It’s finally time—your cabinets are here, the new appliances have arrived, and the installation is about to begin. This will be a chaotic and busy few weeks, so here’s what you can expect.
Before Installation Starts
Before anything starts, make sure that your installer and cabinet specialist know one another and have each other’s contact information. Good communication will help the whole renovation process go smoother. This is especially important if you’re planning on going away during the installation process—but remember to be easily available if you choose to do this so they can contact you for any issues that may arise.
Chat with your cabinet specialist and installer to get a sense of the timeline and schedule. They won’t be able to give you exact numbers, but you can get an estimate based on the work that needs to be done in your kitchen.
Rough Construction
This first part of the installation process is rough construction. This is when your existing kitchen will be completely stripped away, any structural changes will happen, and the room will be reconfigured for your new layout. If you aren’t changing the configuration of the room, this phase will happen relatively quickly.
Demolition
This is a fun but very messy part of the process. You’ll need to take out everything from your current kitchen—cabinets, appliances, shelves—everything but the floor and walls. If you’re taking care of this stage by yourself (as it’s a relatively easy part to handle on your own), make sure that you plan for garbage removal. You’ll also need to make sure that water, gas, and electric are all off for that section of the house. If your contractor and installer are handling this, brace yourself for a lot of noise and dust, and make sure you’re available for any questions they may have.
Structural Changes
If you’re changing the layout of the room, that happens now. Your contractor will make whatever changes you’ve specified—whether new windows, walls, doorways, or hallways. If you’re renovating on multiple floors, make sure to make structural changes on the upper floor first. You don’t want to paint a beautiful new kitchen only to renovate the bathroom above and have the paint crack or water damage sneak through.
Utility Work
This is the section where your contractor will ensure everything behind the scenes for electrical, gas, and water is where it needs to be for the new layout. They’ll need access to the wiring for inspection and placing outlets, fixture boxes, and switches. Before this stage can move on, the installation will need to be approved by a local building inspector.
Paint and Drywall
Your contractor will arrange for insulation, as well as new drywall to be hung and finished at this stage. Once that’s finished, they’ll prime and paint (or you can take care of that part) any wall surfaces that can be finished before completing flooring.
Flooring
Depending on the type of floor you’re installing, this will need to happen before or after installing your cabinets. Flooring types like tile and hardwood should be installed at this point, before cabinetry. Other floor types like luxury vinyl flooring and laminates will need to be installed after the cabinets.
Installation and Finish Construction
Your kitchen is probably looking a lot more normal at this point, but still very empty. It’s time to change that. Finish construction is when all new products are installed in the kitchen and your beautiful new cabinets are finally put to use. This is the final, and perhaps most satisfying, phase of the kitchen remodeling process.
Inspection
When your cabinets are delivered, ensure all your new cabinets and appliances look perfect. Keep an eye out for chips, scuffs that can’t be cleaned, dents or warps, and make sure all the parts are there. You don’t want to be halfway through installation before you realize you’re missing the exact component you need!
Install Cabinets
This is the big moment. The largest part of your new kitchen, the new cabinets, will finally be installed at this point. Your installer will check the height of your floor and measurement of your walls one final time to ensure they hang and sit properly, starting at the highest point of the floor. If you have a new floor laid down, now’s the time to protect it. Hardboard sheeting works the best. Doors and drawers won’t be installed at this point so that your installer can have easy access to the inside of the cabinets, and also to protect them from any potential scratches or dents.
Measure, Fabricate, and Install Countertops
Once the base cabinets are installed, you or your installer can measure the countertops for finalized sizes. You unfortunately can’t order countertops any earlier, as you need to know the precise measurements of your cabinets for the countertops to work perfectly. Basic countertop “blanks” usually are ordered, so once measuring is done, the countertop material is ready to be cut and polished by the fabricator.
Install Appliances and Fixtures
After the countertops are installed, your appliances and lighting are ready to bring power to the new room. Your installer will be careful moving the heavy appliances around the new cabinets and floor, but small dings are sometimes unavoidable. They’ll touch up in the next stage once everything is where it should be. Make sure that all your appliances work and there aren’t any electric or plumbing issues at this point.
Finishing Details and Hardware
Now it’s time for the finishing touches. Your installer will insert all the cabinet hardware, crown molding, paint touch-ups, accessories, backsplash, and any other details that your kitchen needs. They’ll do a double check on all appliances, making sure they’re level and connected properly. You’ll also need a final inspection from a building inspector.
Clean Up
This is the last step before your kitchen is ready to use. Depending on how you’ve arranged this step with your cabinet specialist, you or your installer will be in charge of cleaning up. Whoever is responsible will need to clear the room and ventilation system of any debris and dust, wipe down all the new cabinets, and schedule the haul-away of any garbage dumpsters.
Unpack and settle in!
Your new kitchen is now ready, and life can return to normal! Find a new home for all of your kitchen items and celebrate with your favourite meal to break in the new space. When you’re ready, try hosting a dinner party so your friends and family can see the beautiful new area.
It’s a long process from first deciding you want to renovate your kitchen to enjoying the beautiful new space, but Eurorite is here to support you every step of the way. Contact us today for any questions on a cabinet renovation or connect with a cabinet dealer to start the process!