i swore i'd only do my remodel in temperate or warm weather so (1) i didn't have to worry about snowstorms delaying schedules or complicating unloading of cabinets, etc. and (2) windows could be comfortably left open -- esp. since i have a bird and they have sensitive respiratory ssytems. yet, i just ordered my cabinets today --- translating to a late jan/ear;y feb demo. i wanted to do this last april, but had various delays and just want to get this going already! so i understand!

I guess it would depend on your family situation whether you're crazy or not. ;-) If you have young children, I really wouldn't want all that hassle during Christmas since it's such a big deal for kids. If you don't have children, and it won't bother you, it sounds perfect. Since most people wouldn't want this, I'll bet contractors aren't quite so busy during that time. That might even make it go faster!

Best of all, if you have grown kids, go to their house. Then they get to do all the cleaning and cooking, and you get to show up and eat!

Personally, I'm questioning my own sanity since we just closed on a not-quite finished house today. I have NO shopping done at all and no holiday decorating. I don't even know where the tree is right now. Christmas is BIG at my house, so this was horrible timing. (Not my fault. House was supposed to be finished before Thanksgiving. "Maybe even October!". Whatever.)

Anyway, happy remodeling. It's like your house getting a new year's resolution!

Well.. We started our remodel in the first week of June and it was schedule for 3-4 months MAX.. Obviously we've got WAY longer and we'll be lucky if we're able to move in before Christmas.. Just keep in mind that schedules DO change and if the GC is telling you it will take 1 month for your job, assume 3..

Go for it! Whenever you can get it done and behind you, I would do it. It will always be inconvenient and conflict with something, and if you think you can live with this situation, you will do fine. It's temporary and it's once.

BTW, my friend had her dh move them into their new house while she was in the hospital having her 5th baby! Better than moving back into their temporary quarters, then supervising the move later...

Best wishes!

Well, this is a little different. Everyone thinks I am crazy for wanting to NOT have a kitchen for quite a while. We will be gutting the kitchen after the holidays, and I am not really in any hurry to finish the reno. I am welcoming the thought of disposable plates, cups and utensils. We will still have a fridge/freezer and we grill alot, so we will be using our BBQ island a ton. So glad I got a side burner out there!!! Though, I will say, we'd better be done by Halloween!!! lol.

We are doing most of the work ourselves (demo, paint, electrical) and will hire subs for each part of the project. I guess the money we will save will make up for the inconvenience. I HOPE!!!

We started kitchen demo on the Monday before Thanksgiving which meant we didn't have a kitchen until well after the first of the year. I was asked a few times if I was sure on the demo date and all I could do was say yes, yes, yes.

For us, working through the winter (when it was slower for the contractors) meant that they showed up to work every day. They were at our house when they said they would be. The project moved right along and I said daily that I could see progress every single day.

Would I do it this way again? Absolutely yes. In addition, that year it meant that we were invited out for every holiday...and that was a huge treat for me.

Well, you guys are echoing my thought processes exactly. This IS a slow time for them, so their attention will be focused on my job only. I think it's actually my best bet for getting things finished on schedule, or at least close to schedule.

We have a small (

We're supposed to start in a week or so - they need to dig outside first, and I really want that to happen before the ground freezes 2 feet down (yesterday they covered my backyard with hay in anticipation of freezing) but the kitchen demo should be maybe the week after next. On one hand, the sooner it starts, the sooner it finishes but on the other hand I won't be heartbroken at this point if it doesn't start till after the 1st. I'm all packed and ready to move out of the kitchen, so anytime would be good. And the christmas shopping is 90% done, so I'm not stressed.

I had initially hoped they'd be done by superbowl but that was when I thought they'd start back in October (a stupid mortgage guy and bad city permit system put a nix on that)

You said it all when you said you were inviting understanding friends for New Years and that it was going to work out just fine. You sound like the kind of person I'd want as a friend ;)
You can enjoy visiting others for the holidays and when you think about it, friends and family are what this time of year is all about. I'd be so excited to be that much closer to my new kitchen that they could start today if it were possible, lol. Of course, we won't get anything started until Spring, at the earliest, so we are a full year, at least, behind schedule.

The one thing to check, I think, is if the GC was trying to warn you off. Does he really want to work over the holidays? Do his subs? Are they taking their kids on vacation just when you thought they'd be working? The GC might want the job too much to tell you no-can-do, and figure he can probably make it work out, rather than being eager for your start date.

If you're sure he and the subs are on board, go for it! And maybe add an incentive bonus for them to be done, cleaned up and signed off by January 25 (sooner if that's the quote), which gives you a week to get your act together before your party. Plus a penalty if it's not done by February 1.

It can be done if everyone's on board. I only worry that less than 2 months over the holidays is awfully tight, if you really want them done in time for the party.

Not a choice I would make, but I host Christmas for my extended family.

I had an empty room with unpainted taped sheetrock walls and plywood floor last Christmas. I still had 25 people for Christmas Eve dinner (potlock of course). I literally was sheetrocking on the day of the party so kids couldn't touch hot pipes and junction boxes. The most hilarious thing about the whole party...

Guess where everyone ended up? Everyone still stood around in the empty kitchen with plates of food and drinks. So the saying that everyone ends up in the kitchen still stands even when there is not a kitchen.

Well, plllog, I completely hear your concern, and I shared it before talking with the GC. He has no kids, and his main two crew guys are both single (I'm sure I'll be doing some matchmaking before this is all over :) ), so there were no issues there. The scheduling, of course, all hinges on when the cabinet maker will be ready to install. Given the cabinet maker's timeline, the GC actually preferred the Dec. 17 start date but was concerned about what it meant for me.

And, dianalo, come on by on New Year's Eve--the low country boil is to die for! ;)

I think we are both nuts. I just scheduled two weeks of earthquake retrofit to start Tuesday. Nonstop compressors and nail guns, whooppee!

I do plan to stay at my son's house a lot.

I figured it would help me restrain myself at the holidays, plus they won't be distracted by other jobs.

I went along with plllog, that's what I'd ask myself too.

But make sure that your cabinets are in, have been inventoried, and that all pieces are there and undamaged before you let the contractor gut your kitchen. That advice was given to us before we started and I'm SO glad we followed it. We were lucky and had everything in and accounted for, undamaged, when the contractor finished the family room and was ready to start the kitchen - he started it the same day. But I've heard horror stories of folks who gutted their kitchen only to find out that a piece was missing from their cabinet order - and it's never fascia or something simple, it's always a crucial piece!

DonnaR/CA

The cabs are being custom made locally, so even if something is wrong or a piece isn't ready on time, it's not like we'll have to wait weeks for some company to send us a new piece. The cabinet maker has an outstanding reputation, so I have faith that he'll take care of any problems promptly.

Back to your topic question? Since it's the GC's question but he and crew good with the 17th, and the cabinet guy is on schedule, maybe the GC is just concerned that you'll say go for it then freak out when the holidays actually come. You sound like you've thought it through well, and since these are the cat-puke/dog-sloober-proof guys, right?, surely they'll be able to cope with a little holiday chaos.

Perhaps before you start demo you and the GC can work out the holiday schedule--which days they intend to work, which days you don't want them around, etc. GC will be reassured and you'll be able to organize your family.

Yep, these are the cat-puke/dog slobber-proof guys! :)

I'm just so excited to get started that I could scream. Then again, I only have one week to get the kitchen all packed up and ready for demo. Why am I online? I should be packing!

Sounds like you really want to get started and there is always things that get in the way. It is a hassle no matter what. I havent read anyone advising you to add extra time to the job. I have read this site for 2 years. (I have been done for a year) and it is a rare case when jobs are completed on the date one first get. Double the time and if it gets done quicker you will be extremely happy!