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A kitchen remodel is one of the most disruptive renovations you can do — it takes out the room your household runs on. The good news: a well-planned kitchen renovation in Auckland typically takes 3–5 weeks on site, and most of the stress people associate with it comes from poor planning rather than the work itself. Here’s what the process actually looks like, based on how we run kitchen projects across Auckland, from Pokeno up to Upper Waiwera.

Before anything gets demolished: consultation and fixed quote

Every kitchen remodel should start with a proper on-site consultation — ours are free. This is where layout, plumbing and electrical positions, cabinetry, benchtops, flooring and lighting all get discussed against how you actually use the kitchen. From there you should receive a fixed quote and a plan, not an open-ended estimate.

The distinction matters. An hourly-rate or “estimate only” arrangement means every surprise becomes your cost. A fixed quote means the contractor has done the measuring, checked what’s behind the walls as far as practical, and priced the whole job — so the number you sign is the number you pay for the agreed scope. Kitchen renovation costs vary significantly with the size of the room, the cabinetry, and whether services are moving, so a written fixed scope is the only reliable way to compare quotes.

Does a kitchen remodel need council consent?

Many kitchen renovations don’t — if you’re replacing cabinetry, benchtops and appliances in the same positions, it’s usually straightforward. But if you’re moving plumbing significantly, removing walls (especially load-bearing ones), or the remodel is part of a larger extension, consent can come into play. This is worth confirming before work starts, not after. If consent is needed, we manage the council process on the client’s behalf, which typically saves weeks of back-and-forth.

The 3–5 weeks on site, roughly week by week

Week 1 — strip-out and first fix. The old kitchen comes out, and plumbing and electrical are roughed in to the new positions. Any wall changes, plastering prep and subfloor work happen here.

Weeks 2–3 — lining, cabinetry and benchtops. Walls are plastered and painted, flooring goes down, and cabinetry is installed. Benchtop templating usually happens once cabinets are in — stone and porcelain tops are measured off the installed units, which is why this step can’t be rushed forward.

Weeks 3–5 — second fix and finishing. Sink, tapware and appliances are connected, splashbacks installed, lighting and power points finished, and the final paint touch-ups done. A five-week timeline usually reflects a bigger kitchen, wall changes, or custom cabinetry rather than delays.

Because a kitchen remodel touches plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, plastering, painting and flooring, coordination is where projects live or die. When those trades are separate subcontractors booked by you, one late trade stalls everyone behind them. With one dedicated crew and a single point of contact, sequencing is the contractor’s problem — as it should be.

What to ask before you sign with any contractor

Ask whether the quote is genuinely fixed, and what’s excluded. Ask who your day-to-day contact is — one person, or whoever answers the phone. Ask how long they’ve been operating and how many kitchens they’ve completed; an established Auckland renovation company should be able to point to a substantial track record and reviews. (For context, we’ve completed 500+ projects over 15+ years and hold a 5-star rating.) Ask how they handle surprises like non-compliant old wiring or water damage found during strip-out — you want a process for pricing variations in writing before extra work starts, not after.

Living without a kitchen for a month

Plan for it honestly. Set up a temporary bench with the kettle, microwave and fridge somewhere else in the house, and expect to use it for the full duration. A contractor who gives you a realistic timeline up front is doing you a favour — the painful projects are the ones sold as “two weeks” that drift into eight.

Thinking about a kitchen renovation?

If you’re weighing up a kitchen remodel anywhere in Auckland — Pokeno to Upper Waiwera — the easiest first step is a free consultation. We’ll look at your space, talk through what you want, and come back with a fixed quote and a clear plan. Request your free consultation here.