One of the most common questions we hear before a renovation begins is: how long is this actually going to take?
It’s a fair question. You’re planning to live without a kitchen for weeks. You might have family coming, an event booked, or a settlement date to work around. The timeline matters.
Here’s the honest answer — every stage of a kitchen renovation on the Gold Coast, what drives each one, and what causes things to run longer than they should.
The Short Answer
A mid-range Gold Coast kitchen renovation takes 10–16 weeks from first consultation to your first meal in the new kitchen.
That breaks down as:
| Stage | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Initial consultation and brief | 1–2 weeks |
| Design and specification | 2–4 weeks |
| Material and appliance ordering | 3–6 weeks |
| Site preparation and demolition | 1–3 days |
| Cabinetry installation | 3–7 days |
| Benchtop templating and installation | 1–2 weeks (after cabinets) |
| Electrical, plumbing, tiling | 1–2 weeks (concurrent where possible) |
| Appliance installation and commissioning | 1–2 days |
| Final inspection and handover | 1 day |
Best case (well-coordinated, no change orders, materials in stock): 10 weeks
Typical: 12–14 weeks
Complex renovations (layout changes, structural work, prestige appliances on long lead): 16–20 weeks
Stage 1: Consultation and Brief (1–2 Weeks)
The process starts with an in-home consultation. We come to your kitchen, assess the space, understand your brief, and give you an honest cost estimate.
After the consultation, there’s typically a brief period of back-and-forth — refining the brief, confirming the scope, and making the decision to proceed.
What extends this stage: Indecision on scope, comparing multiple quotes, or scheduling delays on our end during busy periods.
What shortens it: Arriving at the consultation with a clear sense of budget, style, and must-haves.
Stage 2: Design and Specification (2–4 Weeks)
Once the brief is confirmed, your designer creates the full specification — cabinetry layout in 3D, benchtop profile and material selection, appliance confirmation, hardware and finishes.
This is one of the most important stages of the renovation. Every decision made here — and signed off — prevents delays downstream. Every decision left open at this stage will cause a delay later.
What extends this stage: Changing the brief mid-design, difficulty selecting finishes, waiting on product samples.
What shortens it: A clear brief, decisive decision-making on finishes, and a designer who presents options rather than endless alternatives.
Stage 3: Ordering and Lead Times (3–6 Weeks)
Once the specification is signed off, materials and appliances are ordered. This is the stage most homeowners don’t expect to take as long as it does.
Lead times in 2026 on the Gold Coast:
- Custom cabinetry: 3–5 weeks from order to delivery
- Engineered stone benchtops: 2–3 weeks (templating happens after cabinets are installed)
- Prestige appliances (Miele, V-Zug, Fisher & Paykel integrated): 4–8 weeks — some models are longer
- Standard appliances (Westinghouse, Smeg): 1–3 weeks
- Specialty tiles and splashback materials: 2–4 weeks if not in stock
The most common delay point in Gold Coast renovations is appliances. Prestige integrated appliances ordered late hold up the entire build. We specify appliances in Stage 2 and order them immediately.
What extends this stage: Late appliance selection, custom or imported materials, changes to the specification after ordering has begun (restocking fees and extended timelines apply).
Stage 4: The Build (3–5 Weeks)
The physical build is typically the shortest stage when it’s well-coordinated. Here’s the order of works:
Week 1:
- Site preparation and protection
- Demolition of existing kitchen
- Rough electrical and plumbing (moving outlets, rough-in for new appliances)
Weeks 2–3:
- Cabinetry delivery and installation
- Benchtop templating (measured after cabinets are set)
Week 3–4 (concurrent with benchtop lead time):
- Splashback tiling
- Painting and plasterwork where needed
Week 4–5:
- Benchtop installation (arrives 1–2 weeks after templating)
- Appliance installation and commissioning
- Electrical and plumbing final connections
- Hardware installation
Week 5:
- Final clean
- Inspection and snag list
- Handover
What extends the build: Trades arriving out of sequence, a benchtop template that needs to be redone, appliance delivery delays, scope changes discovered on-site (e.g. unexpected plumbing issues behind the wall).
What shortens it: Trades that are pre-scheduled and briefed, materials staged and ready, and a project manager who coordinates rather than reacts.
What Causes Renovations to Run Over?
The most common reasons Gold Coast kitchen renovations run over time:
- Appliances ordered too late — longest lead item, ordered last. Avoid this.
- Scope changes mid-build — any change after the build starts creates a cascade. Decide everything in Stage 2.
- Uncoordinated trades — the cabinetmaker finishes, then waits a week for the benchtop template, then another week for the electrician. Gaps between trades compound.
- Structural surprises — asbestos (common in pre-1990 Gold Coast homes), unexpected plumbing locations, load-bearing walls not identified. These add time and cost.
- Homeowner-supplied appliances delivered late — if you’re supplying your own appliances, confirm the delivery date before the build starts.
The Concierge Difference
At Konnect Kitchens, the build timeline is managed before it starts, not during it.
Every trade is pre-scheduled. Materials are staged. Appliances are ordered at specification sign-off, not at demolition. You have one contact who knows where every part of your project is at every moment.
The result is a renovation that runs to the timeline we committed to — not one that runs to whoever answers the phone first.
See our completed Gold Coast kitchen projects →
Book your free consultation →
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a kitchen renovation take on the Gold Coast?
A mid-range Gold Coast kitchen renovation takes 10–16 weeks from first consultation to completion. Best-case for a well-scoped, standard renovation is 10 weeks. Complex renovations involving layout changes or prestige appliances with long lead times run 16–20 weeks.
What is the longest lead time in a kitchen renovation?
Prestige integrated appliances (Miele, V-Zug, Fisher & Paykel) are typically the longest lead item — 4–8 weeks from order to delivery, sometimes longer for specific models. Custom cabinetry follows at 3–5 weeks. Ordering appliances at the specification sign-off stage, not after demolition, is the most important timeline decision.
Can I live in my home during a kitchen renovation?
Yes, most homeowners stay in the home during their kitchen renovation. The physical build phase (3–5 weeks) is the disruptive period — you’ll need alternative cooking arrangements (microwave, air fryer, BBQ) and a temporary meal setup. Access to a bathroom with a basin helps for washing up.
How do I avoid my kitchen renovation running over time?
The three most effective steps: (1) finalise every design decision before the build starts — no changes after ordering begins, (2) order appliances at specification sign-off, not later, and (3) use a project manager who pre-schedules trades rather than one who books them reactively.
Does a larger kitchen take longer to renovate?
Not always. A large kitchen with a straightforward layout (no wall removal, no structural changes, standard appliances) can be built faster than a smaller kitchen requiring structural work or prestige appliances. The number of decisions and the complexity of coordination matters more than square meterage.
Konnect Kitchens is a Gold Coast kitchen renovation company. QBCC Licence 1213227. KBDi Member. HIA Member.