· Michael Blair
The schedule describes the kitchen. It does not describe the six weeks in which your house has no sink, no oven and a permanent layer of dust, and that is the part people are unprepared for.
A realistic timeline
A full kitchen remodel in a Nashville home is commonly six to ten weeks from demolition to final trim, longer where structure moves or cabinetry is custom.
The long lead item is almost always the cabinetry, and it should be ordered and confirmed before demolition begins. Starting demolition against an unconfirmed cabinet date is how a six-week job becomes four months.
Setting up a temporary kitchen
Somewhere with a circuit, a surface and access to water. A dining room or garage works. Move the refrigerator there rather than living out of a cooler.
A microwave, a kettle, an air fryer or hotplate and a plastic tub for washing up covers most of it. Paper plates for six weeks is a reasonable trade.
- Relocate the refrigerator, not just the food
- One dedicated circuit for the temporary setup
- Microwave, kettle, hotplate or air fryer
- A washing-up plan that is not the bathroom sink
- Pack the kitchen fully before demolition day
Dust travels further than expected
Demolition dust reaches every room without containment. Plastic sheeting at the openings, a zip door, and covering HVAC returns in the work area make a large difference.
Ask specifically whether dust containment is included. It is often assumed by the homeowner and not included in the quote.
Managing the last ten percent
The final stretch — trim, touch-up, hardware, appliance connection, snagging — routinely takes longer than expected because it involves several trades returning for short visits.
Keep a running snag list from the first week rather than compiling one at the end. Items raised while a trade is still on site get fixed; items raised after they have left get scheduled.