Now, to be fair we built an addition, added a porch, and moved our kitchen. So a lot of stuff-but we are eight months in.

Longer. Ours took about 5 months to be considered completely finished. But after about 3 months there were usable parts so we could cook and such.

We set up our kitchen table and formal dining table and a sewing table in the formal room in a U-shape to make a “kitchen” in the formals. We had the fridge moved in there as well. We set up the microwave and coffee maker. Used the grill a lot. We didn’t have a laundry sink, that would have been helpful. We were wasteful with paper plates, occasionally had to wash some things outside. 4 kids; we lived through it. It definitely took longer than the 10-12 week estimate from the GC,

3 months, about 1 month longer than I told my BF to expect. But it included a bathroom and mudroom and some snazzy new steel beams so ...

Stay sane, you can do this :)

9 weeks. We revamped the adjacent powder room & tiled a small mudroom & foyer in addition to the kitchen.

Ours took 5 months, which was 3 months longer than it was supposed to.

Mine has taken 6 months longer than I had expected to even start! Between the architect, the engineer and the city....wowzers.

First kitchen Reno in 2012 was 6 weeks start to finish. This one is a little more complicated with a wall removal and plumbing changes, so it’s supposed to be 8 weeks. We leveraged friends and family for hangouts and meals last time, but this time we have a dog, so I am nervous that it will be harder. Hang in there...hopefully the end product will be worth the discomfort!

We started demo on Feb 25th and just finished the last item on the list 10 days ago. We actually moved out to an Airbnb for the first 3 weeks so that we could actually breathe (severe asthma/allergies) and so we didn't have to worry about our 2 cats freaking out. When we came back home, the cabinets and most of the flooring had been installed (just some trim/edging left) and the appliances were delivered and 'installed' (range hadn't been permently secured or leveled yet). We had to wait until the 2nd week of April for the countertops to be installed, and yet another week for the contractor to come back and finish backsplash and level the range. On the 11th of June we finally got the hood vent finished (it was previously venting to the attic, and we had to wait out rain and scheduling conflicts to get the roof vent put in.

I am very thankful that we got such a good deal on the Airbnb because it made the whole thing more tolerable. It was stressful enough as it was, but it could have been worse. On the Brightside, the end result was pretty much exactly as I planned/wanted. I hated the process, but I love the results.

Ours was about six weeks. We only had minor electrical changes, took out a built in pantry, and changed the layout slightly. It was done by one guy, sometimes with a helper. A full team could have had it done in 3-4 weeks, I'm sure. Our designer was organized and made sure all materials were ordered and ready when needed. The base cabinets were installed first so templating for counters could take place without stopping work on uppers, etc. Hopefully you'll forget all about it once it's over!

Ours was an addition took about 8 months to be functional again, 10 to be completely done done done. About double the initial timeline.

Ours was a bit over a year, but it was a total gut job and it was DIY with hubby designing and building all of the cabinetry, taking down a partial wall, moving gas, electrical, and plumbing (the original layout was a disaster to work in) adding venting, changing appliance types (gas cooktop and double wall ovens to a large dual fuel range) and patching flooring and ceiling. Also, hubby took a full summer off of the project because life was so busy. However, I only had to use my makeshift laundry room kitchen for two weeks during the initial stages of the gut job, after that I had an unfinished but useable kitchen. The longest part of the job was for hubby to finish the doors and drawers of the cabinetry he built, but I was patient and my kitchen is amazing now.

We are 7 weeks in so far. I am with you, I am ready for it to be over. I am hoping it will be mostly done in another 3-4 weeks for a partial functional kitchen but I may be optimistic. We moved the wall between the living room and kitchen and are having custom built-ins done in the living room and that hasn't event started so... Cabinets are in. Appliances are getting delivered today so there is progress, well except for the GE Cafe Advantium 240V which is on back order until 7/5. Hoping to get the fabricator to template the counter tops next week...

We are doing some DYI, a lot professional friend help and using a contractor. DD's friend is a plumber and he will be helping install the radiant heat in the kitchen. We decided to get rid of the baseboard. That will not happen until after Labor Day. Also there is some electrical work that is on hold for the electrician and that may not happen until after Labor Day as well.

My original goal was to have the kitchen done before Labor Day but that is not going to happen. I will be happy if I can get a working kitchen sink and range. I can live without the rest for now.

I'm at the end of week 2 of an estimated 12 week remodel. And like you, Deb, I am ready for it to be over! Or at the very least I am ready for drywall to go back up.

We gutted our kitchen, took out a wall, moved some appliances; along with modifying the laundry room which touches the kitchen. We were substantially done and had a fully working and useable kitchen by 3 months. It took a while then to finish up the pretty stuff and I don’t think we paid the final payment for a few month after that!

It took us roughly what was estimated -- 6 weeks -- for a full gut remodel (the layout stayed roughly the same). Yes, living through a remodel is a pain! Hang in there though -- it will be worth it in the end.

Adding this here since its related and no need to start yet another thread... is it normal for a crew to work a full week (demo) and then essentially disappear? They came out because I asked them to move cabinets etc. so a charity can come pick them up for donation, but otherwise they haven't worked all week. Super frustrating when I am so eager to have this done! They still have a bit more demo to do and then they need to start on the fun stuff of moving HVAC and pipes (which may be they're waiting for the mechanical and plumbing crew to come in?) but its not like they can't start on/finish other stuff in the meantime...

Deb, communicate with your general contractor and see what is going on. Yes, they may be waiting for trades, or they might be juggling other jobs, but make sure you are communicating with them so you have the appropriate expectations regarding your timeline.

With my kitchen remodel, there were days were they didn't do any work. I knew they were working two jobs at once, so I wasn't surprised, and they finished the project on time, so I didn't have any reason to complain.

6-12 weeks is average, if the proper up front planning has taken place. If someone does demo and then starts trying to figure it out, years of living in a construction zone is possible.

5 months.

We used a GC to do demo, including removing a supporting wall, electrical, plumbling, framing and finishing walls, install a new exterior mudroom door, and one new interior door, replace 6 windows and add one new window, install site finished oak flooring. They also were tasked to add supporting lallycolumns and steel beams in the basement for a different area of the house and scheduling inspections throughout the process.

We were responsible to buy and install the cabinetry, ordereing the countertops and appliances.

The GC and his crews were done in about 2 and a half months. While they didn't work every single day, they communicated this to us ahead of time and always showed up when scheduled to do so. Also, when they worked, they were efficient and proceeded at a steady pace.

Once the floors and walls had been finished, we bought the Ikea cabs which were delivered the next day, and DH and I with our very handy and experienced daughter put the cabinets toghether and hung them on the rails within a week. Templating for the countertops was done within another week and the counters were installed within two or three weeks. The GC had scheduled the electrician and plumber right after to install appliances,sink, faucet and light fixtures etc.

So, about 5 months until the kitchen was totally functional, but not totally finished, mind you. We still had to order and install the steel backsplash behind the cooktop, trick out the interior drawers and organizers, install window shades, etc.

No time at all really, compared to me working on various plans for YEARS, before deciding on the final layout and specifying each single detail for this last plan.

We've used our kitchen for more than a year now. I'm thrilled every time I enter my kitchen. No regrets. :-)

Our projected completion date was mid July. This pic. of kitchen window view, is from yesterday. So many delays. We are joking that he didn't say which June. Our make shift kitchen is our barbecue and a plastic bin. Luckily, I like to camp. Also, I work in a hospital, so I am bringing home, cafeteria food for dinner. Hopefully good sence of humor will get us through.

Caroline - I feel for you. Hang in there. And SPEAK UP!

Hi Caroline!

Sorry I couldn’t help myself, but make sure your contractor adds a jack stud or hanger on that window opening! It’s missing support on one side =)

Yes, this^^^

And: Is you project permitted? Such a very basic framing error does not bode well...

I didn't see the missing trimmer or jack stud either, but then I was only looking through the opening at your lovely covered gate....

I'd make sure that permits were pulled, so that at least some knowledgeable eyes might catch such glaring and possibly very consequential mistakes.

I hope for your sake and the project that this type of oversight is not typical of your contractors work.

The contractors began demolishing the kitchen on Feb 12 this year and it isn't back to fully functional yet, but it's pretty to look at. We took it down to the studs, and replaced everything including a small stacked laundry area, exterior door, and window. (I had no idea what trouble replacing one window with two could cause.) About 10 days ago the plumbers were able to hook up the water and sewer lines to our new sink and faucet. The week before the electrician hooked up the lights and outlets, but we still don't have duct work for the range hood or dryer, thus no range or washer/dryer. My DH is the main cook at our house and he's been cooking on our camp stove and outdoor grill for 4 months. It was great in the winter and early spring because we live in Austin, but now it's hot and muggy and buggy and he is over it. My guess at a completion date, based on the problems we've had with the windows, is at least another 5 weeks.

Our new kitchen installs take anywhere from 4-9 weeks, depending on complexity and if they have any major drywall work (including removing soffits) or a full gut job (remove old plaster walls). Also, time is on the longer end if getting a new floor (or refinished floors) and/or tile backsplash, which is usually yes. One delay (mistake, death, illness, injury) can throw a wrench into the project. Our crews schedule a little loose and leave a few open days here and there for punchlists and wiggle room on the schedule.

Delays rarely happen, but if they do, it can be a major juggling act. It's even harder nowadays when all of our subs are booked out 3-4 months.

thanks for the advice. It wasn't finished yet. And we intend to be present at the inspections and permits are all on a table.

About 4-6 weeks

I hear ya! Two months into our full gut (walls, plumbing, electric moved}. Demo and rough ins should be completed in the next couple weeks, I'm told. Ordering cabinets and other finishes soon.

I have no idea when it will all be done but I am sure tired of cooking on the hot porch and doing dishes in the upstairs bathtub!!! On the bright side, I get to eat in front of the TV and the fridge (stocked with beer and wine) is conveniently right behind the sofa.

Much longer than we thought! But, we did have a few personal issues that caused it to last longer. We ordered our cabinets the first week of March, started demo about a week later. My husband did a lot of the work himself in the six weeks we waited for the cabinets to be delivered. The installer was behind, which put the countertops behind. That process took 2 months. My husband planned to install the flooring, but had a medical issue. Since we had to hire someone for the floor, it extended the time about two months. With all the issues, it was about 6 months for us before everything was completed. I will say, it was worth the wait!

I had to go up in the attic and install the range duct work myself, but we were finally able to get the range hood, range, dishwasher, and refrigerator installed yesterday. Cooking indoors tonight! That's two days shy of 5 months. The kitchen isn't completed, but it is functional. After having a drip cap custom made, the contractors were able to put our two mulled windows in last week. So now it's trim, floor transitions, and the dryer vent before we can call it done.