The Two Timelines
There are really two timelines in a refacing project: the time in your home (short) and the total time from first call to finished kitchen (longer). Most homeowners care about both, for different reasons — the in-home time determines disruption, and the total time determines planning. Here is each one honestly.
Phase 1: First Call to Estimate (Days)
You call or send the form, and we schedule the free visit — usually within a few days. The visit itself takes under an hour for most kitchens. If you know what you want, the written estimate can follow quickly. If you need time to think about styles and colors — and you should take it — this phase stretches to whatever pace you are comfortable with. There is no pressure and no expiring quote.
Phase 2: Decisions and Door Building (Weeks)
This is the longest phase and the calmest: your doors and drawer fronts are built to order in your chosen style and finish. Custom doors take some weeks — they are made for your exact measurements, not pulled from a warehouse. Nothing happens in your home during this phase. Use the time to clear out and organize; you will thank yourself later.
Phase 3: Install Days (3–5 Days)
When the doors arrive, the work in your home moves fast. A typical kitchen: day one for teardown and frame prep, then veneer or laminate on the frames, then hanging doors and fitting hardware. Most kitchens finish in three to five working days. Small projects — a single vanity, a small galley kitchen — can be faster. Large kitchens with islands, pantries, and desk areas can run longer. Your written estimate includes a timeline for your specific project.
What Can Slow Things Down
Honest factors: frame repairs discovered during prep (we fix them, but it adds time), finish changes mid-project (avoidable — finalize choices before install starts), and access issues (if we cannot get to the kitchen on schedule). What does not slow refacing down: weather, permits, or subcontractor scheduling — the things that stretch remodels for months simply do not apply here.
Compared to a Remodel
A full kitchen remodel typically takes weeks to months, with much of that time your kitchen unusable. Refacing's in-home time is measured in days, and the kitchen works throughout. Even counting the door-building weeks, the total calendar time from first call to done is usually shorter than a remodel — and the disruptive portion is a small fraction.
Planning Tips
Start the conversation before you need the kitchen done — the door-building phase rewards early starters. If you are timing the project around holidays or guests, tell us during the visit so we schedule install days accordingly. And finalize your style and color choices before install week; mid-project changes are the one delay that is entirely avoidable.
Call (301) 679-9193 or send the form below for your free on-site estimate.