How long does a full kitchen refit take?

A straightforward like-for-like kitchen replacement where the layout stays the same takes about ten to fourteen working days. That covers strip-out, plastering, first fix electrics and plumbing, fitting the units, worktop templating and installation, tiling, and second fix. If you are moving the sink, relocating a gas hob, or knocking through to a dining room, add another week. Our kitchen renovation cost guide covers what each phase typically costs.

In my experience the biggest delays come from worktop lead times and appliance deliveries, not the fitting itself. Quartz and granite worktops need templating after the units are in, and fabrication takes seven to ten working days. I always advise clients to order appliances at least four weeks before the start date. If everything arrives on time, a mid-range kitchen refit in a typical three-bed semi takes three to four weeks from strip-out to final clean.

If structural work is involved, such as removing a load-bearing wall to create an open-plan kitchen-diner, the timeline extends to five or six weeks. You need a structural engineer's calculations, a steel beam installed and signed off, then the kitchen fit itself. I find that clients who plan the layout and choose all materials before the start date shave at least a week off the overall programme. Indecision mid-project is the single biggest cause of overruns.