How a kitchen remodeling job runs, step by step
Step 1. The call and the site visit
You call or request a time, and we come to your house, not a showroom. We walk your kitchen, open a cabinet or two, look at your panel, and ask what isn't working about the current layout. No pitch, no pressure to sign anything on the spot. Usually 45 to 60 minutes.
Step 2. The written quote
Within a few days you get a written quote broken out by trade, with materials and finishes named instead of vague allowances. You can take it to another contractor to compare, or ask us to walk through it line by line. Typically 3 to 5 business days after the visit.
Step 3. Selections and ordering
Once you sign, we schedule a selection meeting for cabinets, counters, flooring, and fixtures, and place orders as soon as choices are locked in. Lead times on cabinetry and stone are usually the longest part of this stage. Typically 2 to 4 weeks, longer if a material is backordered.
Step 4. Permits
We file for whatever permits your project needs (building, electrical, plumbing) and, if your address sits inside a Newton local historic district and the work touches anything visible from the street, we handle the commission review too. You don't go to City Hall for any of it. Typically 1 to 3 weeks for standard permits, 4 to 6 weeks if historic district review applies.
Step 5. Demolition and protection
Before anything comes out, we seal off the work area with plastic sheeting and lay floor protection through the rest of the house, from your entry door to the kitchen. Demo, including old cabinets, counters, and any wall we're opening, usually runs 2 to 4 days.
Step 6. The build
Electrical and plumbing rough-in come first, then inspection, then framing and drywall where a wall was opened, then cabinetry, countertops, and finish work. This is the longest stage of the project. Typically 3 to 6 weeks depending on scope.
Step 7. Inspection and punch list
Final electrical and plumbing inspections happen before we call the job done, and we walk the space with you to build a punch list of anything that still needs attention. Typically a few days to a week to close out.
Step 8. Final walkthrough and warranty
We walk the finished kitchen with you, confirm the punch list is clear, and go over what's covered under warranty and for how long. You get this in writing, not a verbal assurance. Usually one visit, scheduled once the punch list is done.
How We Handle Change Orders
If something turns up once a wall is open, knob-and-tube wiring, an old drain line, framing that doesn’t match the plan, we stop and show you what we found. You get a price for the additional work in writing before anyone touches it again. Nobody is asked to make a decision standing in a demolished room with a crew waiting on an answer. If you say no, we talk through what that means for the rest of the job. Nothing gets added to your bill that you didn’t approve first.
How We Keep Your House Liveable
Dust containment goes up before the demo starts, and floor protection runs from your front door to the kitchen for the length of the project. Our crew typically arrives between 7:30 and 8 a.m. and wraps up by 4 or 4:30, and the work area gets swept and tools put away at the end of each day rather than left mid-project overnight. Parking is tight on a lot of Newton streets, especially in the older villages with narrow lots and no driveway, so we confirm where the crew and any dumpster or delivery will park before day one, and we can arrange a short-term contractor parking permit through the city if street parking is restricted on your block. If you’re in a condo or a two- or three-family with shared entries, we also confirm building hours and any association notice requirements before scheduling.
Ready to start?
See the full scope of a kitchen remodel or contact us to book your site visit. Call 857-767-9993.