Pre-Demolition Kitchen Remodel Checklist

A kitchen remodel goes wrong in the first week far more often than in the last one. Cabinets ordered to the wrong size, a countertop templated before the base cabinets were level, an exhaust that has nowhere to vent, a permit nobody pulled. Most of these are decisions that should have been made before demolition, not during it. This is the checklist a kitchen should pass before any trade shows up with a hammer.

Use it to pressure-test a written quote, or to get ready for a visit from a remodeling specialist. The goal is simple: nothing bought, nothing demolished and nothing scheduled until the room is fully planned.

The scope and quote

Before anything else, the paperwork should be settled. A kitchen remodel without a clear scope is a kitchen remodel that drifts.

• The written scope lists demolition, plumbing, electrical, ventilation, drywall, flooring, cabinets, countertops, backsplash, lighting, fixtures and appliance installation as separate line items.
• Allowances are written out for every finish not chosen yet: cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, fixtures, lighting. Each allowance says what quality it covers.
• The quote names who supplies and installs appliances, including the range hood, dishwasher, fridge and any built-in microwave.
• Permits are flagged in writing: if plumbing is being moved, if a wall is going out or new circuits are added, the quote says which permits are needed and who pulls them.
• The payment schedule is written: deposit, progress payments tied to milestones, and a holdback for the punch list.
• Change-order handling is spelled out: how they are priced, who signs off, how they affect the schedule.

If any of these are missing, add them before the deposit is paid.

The design is actually final

The most expensive change in a kitchen is the one made after the cabinets have been ordered.

• The layout is drawn to scale, with every cabinet, appliance and fixture in its final position. No "we will figure it out when the old ones come out".
• Appliance models are chosen, with model numbers and official rough-in specs on file. Cabinet openings for the range, fridge enclosure and dishwasher are built from those real numbers, not generic sizes.
• The sink and faucet are picked, including hole count. Undermount, drop-in and farmhouse sinks each change the countertop template and sometimes the base cabinet.
• The range hood is picked and sized to the range, with duct size and recommended CFM on the spec sheet.
• Cabinet style, finish, door, drawer front, interior accessories, hinge type and hardware are chosen. Hardware changes drilling.
• Countertop material, edge profile, thickness and seam locations are decided. Seams go where the eye forgives them.
• Backsplash tile, grout colour and layout direction (stacked, running bond, herringbone) are chosen.
• Flooring is chosen and ordered. The quote says who installs it and whether it runs under the cabinets or stops at them.
• The lighting plan is on paper: ceiling fixtures, under-cabinet lighting, any pendants over an island, and switch locations.
• Paint colour for walls and ceiling is chosen, so trades do not stop at the end waiting on a decision.

The house will let the plan happen

The second trap is a plan that looks great on paper and does not fit the house. Check these before anything is ordered.

• The kitchen has been measured in person with a tape, including diagonals, out-of-square walls and ceiling height variations. Laser scans and old drawings are reference, not truth.
• Load-bearing walls are identified. If a wall is coming out or being opened for a pass-through, the structural approach is written down: beam size, posts and footings if needed.
• The electrical panel has been checked for capacity. New ranges, wall ovens, dishwashers, microwaves, disposers, under-cabinet lighting and countertop circuits add up fast. A small or full panel means an upgrade in the scope.
• Plumbing supply, drain and vent lines are mapped where the sink and dishwasher are going. Moving the sink to an island needs new drain and vent routing that works with the floor structure.
• Gas line sizing is confirmed if the range is gas or dual-fuel.
• The range hood's exhaust path is known: short and straight, duct size matched to the hood, exit point identified. Recirculating is a last resort, not a first plan.
• Shut-off valves and supply lines under the sink are planned for replacement.
• Signs of past water damage, soft floor areas or rot have been investigated. Finding them after the floor is torn out is expensive.
• Insulation, if an exterior wall is being opened, is in the scope.
• Floor levelness has been checked. Base cabinets must be level before stone is templated.

The approvals are in hand

Code and permit work takes time. Starting demolition without approvals is the fastest way to double the schedule.

• Required building permits are applied for, or the quote says exactly when they will be.
• If the home is in a condo or co-op, the building's renovation rules have been read: approved hours, elevator protection, insurance requirements, deposits and advance notice. Approval from the board or management is in writing.
• If the home is in a historic district or heritage conservation area, any approvals from that body are on file before exterior-visible work.
• Any required inspections (rough plumbing, rough electrical, insulation, final) are scheduled into the plan.
• The contractor's business licence, where required, and liability insurance are current and shown on paper.

Materials, lead times and the schedule

Cabinets and stone are the usual culprits for a stalled kitchen. Order them well before demolition.

• Cabinets are ordered with written lead times. Semi-custom and custom lead times are weeks, not days.
• Stone or quartz countertops are templated after the base cabinets are installed, so they are ordered with the install date, not the demolition date, in mind.
• Appliances are ordered or confirmed in stock. Backordered items get decided on now, not on install day.
• Specialty tile and lighting are ordered early. The sample on the website is not the same as what will actually arrive.
• A delivery and storage plan is in place. Cabinets and tile need a dry, protected space to live before install.
• A written schedule shows demolition week, trade sequence and target install dates, with buffer for inspections and lead-time risk.

Pulling it together

Every item on this list is cheaper to settle before the first screw comes out of a cabinet. A kitchen that passes it still has surprises, because old houses always do, but the surprises are confined to what the walls hide, not what nobody decided.

Frequently asked questions

How long before demolition should I lock in the design?

Four to eight weeks is normal, and longer when cabinets are custom. Cabinet, stone and specialty tile lead times set the earliest you can start. Starting demolition before materials have arrived usually ends with the kitchen sitting partly done for weeks.

Can I change my mind on finishes after the quote is signed?

Yes, through a written change order. The price difference, the schedule impact and anything the change triggers (a different sink cutout, a new electrical rough-in) are priced together. Verbal changes are the main reason remodels end up over budget.

Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel?

Often yes, especially when plumbing is moved, walls are changed, or new circuits are added. A like-for-like swap of cabinets and finishes may not need a permit, but condo and co-op approvals can be required even then. The quote should say which permits and approvals apply and who takes care of them.

How much extra should I budget for surprises?

A contingency of around ten to fifteen percent of the total is reasonable, more in older homes where rot, outdated wiring or hidden plumbing is likely. Keep that contingency separate in your head, so it is not spent on a nicer backsplash before the walls are open.

What is the biggest mistake homeowners make before demolition?

Starting work before the design is actually finished. A design still being made during demolition means decisions get made in a hurry, usually by whoever happens to be on site, and the budget drifts. Lock the plan, order the materials, then start.

Ready to plan your remodel?

Fill out the quote form with your city, the room and what you want done. A kitchen and bathroom specialist who works in your area follows up to visit, measure and give you a written quote, free and with no obligation. For specific services, see kitchen remodeling or bathroom remodeling in your area.