Kitchen Remodel Checklist: What to Do Before Demo Day

8–12 Weeks Out: Permits and Design Lock

The floor plan needs to be final before anything else moves forward; once cabinets are ordered against a layout, moving a sink or a range gets expensive. This is also when the scope gets confirmed in writing: what’s structural, what touches plumbing, what touches electrical. That scope determines what Virginia Beach requires for permitting. A like-for-like swap is usually simpler to permit than moving a wall or relocating gas and water lines, so settle which category your project falls into now, before cabinets ship. It’s also a reasonable point to double-check who you’re hiring; see this guide to vetting a kitchen renovation contractor.

By the end of this stage:

• Floor plan finalized and signed off
• Permit application submitted to the city
• Structural, electrical, and plumbing scope confirmed in writing

8–10 Weeks Out: Order Cabinets and Countertops

Cabinets and stone countertops are typically the longest lead-time items in a kitchen remodel, often eight to ten weeks or more, depending on the manufacturer, so order them as soon as the design is locked. Confirm the spec sheet line by line first: door style, finish, box dimensions, hardware. A change after the order is placed usually means restarting the lead time. Once cabinets are on order, get the countertop template scheduled, since templating happens after cabinets are installed. Backsplash tile and any specialty material should be on hand or on order by now. For a sense of where these costs land, see this kitchen remodeling cost breakdown.

By the end of this stage:

• Cabinet order placed against a confirmed spec sheet
• Countertop template appointment scheduled
• Backsplash and tile material on hand or on order

4–6 Weeks Out: Select and Order Appliances

Appliance selection isn’t just a shopping decision; it affects the cabinet order already in production. Range width, refrigerator depth, and dishwasher panel requirements all determine cutout dimensions, so models need to be finalized and cross-checked against the cabinet spec while there’s still time to adjust either one. Confirm actual delivery dates once ordered, not just estimated availability, and check that delivery lands before demo starts, not during it. A kitchen with no working appliances and no new ones on-site is a stalled kitchen.

By the end of this stage:

• Appliance models finalized and ordered
• Dimensions cross-checked against the cabinet order
• Delivery date confirmed against the demo start date

2–3 Weeks Out: Set Up a Temporary Kitchen

Everyone in the house still needs to eat during the remodel, so a temporary kitchen has to be planned, not improvised the morning demo starts. Pick a zone, a dining room, a garage, a basement, and treat it like a real workspace, with counter space, a table for prep, and room to cook. Stage the portable appliances you’ll rely on, and move pantry items and dishes out of the kitchen before they’re in the crew’s way. Confirm where the water shutoff is and how to access it, since the plumbing will be disconnected at points during construction.

By the end of this stage:

• Temporary kitchen zone identified and set up
• Portable appliances staged and tested
• Pantry items and dishes relocated out of the work zone
• Water shutoff location and access confirmed

1 Week Out: Utility Disconnects and Final Walkthrough

Appliance and utility disconnects are a licensed-trade job, not a DIY weekend project. Gas lines, 220V circuits, and water lines should be handled by a qualified plumber or electrician, scheduled ahead of demo day rather than arranged the morning of. Walk the space with your contractor this week to confirm the sequence. Clear valuables and anything breakable from the work zone, and if pets live in the house, settle where they’ll be during demo; an open kitchen wall isn’t a place for a dog underfoot.

By the end of this stage:

• Appliance and utility disconnects scheduled with a licensed trade
• Final walkthrough completed with your contractor
• Valuables and breakables cleared from the work zone
• Pet and access plan set for the demo crew

Demo Day: What to Have Ready

By demo day, the planning is mostly done  this stage is about keeping things out of the way. Clear a path to the kitchen so the crew isn’t working around furniture or foot traffic, and confirm that flooring in adjoining rooms is protected, since debris and dust travel further than most homeowners expect. The temporary kitchen should be fully operational before the first cut is made, not set up that afternoon. Designate one point of contact so the crew has a single person to check in with, instead of conflicting instructions from multiple family members.

By demo day:

• Clear path to the kitchen confirmed
• Flooring in adjoining rooms protected
• Temporary kitchen fully operational
• Point of contact designated for the crew

During Construction: Inspection Points to Expect

Permitted work gets inspected in stages, not just once at the end. Rough-in inspections, covering framing, plumbing, and electrical, happen before walls close up, because an inspector needs to see the work while it’s still exposed. That inspection has to be built into the contractor’s schedule well before it’s visible to you. The final inspection comes after everything is installed and functional, and it’s what closes out the permit with the city. A remodel that skips this step, or leaves a permit open, can become a problem later, during a home sale or a future renovation.

During construction, expect:

• Rough-in inspection scheduled before drywall closes the walls
• Final inspection scheduled before project close-out
• Permit formally closed with the city