Look, I’ll be straight with you – kitchen renovations can feel like they take forever when you’re living through them. Trust me, I’ve been there… standing in my half-demolished kitchen, wondering if I’d ever cook a normal meal again.
## **So What’s the Real Timeline?**
Here’s what nobody tells you: every kitchen is different. But after years of watching countless renos (and suffering through my own), here’s what you can actually expect:
**Small kitchen facelift:** 1-2 weeks
**Standard full renovation:** 4-8 weeks
**Major gut job with structural changes:** 8-12+ weeks
Yeah, I know. That “plus” sign is doing a lot of heavy lifting there.
## **The Breakdown (Because Details Matter)**
### **Week 1-2: The Destruction Phase**
This is when your old kitchen gets ripped out. It’s noisy, dusty, and honestly? Kind of exciting. Your kitchen will look like a disaster zone but that’s normal. This is also when any nasty surprises show up – dodgy plumbing, electrical issues, that sort of thing.
### **Week 2-4: Behind the Scenes Stuff**
Plumbing rough-in, electrical work, maybe some structural changes if you’re moving walls around. Not much to look at, but absolutely crucial. This is when most people start getting antsy because it doesn’t *look* like much is happening.
### **Week 4-6: Things Start Looking Real**
– Cabinets go in
– Benchtops get templated and cut
– Walls get plastered
– You start seeing your vision come together
### **Week 6-8: The Home Stretch**
Splashbacks, final plumbing connections, appliance installation. This is when delays love to pop up – maybe your benchtop has a defect, or the splashback tiles are backordered. It happens.
## **What Actually Affects Your Timeline?**
**Size matters** – Obviously a massive kitchen takes longer than a tiny galley
**How much you’re changing** – New layout? Add 2-3 weeks. Just replacing cabinets? Way quicker.
**Custom vs off-the-shelf** – Custom stone benchtops? Add time. Flat pack from IKEA? Faster (usually).
**Permits** – If you’re moving plumbing or walls, council approval can add weeks before you even start
**Your tradies’ schedule** – Good ones are busy. Sometimes you’re waiting on the electrician who’s waiting on the plumber who’s waiting on…
## **The Reality Check**
Here’s what I wish someone had told me: add 2 weeks to whatever timeline you’re given. Seriously. Something always comes up. Maybe it’s a supply issue, maybe it’s weather, maybe your tradie’s van breaks down. Life happens.
But here’s the thing – a good renovation team (like the folks at FixNow) will keep you in the loop. They’ve seen it all before. They know the drill.
## **Tips to Keep Things Moving**
– **Make decisions early** – Don’t be picking splashback tiles when the tiler’s already on site
– **Have a backup plan** – Where will you cook? Can you set up a temporary kitchen?
– **Be flexible but firm** – Some delays are unavoidable, but don’t let things drag on forever
– **Communicate constantly** – If something seems off, speak up immediately
## **The Bottom Line**
Most kitchen renovations in Melbourne take 6-8 weeks from start to finish. Could be less if you’re lucky and organized. Could be more if you’re doing something complex or hit snags.
The key? Work with people who know what they’re doing. Get clear timelines upfront. And maybe plan that holiday for right in the middle of it all – nothing makes a reno go faster than not being there to stress about it.
Remember, you’re not just getting a new kitchen. You’re getting years of better cooking, easier cleaning, and actually enjoying being in the heart of your home. That’s worth a few weeks of chaos, right?
*Want a realistic timeline for YOUR kitchen? The team at FixNow can give you a proper assessment – no fairy tales, just honest timelines based on what you actually need done.*