Decisions that must be made before demolition
These are not aesthetic preferences you can settle later. Each one changes rough-in locations.
- Appliance selection, specifically dimensions, and for the range whether it's gas or electric. This determines gas lines, circuits, and cabinet openings.
- Sink location and type. An undermount sink and a farmhouse sink need different cabinet construction.
- Whether the layout moves. Relocating a sink or range means moving plumbing, gas, and electrical, and likely a permit.
- Range hood venting route. Exterior venting is significantly better than recirculating, but the route has to exist.
- Cabinet layout, since everything downstream is measured off it.
Order appliances before rough-in, even if delivery is months out. Rough-in is dimensioned to the actual specification sheets. Changing a fridge model after the cabinets are built is a rework, not a substitution.
The sequence
- Design and final measurements. Cabinet layout confirmed against real wall measurements, not drawings.
- Permit, if the scope requires one.
- Demolition, including asbestos assessment first in pre-1990 homes.
- Structural work, if a wall is coming out. Beam and post sizing is engineered, not estimated.
- Rough-in. Plumbing, electrical, gas, and venting to the confirmed layout.
- Inspection before walls close, where a permit applies.
- Insulation and drywall, taped and sanded.
- Paint on walls and ceiling, first coats before cabinets go in.
- Flooring, depending on type and whether cabinets sit on it.
- Cabinet installation, leveled and scribed to the actual walls.
- Countertop template and fabrication. This happens after cabinets are set, because the template is taken off installed cabinets. Expect a wait here.
- Countertop install, plumbing connection, backsplash.
- Trim, toe kick, crown, and final paint touch-ups.
- Appliance install, hardware, final inspection.
The gap nobody plans for
Countertops cannot be templated until cabinets are installed, and fabrication takes time after templating. This means a real period with cabinets in place and no counters or working sink. Planning a temporary kitchen setup for that stretch makes the whole project easier to live through.
Where finish quality shows
The parts people notice years later are the ones done at the end: whether cabinet doors align, whether the toe kick meets the flooring cleanly, whether the caulk lines at the backsplash are straight, and whether trim scribes tight to an out-of-square wall. Older homes are rarely square, and good finish work is what hides that.
Common questions
Why do appliances need to be selected before rough-in?
Rough-in for plumbing, gas, and electrical is dimensioned from the actual appliance specification sheets, and cabinet openings are built to those dimensions. Changing an appliance model after cabinets are built usually means rework rather than a simple swap.
Why is there a wait between cabinets and countertops?
Countertops are templated off installed cabinets, so templating cannot happen until cabinets are set, and fabrication takes additional time after templating. Planning a temporary kitchen for that period makes the project much easier to live with.
Does a kitchen renovation need a permit?
If the layout stays put and the work is cosmetic, often not. If you relocate plumbing or gas, add circuits, or remove a wall, a permit is generally required. Confirm with your municipality, since requirements vary.
This guide is general information for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, not legal advice or a substitute for your municipality's building department. Requirements vary by city and by project.