What order should kitchen renovation tasks be done in?

Kitchen renovation tasks must follow a specific sequence — demolition first, then rough-in trades, inspections, drywall, cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, and finally appliances and finishing details. Getting this order wrong leads to costly rework, and understanding the sequence helps you plan material deliveries and make timely decisions.

The renovation begins with design and planning, which should be completed well before any demolition. This includes finalizing your layout, selecting all materials (cabinets, countertops, flooring, backsplash, appliances), pulling necessary permits from your municipality, and ordering long-lead items. In NB, permits from cities like Moncton, Fredericton, or Saint John take 1-3 weeks; rural areas under Regional Service Commissions can take 2-5 weeks. Custom cabinets need 8-16 weeks lead time, and countertop fabrication adds another 3-6 weeks after templating. Order appliances 4-8 weeks out due to NB's distribution distances.

Demolition is the first physical step. Your contractor removes old cabinets, countertops, flooring, backsplash, and appliances. In older NB homes, this often reveals surprises — galvanized plumbing that should be replaced, knob-and-tube wiring, asbestos in floor tiles (common in homes built before 1980), or water damage behind cabinets. Budget $1,000-$3,000 for demolition and disposal, and set aside a 10-15% contingency fund for hidden problems.

Rough-In Through Finishing

After demolition, the rough-in trades come in. Electricians run new wiring for circuits, outlets, and lighting — NB Building Code requires minimum two 20-amp small appliance circuits, GFCI protection near sinks, and dedicated circuits for major appliances. Plumbers move or install supply and drain lines. If you are moving the sink location, expect $1,500-$4,000 for plumbing rough-in. If your home has a 60-amp electrical panel, this is when the panel upgrade happens ($1,500-$4,000). Any structural work like removing a load-bearing wall also happens at this stage, after engineering approval.

A rough-in inspection by your local building department must happen before walls are closed. Skipping this is a code violation and could mean tearing out finished work later. After inspection approval, drywall and patching closes up the walls, followed by priming and painting.

Cabinet installation comes next and typically takes 2-5 days. Cabinets must be perfectly level and plumb — this is not a DIY task. Once cabinets are fully installed, the countertop fabricator comes to template, measuring precisely for your quartz, granite, or solid surface tops. Fabrication and installation takes 3-6 weeks from this point.

While waiting for countertops, your contractor can install flooring (LVP, tile, or hardwood — LVP is the most popular kitchen choice in NB). After countertops are set, the backsplash goes in ($1,000-$5,000 depending on material), followed by plumbing fixtures (sink, faucet, dishwasher connections), appliance installation, and finally trim, hardware, and touch-up painting. A final inspection closes out any open permits. The entire active construction phase runs 6-12 weeks for a standard NB kitchen renovation.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Gionetterenovations
• Thirty Four Renovations