TL;DR: A kitchen remodel in Huntsville, AL takes 6 to 12 weeks from demolition to final punch list for most full gut-and-replace projects. The single biggest schedule driver is cabinet and countertop lead time, not the physical labor. Semi-custom cabinets typically ship in 4 to 8 weeks after order; stone countertops add another 2 to 3 weeks after templating. Plan for those lead times before demo day and the rest of the schedule falls into place.
If you are getting bids on a kitchen remodel in Huntsville and the timelines the contractors are quoting are all over the map, the gap usually comes down to one thing: when they plan to order the cabinets. A contractor who orders cabinets the week demo starts will have the project sitting idle for a month while boxes are in transit. A contractor who orders during the design phase and schedules demo to coincide with the delivery window keeps the job moving. That ordering discipline is the clearest sign of an experienced remodeling crew.
Here is what the schedule actually looks like, week by week.
What is the week-by-week timeline for a kitchen remodel?
A full kitchen remodel moves through eight distinct phases. Each phase has a hard dependency on the one before it, which is why delays compound quickly.
Weeks 1-2: Demolition and rough-in
Demo is the fastest part of the project. Removing cabinets, countertops, flooring, and drywall in an average 150 to 200 square foot kitchen takes one to two days for an experienced crew. What follows is slower: rough-in work for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. If you are moving the sink, adding a kitchen island circuit, or relocating a gas line, this phase stretches to a full week or more. Older Huntsville homes, particularly 1950s and 1960s brick ranches in South Huntsville and the Five Points area, often surface surprises here: knob-and-tube wiring, undersized drain lines, or galvanized supply pipes that need replacement before the walls close.
Week 2-3: Rough-in inspection
In Huntsville, you need a permit for electrical, plumbing, and gas work in a kitchen remodel. The City of Huntsville Building Department schedules rough-in inspections, and wait times vary. Budget two to five business days between calling for an inspection and getting a result. Do not hang drywall before the inspector signs off, or you will be cutting it back open.
Weeks 3-4: Drywall and prep
Once rough-in passes inspection, drywall goes up. Taping, mudding, and sanding takes three to five days. Primer goes on immediately after sanding so the walls are ready for paint once cabinets are set. This is also when flooring prep happens if you are installing tile or hardwood before the cabinets land.
Weeks 4-8 (or longer): Cabinet delivery and installation
This is where most kitchen remodels stall. Semi-custom cabinets, the most common choice for mid-range Huntsville kitchens, carry lead times of 4 to 8 weeks from order to delivery. Stock cabinets from a home center can arrive in days but offer limited sizing and finish options. Fully custom cabinetry runs 10 to 14 weeks or more. Cabinet installation itself takes two to four days once the boxes are on site.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends finalizing cabinet selections before demolition begins, precisely because lead times control the whole schedule. If you wait until after demo to order, you are paying for a crew to sit idle or scrambling to fill time with other work.
Weeks 8-9: Countertop templating and fabrication
Countertops cannot be templated until cabinets are fully installed and level. A stone fabricator sends a technician to create a precise template, then the slab goes into fabrication. Quartz and granite typically take 10 to 15 business days from template to install. That is two to three additional weeks baked into the schedule after cabinets are done. Laminate countertops are faster, often one week turnaround, but the sequencing is the same.
Weeks 9-10: Backsplash, fixtures, and appliances
With countertops in, the tile backsplash can go up. A standard subway tile or mosaic backsplash takes two to three days to install and grout. Plumbing fixtures, the faucet, disposal, and dishwasher connection, get installed once countertops are set. Appliances are typically delivered and set in place, with final connection happening after the countertop is in.
Weeks 10-12: Paint, trim, and punch list
Final paint, cabinet hardware, light fixtures, outlet covers, and toe kicks round out the project. A thorough punch list walk-through catches anything that needs adjustment before the crew demobilizes: a cabinet door that needs alignment, a grout joint that needs touch-up, a drawer that sticks. Budget one week for this phase.
What actually slows down a kitchen remodel?
Four things cause most delays, and three of them are controllable.
Cabinet and countertop lead times are the biggest schedule driver, as noted above. The fix is to make selections early, ideally four to six weeks before your target demo date, and confirm the order is placed before work begins.
Change orders mid-project reset parts of the schedule. Deciding to add a window, move an island, or upgrade to a different tile after demo has started means new material orders, possible re-inspection, and rescheduling trades. Every change order is a negotiation with the schedule.
Permit delays are real but predictable. Huntsville’s building department is not unusually slow, but inspection scheduling has variability. A good contractor builds inspection buffer into the schedule rather than assuming same-day turnaround.
Hidden conditions are the one genuinely unpredictable factor. Moisture damage behind an exterior wall, mold in a cabinet base, or an undersized electrical panel discovered during rough-in can add days or weeks. Huntsville’s humidity and the age range of housing stock, especially in older neighborhoods near Monte Sano and Downtown Huntsville, make hidden moisture damage a real possibility. If mold is found during demolition, remediation has to happen before the walls close. For more on what that process looks like, see Found Mold During a Renovation? Here’s What Happens Next.
For context on how a kitchen remodel fits into a larger whole-home project timeline, How Long Does a Home Remodel Take? A Realistic Timeline by Project covers the broader picture.
How do you keep a kitchen remodel on schedule?
Three habits separate projects that finish on time from ones that drag on for months.
First, finalize all selections before demo. Cabinets, countertop material and edge profile, tile, fixtures, appliances, hardware. Every item that has a lead time should be ordered or at least confirmed before a wall comes down. Your contractor should be able to hand you a selections checklist at the first meeting.
Second, get the permit pulled before demo day. In Huntsville, permits for kitchen remodels covering electrical, plumbing, or gas work are required under the Alabama State Building Code. A contractor who pulls the permit in advance means the inspector can be called the moment rough-in is complete, not two weeks later after the permit application clears.
Third, build a realistic schedule in writing before you sign the contract. The contract should show each phase, its estimated duration, and the dependencies between phases. If a contractor cannot produce a written schedule, that is a signal worth paying attention to.
The NAHB Remodelers council recommends homeowners ask for a written project schedule as a standard part of the pre-contract process, and it is good advice.
When should you start planning a kitchen remodel?
If your target completion date is spring or early summer, start the planning process now. Remodeling contractors in the Huntsville and Madison area book out four to eight weeks in advance during peak season, and cabinet lead times do not pause while you wait for a contractor slot to open. Starting your contractor search and selections process in the fall gives you the best chance of a smooth spring project.
For cost context alongside this timeline, see How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost in Madison, AL? for a realistic budget breakdown.
Davis Construction Contractors handles full kitchen remodels across Huntsville, Hampton Cove, and the surrounding area, managing permitting, trade coordination, and material scheduling so the project moves on a predictable timeline. Request a kitchen remodel estimate to get a written scope and schedule for your project.
About Davis Construction Contractors
Davis Construction Contractors is a licensed and insured general contractor serving Huntsville, Madison, and surrounding North Alabama communities since 2008. A family-owned business, Davis Construction handles kitchen and home remodeling, new construction, roofing, siding, decks, and restoration work across the region. Their crews manage permitting, trade scheduling, and material coordination on every project.