Wikimedia Commons
Countertops get measured only after the cabinets are installed — never before. A fabricator templates the exact cabinet layout because walls and cabinets are never perfectly square. Stone slabs then take 1 to 3 weeks to cut and polish.
Laminate is the budget pick at $20 to $50 per square foot installed. Butcher block runs $40 to $100. Quartz and granite run $60 to $150. Pick a stone that suits your cabinets — warm wood tones pair beautifully with creamy quartz, as our wood-tone kitchen guide shows.
Step 9: Backsplash and Wall Finishes
A finished tile backsplash — the jewelry of the kitchen — Photo: Capdevielle, via Wikimedia Commons
With countertops in, tile the backsplash. It protects the wall from splashes and adds the jewelry of the kitchen. Subway tile is the classic budget choice; handmade-look zellige tile adds character for more money.
Grout and seal the tile, then do your final wall touch-ups. Fill nail holes, caulk the trim, and roll the last coat of paint. This is detail week — small fixes now save you from staring at flaws for the next ten years.
Step 10: Appliances, Fixtures, and Final Touches
The finished kitchen — appliances in, details done — Photo: Tomwsulcer, via Wikimedia Commons
Last come the pieces you ordered back in step two: slide in the refrigerator, range, and dishwasher, then connect the faucet, garbage disposal, and range hood. The electrician and plumber return for final hookups — usually a single day.
Install cabinet hardware, switch plates, and any open shelving. Walk the kitchen with a notepad and list every flaw for a punch list — drips, gaps, scratches. A good contractor fixes them all before final payment. Total timeline for a full remodel: 6 to 12 weeks from demolition to done.
FAQs
When remodeling a kitchen, what comes first — demolition?
No — planning and ordering materials come first. Demolition is step three. Tearing out before your cabinets are ordered leaves you with no kitchen for months.
Do floors go in before or after cabinets?
Before. Flooring under the cabinets looks seamless and keeps appliance openings at the right height. Just protect the floor during cabinet installation.
When should I buy appliances?
Pick your exact models during planning (step 2) because they set cabinet sizes — but they get installed near the end (step 10).
Do I need a permit to remodel my kitchen?
For electrical, plumbing, or structural changes, yes in most US cities. Cosmetic updates like painting or swapping cabinet doors usually do not need one. Check with your city first.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
A full remodel of a 10-by-10 kitchen takes 6 to 12 weeks. Custom cabinets and stone countertops add the most waiting time — order them early.
What is the biggest mistake people make?
Starting demolition before materials are ordered. Cabinets and countertops have long lead times, and an empty gutted kitchen gets old fast.
Final Thoughts
Follow the order and the remodel almost runs itself: plan, order, demolish, rough-in, close up, floor, cabinets, counters, backsplash, appliances. Skip a step or shuffle the sequence and you will pay in delays and rework. Take your time on steps one and two — every hour of planning saves a day of fixing later.
Kitchen Remodel Gallery
A real working home kitchen — Photo: Bart Everson, via Wikimedia Commons
A bright updated home kitchen — Photo: Infrogmation, via Wikimedia Commons
Historic kitchen with built-in cabinetry — Photo: Stilfehler, via Wikimedia Commons
Backsplash tile detail — Photo: Henry P. Gray, via Wikimedia Commons
Granite countertop stone up close — Photo: Stilfehler, via Wikimedia Commons
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