Construction Reference
Tap any phase to see what must come first, what runs parallel, inspection gates, typical duration, and what to order now. Built from 30+ professional sources.
Updated May 2026
Last reviewed May 2026
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Custom cabinets take 12 to 16 weeks. If you wait until framing is done to order, you will have a 3-month hole in your schedule. Your cabinet supplier needs final measurements after framing, but the order can often be placed with approximate dimensions and confirmed after demo reveals the actual wall conditions. Talk to your cabinet supplier about their process before you pull the first nail.
This one mistake costs contractors schedule time and rework on nearly every kitchen job. The rule is not universal, it depends on what flooring material you are using.
Decide the flooring type before demo starts. The decision changes the entire kitchen sequence.
Two gates stop all downstream work until they pass:
| Material | Lead Time | Order When |
|---|---|---|
| Custom cabinets | 12 to 16 weeks | Before demo starts |
| Custom windows | 8 to 16 weeks | Phase 0 immediately |
| HVAC equipment (ND) | 4 to 12 weeks | Phase 0 immediately |
| Semi-custom cabinets | 6 to 10 weeks | Phase 0 |
| Stone countertops | 3 to 5 weeks after template | After cabinets installed |
| Exterior entry doors (standard) | 2 to 4 weeks | Phase 0 |
| Hardwood flooring (specialty) | 6 to 8 weeks | Phase 0 |
| Replacement window inserts | 2 to 8 weeks | Phase 0 |
| Standard appliances | 2 to 6 weeks | Phase 0, deliver at Phase 17 |
| LVP / laminate flooring | 1 to 2 weeks | After framing confirmed |
| Tile (standard) | 1 to 2 weeks | Phase 4 to 5 |
| Drywall and insulation | 1 to 2 weeks | During rough-in |
The professional consensus sequence for a full residential remodel: Phase 0 pre-construction and long-lead ordering, Phase 1 demolition, Phase 2 structural framing, Phase 3 exterior envelope, Phase 4 rough MEP (plumbing, electrical, HVAC simultaneously), Phase 5 insulation, Phase 6 drywall hang, tape, and mud, Phase 7 texture, Phase 8 prime, Phase 9 first coat paint, Phase 10 flooring, Phase 11 cabinet installation, Phase 12 countertop templating and fabrication, Phase 13 interior trim, Phase 14 final paint, Phase 15 tile backsplash, Phase 16 finish MEP trim-out, Phase 17 appliances, Phase 18 hardware and details, Phase 19 final inspections and certificate of occupancy, Phase 20 punch list.
It depends on the flooring type. Hardwood (nailed or glued) and large-format tile go in BEFORE cabinets so the floor runs continuously under the cabinet footprint. LVP and floating laminate go in AFTER cabinets because a floating floor must not be trapped under heavy fixed cabinets, it needs room to expand. This is the single most common kitchen sequencing mistake. Decide your flooring type before demo starts and sequence accordingly.
Order custom cabinets immediately at project start, before demo begins. Lead times run 12 to 16 weeks for custom, 6 to 10 weeks for semi-custom. If you wait until framing is complete to order, you will have a 3 to 4 month idle window in the middle of the project. Stock or RTA cabinets from a big-box store can be ordered during framing (1 to 3 week lead time), but even those should be confirmed in stock before you commit to the schedule.
Two hard gates matter most. First: rough MEP inspection (plumbing, electrical, and HVAC rough-in must ALL pass before insulation goes in and walls close). This is the most consequential inspection in any remodel. Second: final MEP inspection (all finish plumbing, electrical, and HVAC trim-out must pass before certificate of occupancy). Both gates are hard stops, work that proceeds past them without inspection sign-off is a code violation and may require demolition to re-inspect.
The biggest parallel-run opportunity is Phase 4 rough MEP: plumbing, electrical, and HVAC can all run simultaneously in different parts of the house. In finish work, use the countertop fabrication wait (2 to 4 weeks after templating) to run interior trim installation and final paint. Pre-finishing trim on sawhorses during the drywall mud drying window eliminates another dead period. Exterior work (siding, windows) is largely independent of interior rough-in and can run in parallel with Phase 3 through Phase 4.
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