What to Expect During a Kitchen Remodel Week by Week

Two kitchens that look the same on paper can finish four weeks apart, because one has a cabinet order arriving late and the other does not, as the notes at kitchen remodeling palm springs lach today describe. A kitchen remodel in Palm Springs, CA runs in a fixed order, and the delays come from that order, not from the work itself.

Demolition and rough-in

Cabinets, counters and flooring come out first, then the crew opens walls for new plumbing, electrical and venting. Plumbing rough-in on a slab house means cutting concrete to move a drain, which adds a day for the cut, the repair and the cure. Inspections for rough-in happen before any wall is closed.

Walls, ceiling and flooring

Drywall, texture and paint on the ceiling go before the floor. Flooring is laid before the base cabinets in some jobs and after in others, depending on whether the floor runs under the cabinets. Tile and plank behave differently in the Coachella Valley heat, so the installer leaves expansion gaps at the walls.

Cabinets and counters

Base cabinets are set level and tied together, then the countertop template is taken. Stone and quartz fabrication needs the template first and then a wait, which is the longest gap in the schedule. The kitchen has no countertop for that stretch, and the sink may be out of service.

Lighting plan and finish

Recessed lights, pendants and under cabinet strips are wired during rough-in but the fixtures go on at the end. Backsplash tile follows the counters, then grout, sealer, plumbing trim and the final inspection.

What slows a job in the desert

Summer heat above one hundred degrees changes the working day. Crews start early, and thinset, paint and caulk have shorter open times. Deliveries from outside the Colorado Desert can be delayed by weather, and a winter storm on the San Jacinto Mountains can close a pass.

Living without a kitchen

Plan on several weeks with no sink and no range. A temporary setup in the garage or a back room, with a microwave, a hot plate and a utility sink, carries most households through. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway season and holiday weekends also fill the area with visitors, so trades and delivery trucks can be harder to book then.