Phase 1: Design + estimate (weeks 1–4)
In-home consultation, scope alignment, rough budget bracket — week 1.
Design package, 3D rendering, material sourcing, finish board — weeks 2–3.
Final design review, fixed-price quote, contract signed — week 4.
This phase varies most. Some clients are decisive (week 1 → contract in 10 days). Others — particularly first-time renovators — take 6–8 weeks just on design. We design at your pace, not ours.
Phase 2: Permits + material lead (weeks 5–10)
Permit submittal: filed in week 5.
Permit approval: 3–8 weeks depending on county. Montgomery and Howard run longest (5–8 weeks); Anne Arundel and Baltimore County faster (3–5 weeks).
Cabinet lead time: 4–8 weeks for semi-custom (KraftMaid, Wellborn). Custom cabinetry 10–14 weeks.
Counter template can't happen until cabinets are installed. Counter fabrication: 7–10 days post-template.
Bottleneck: usually the longer of (permit approval) or (cabinet lead). We order materials when contract is signed so they arrive before demo day.
Phase 3: Build (weeks 11–18)
Demo + structural changes: weeks 1–2 of build.
Rough plumbing, electrical, gas, HVAC: weeks 2–3.
Drywall + texture: week 3–4.
Cabinet install: week 4–5.
Counter template, fabrication, install: week 5–6.
Backsplash tile, paint, hardware, appliance hookup: week 6–8.
County final inspection, punch list, walkthrough: week 8–10.
Where projects slip — and how to prevent it
Late material decisions: Picking tile in week 3 of build instead of week 3 of design adds 2–4 weeks. Lock all materials before signing contract.
Change orders mid-build: Each change order adds 1–3 days. Combine all desired changes into a single review milestone if needed.
Permit delays from the county: We can't control the county queue. Submit early, file complete drawings the first time.
Hidden conditions discovered at demo: Mold, asbestos, knob-and-tube wiring, undersized framing — common in older Maryland homes. Adds 1–4 weeks if discovered.
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