Process
Charlotte Kitchen Remodel Timeline: What Actually Takes So Long
A full Charlotte kitchen remodel runs six to twelve weeks of on-site work after design and ordering are complete. The countertop portion is only about ten days of that. Understanding where the other weeks go lets you push on the right things.
9 min read · Updated
Weeks 1 to 2: demolition, rough-in and inspection
Demolition takes two to four days. Electrical and plumbing rough-in follows, and then everything stops for inspection. In Mecklenburg County, permitted electrical and plumbing rough-ins must pass before drywall closes the walls, and that inspection window is the first place a schedule slips through no fault of your contractor.
Weeks 3 to 5: drywall, paint and cabinets
Drywall patching, priming and painting go faster than people expect. Cabinet installation and leveling is the precision step — countertops cannot be templated until cabinets are permanently set and level, so any cabinet delay pushes every downstream date.
Weeks 6 to 7: templating and fabrication
Laser templating happens the day after cabinets are set. Fabrication then takes seven to ten business days: slab layout approval, CNC cutting, edge polishing and quality check. You cook without a countertop during this window — plan for it.
- Template day 1 (cabinets must be final and level)
- Slab layout approval days 2-3
- CNC cutting and edge work days 3-8
- Install day 8-10, plumbing reconnect within 24 hours
Weeks 8 to 12: tile, install and punch list
Backsplash tile goes in after countertops so it can die cleanly into the stone. Then flooring transitions, appliance set, final electrical trim, final inspection and punch list. Long-lead appliances and custom vent hoods are the most common cause of a remodel dragging into week twelve.
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