How Long Will Your 2026 Kitchen Remodel Really Take in Austin?

If a kitchen remodel in Austin is on your list for 2026, one of the first questions that usually comes up is, “How long is my kitchen going to be torn up?” The truth is, there’s a big difference between a surface-focused refresh and a full new-cabinet renovation, and understanding that difference up front makes planning a lot easier.

Last week we talked about why it pays to start planning your 2026 project early. This week, we’re going deeper into how long a kitchen remodel really takes once the work starts, so you can plan around school schedules, holidays, and everything else on your calendar in Austin , Kyle , Pflugerville , and Liberty Hill.

At Austin Painting and Cabinets, nearly every 2026 project falls into one of two main paths:

• A surface-focused remodel that keeps your existing cabinet boxes (cabinet painting or refacing, new countertops, backsplash, hardware, lighting, and paint).
• A full new-cabinet kitchen remodel that may include layout changes, new cabinet boxes, and a more involved construction schedule.

Both options can completely transform your space, but the active construction timelines look very different. Let’s walk through what to expect.

The Two Main Kitchen Remodel Paths We See in Austin

Path 1: 4–6 Working Days Once Work Begins (No New Cabinets)

For many homeowners, the most efficient way to update the kitchen is to keep the existing cabinet layout and boxes, then invest in high-impact finishes: cabinet refacing or cabinet painting, new countertops, backsplash, hardware, and fresh paint. This approach gives you a modern, custom look without a full gut renovation.

Cabinet refacing: Keep your existing cabinet boxes while upgrading to brand-new doors and drawer fronts in the style you want. And then you pick whatever paint color you want and the new doors and drawer faces and existing cabinets are all painted to match. This is one of the most popular ways Austin homeowners modernize their kitchen without the cost or long timeline of full cabinet replacement.

For this type of project, our active construction phase usually falls in the 4–6 working day range once work actually begins in your home. A typical timeline might look like this:

• Day 1–2: Prep, cabinet painting or refacing work begins, and any necessary drywall repairs.
• Day 3: Countertop templating or installation (depending on what’s already been ordered and fabricated), plus continued cabinet work.
• Day 4–5: Backsplash tile installation and grouting.
• Day 5–6: Final paint touch-ups, caulking, hardware installation, and cleanup.

Because we’re not removing and rebuilding cabinet boxes, we can keep the disruption shorter while still delivering a dramatic transformation. Many families are able to stay in the home and work around the kitchen during these projects.

Path 2: 4–6 Weeks Once Work Begins (New Cabinets)

If your current layout doesn’t work—maybe you need more storage, a larger island, or better flow between the fridge, sink, and range—a new-cabinet kitchen remodel is usually the right path. This is where we remove your existing cabinets and install brand-new boxes, doors, drawers, and trim.

On these projects, we only talk about layout modification when you’re choosing new cabinets. That might mean widening an island, adding deeper drawers, or reworking an awkward corner that has never really been useful.

For a full new-cabinet remodel, the active construction phase typically falls in the 4–6 week range once demolition starts. A simplified timeline looks like this:

• Week 1: Demo of existing cabinets, some flooring as needed, and any framing or electrical adjustments tied to layout changes.
• Week 2–3: Cabinet installation, trim work, and any necessary drywall work.
• Week 3–4: Countertop templating and installation, plus sink, faucet, and appliance re-connections as appropriate.
• Week 4–5: Backsplash tile, additional lighting, and paint.
• Week 5–6: Final punch list, hardware, caulking, and detailed cleanup.

Because we’re rebuilding more of the room, there are more moving parts and trades involved. The good news is that careful planning on the front end keeps things moving smoothly once work starts.

What Happens Before the Dust Starts: Design & Material Lead Times

Both of these timelines—4–6 working days and 4–6 weeks—start after we arrive for demo and prep. Before that, there’s a design and material phase that happens quietly in the background and doesn’t disrupt your kitchen.

For our 2026 projects, we start with a showroom appointment where you can see:

• Cabinet door styles, including both painted cabinets and cabinet refacing options.
• Quartz and other countertop options in popular “ kitchen remodel Austin ” finishes.
• Backsplash tile, flooring, hardware, and paint combinations that work together.

During that appointment, we walk through every selection your kitchen remodel will need so that everything can be ordered and staged in advance. Lead times for cabinets, countertops, and specialty tile can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the exact materials you choose.

In this week’s Google Business Profile update, we shared a quick reminder that getting those decisions made now keeps your timeline on track for 2026—you can see that overview here: our latest kitchen remodel planning update. This blog is meant to sit alongside that reminder and show you what the schedule looks like once all those pieces are in place.

Because we do the selection and ordering work ahead of time, most of that lead-time window happens while you’re still using your current kitchen as normal. When everything is ready to go, we schedule your start date and the active construction clock begins.

Choosing Between a Surface-Focused Refresh and a New-Cabinet Remodel

Not sure whether to keep your existing cabinets or go all-in on new ones? The right choice comes down to how you use the space, what condition your cabinet boxes are in, and how much you want to invest.

• Surface-focused kitchen remodels(cabinet painting or refacing + countertops + backsplash) work best when you like your layout, your cabinet boxes are in good shape, and you want a fresh, modern look without major structural changes.
• New-cabinet kitchen remodels make sense when you’re fighting your layout every day, your storage isn’t working, or you want to add features like deeper drawers, a bigger island, or better built-in solutions.

If you’re still on the fence, our article Should You Replace or Reface Cabinets in Your Austin Kitchen Remodel? is a helpful deep dive. It walks through when cabinet refacing is the smarter choice and when full replacement is worth the investment.

How These Timelines Fit Into Your 2026 Planning

When you’re looking at an upcoming year, it helps to think about your remodel in three phases:

1. Planning & design: Showroom appointment, measurements, scope decisions, and selections.
2. Ordering & lead times: Cabinets, countertops, tile, and fixtures are ordered and staged while you keep using your existing kitchen.
3. Active construction: The 4–6 working days or 4–6 weeks that we’re physically in your home doing the remodel.

By separating “behind-the-scenes” time from on-site construction, most homeowners find it much easier to fit a remodel around work, travel, and family events. For example:

• You might use early 2025 or early 2026 for planning, design, and selections.
• Let ordering and lead times run quietly in the background while life carries on as normal.
• Schedule active construction for a window that works around school breaks, holidays, or a period when you’ll be home to keep an eye on things.

If you love digging into design, you can also pair this planning work with our blog Kitchen Remodel Austin: 2025 Design Trends to Know , which highlights some of the cabinet, countertop, and tile looks we’re seeing most often.

Where We’re Planning 2026 Kitchen Remodels

We remodel kitchens across the Austin area, with a focus on clear communication, clean job sites, and professional crews. Many of our 2026 projects are already being planned in:

• Austin
• Kyle
• Pflugerville
• Liberty Hill

No matter which neighborhood you’re in, our goal is the same: help you understand your options, choose the right path, and keep your kitchen remodel on a realistic, predictable schedule.

How Austin Painting & Cabinets Helps You Plan Your Timeline

Remodeling can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to make every decision alone. Our team is here to simplify the process and walk you through each step. During a typical kitchen remodel in Austin, we help with:

• Clarifying whether cabinet painting, cabinet refacing, or new cabinets make the most sense for your goals and budget.
• Coordinating selections so your cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, and paint all work together.
• Building a realistic schedule around your family’s calendar, including those 4–6 day or 4–6 week construction windows.
• Managing trade partners and communication so you always know what’s happening next.

You can learn more about how we approach kitchen projects on our kitchen remodeling services page , including how we combine cabinet work, countertops, backsplash, and interior painting into one cohesive plan.

Ready to Talk Through Your 2026 Kitchen Remodel Timeline?

If a new kitchen is on your list for 2026, now is the perfect time to start mapping out your path—whether that means a focused 4–6 day refresh or a full 4–6 week new-cabinet remodel. A little planning today can make demolition day feel organized instead of stressful.

Schedule a complimentary consultation to talk through your goals, rough budget, and ideal timing. We’ll help you decide which path fits your home, and we’ll build a clear schedule so you know exactly what to expect once work begins.

Schedule your complimentary kitchen remodel consultation today.