One of the First Questions Homeowners Ask
Before most Lehigh Valley homeowners commit to a kitchen remodel, they want to know two things: how much will it cost, and how long will my kitchen be out of commission? The first question depends on scope. The second has a more predictable answer.
Most kitchen remodels we complete at Black Forest Home Improvements take four to eight weeks from the first day of work to final walkthrough. Larger projects with structural changes or custom cabinetry orders run closer to eight to twelve weeks. Here’s what that actually looks like, phase by phase.
Before Work Begins: Planning and Ordering
The weeks before a single wall gets touched are often the most important part of the project.
Initial Consultation and Site Walkthrough
We visit your home, look at the existing kitchen, and talk through what you want to change. This is where we understand your layout goals, storage priorities, style preferences, and budget. No commitment required at this stage — it’s a conversation.
Design and Material Selection
After the walkthrough, we develop a design plan and help you select cabinetry, countertops, flooring, fixtures, and finishes. This is where most of the major decisions get made. We guide you through options at different price points so you’re choosing with full information.
Permit Review
Depending on the scope of your project — particularly if structural changes or electrical work are involved — permits may be required by your municipality. We handle this as part of the planning process so there are no surprises after work begins.
Material Ordering
Cabinetry, countertops, and certain fixtures often have lead times. Semi-custom cabinets typically take two to four weeks to arrive. Custom orders can take longer. We build the ordering timeline into the project schedule so materials are on site when the crew needs them.
Week-by-Week: What’s Happening in Your Kitchen
Week 1: Demolition and Rough Work
The first week is usually the most disruptive. The old kitchen comes out — cabinets, appliances, flooring, and sometimes drywall. If there’s a layout change involved, structural work happens here too. Your kitchen will not be functional during this phase, so plan accordingly.
Weeks 2–3: Rough-In Work
Plumbing, electrical, and any HVAC modifications happen after demo. If you’re moving the sink, adding under-cabinet lighting, or installing a new range hood, this is when the infrastructure for those changes is put in place. Drywall repair and prep work follow.
Week 4: Cabinet Installation
New cabinetry goes in. This is a significant milestone — the kitchen starts to take its new shape. Cabinet installation requires precision, particularly in older Lehigh Valley homes where walls and floors may not be perfectly level. Our team leads handle this with care.
Week 5: Countertop Templating and Installation
After cabinets are set, countertop measurements are templated for fabrication. There’s typically a short lead time between templating and installation — usually three to five business days for quartz or granite. Countertop installation day is another major visual transformation.
Weeks 6–7: Finish Work
Tile backsplash, flooring, appliance installation, lighting fixtures, hardware, trim, and paint all happen during this phase. This is where the design details come to life. Your team lead continues to update you daily so you know what’s been completed and what’s coming next.
Week 8: Final Walkthrough
We walk through the completed kitchen with you before considering the project done. If anything doesn’t meet your expectations — a cabinet door that needs adjustment, a grout line that needs touching up — it gets addressed before we close out the project. We are not happy until you are.
How We Keep You Informed Throughout
One of the most common complaints homeowners have about contractors is not knowing what’s happening on their own project. We built our process specifically to address this. Every project at Black Forest has a dedicated team lead who reports to you at the end of each working day — what was completed, what’s coming next, and anything that needs your input or decision.
If an unexpected issue comes up — and in kitchen remodels, they occasionally do, particularly in older homes — we stop, advise you openly and honestly, and agree on next steps before proceeding. Nothing moves forward without your understanding and approval.
Can You Use Your Kitchen During the Remodel?
During demolition and rough-in work, kitchen access will be limited. Most homeowners set up a temporary kitchen — a microwave and mini refrigerator in the dining room or basement — for the first two to three weeks. As the project progresses and cabinetry goes in, limited access becomes possible again. We’ll discuss this during planning so you can prepare.
Ready to Get the Process Started?
If you’re planning a kitchen remodel in the Lehigh Valley, the best first step is a conversation. We’ll come to your home, look at the space, and give you an honest picture of what the project would involve and how long it would take. There’s no commitment required for the initial consultation.
Contact Black Forest Home Improvements at (610) 915-8446 to schedule a free walkthrough. We serve Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Nazareth, Emmaus, and surrounding communities throughout the Lehigh Valley — and we’ve been doing it since 2007.