How Long Remodels Really Take in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond & Kirkland — And What Causes Delays
Most contractors will tell you a bathroom remodel takes '3–5 weeks' and a kitchen takes '6–8 weeks.' Both are technically true for the construction phase only. What they often don't tell you is that the construction phase is preceded by a 2–6 month planning, design, and permitting runway — and followed by a punch list and final inspection phase that can stretch 2–4 additional weeks. This guide covers the full picture.
The Full Remodel Timeline: Before, During, and After Construction
Here is the complete timeline for a typical kitchen or primary bathroom remodel in the Seattle area, from the moment you decide to remodel to the day you get your final inspection sign-off.
Phase 1 — Planning & Design: 4–10 Weeks
Getting bids (2–4 weeks for 3 quality bids), reviewing and selecting a contractor (1–2 weeks), design decisions — tile, fixtures, cabinets, finishes — (1–4 weeks). For kitchens, this phase often includes a designer or kitchen planner session.
Common delay: Homeowners underestimate how long it takes to make finish selections. Tile alone can take 2–3 weeks of trips to showrooms and waiting for samples.
Phase 2 — Permits: 2–12 Weeks
Simple cosmetic permits (STFI) can be approved in 1–2 days. Full remodels with layout changes, plumbing moves, or electrical upgrades go through plan review at SDCI (Seattle) or equivalent city departments.
Per Seattle SDCI data, plan review at the 75th percentile runs approximately 6–10 weeks for residential projects. The total applicant experience — including revisions requested — averages roughly twice the city's in-control time.
Bellevue, Redmond, and Kirkland typically run faster than Seattle SDCI: expect 3–6 weeks for comparable scopes.
Critical point: Permits cannot be skipped to save time. Work done without required permits may need to be torn out to allow inspection, and creates legal exposure at resale. Budget permit time into your schedule from day one.
Phase 3 — Material Lead Times: 4–14 Weeks (Overlaps with Permits)
Smart contractors order materials during the permit phase so they arrive before or near construction start.
Typical lead times in 2025: — Stock cabinets (IKEA, Home Depot): 1–2 weeks — Semi-custom cabinets: 6–10 weeks — Fully custom cabinets: 12–20 weeks — Specialty tile (imported): 3–8 weeks — Premium appliances: 2–8 weeks (Sub-Zero/Wolf can be longer) — Custom countertops (stone): 2–4 weeks after cabinet installation template
Do not schedule construction start until semi-custom cabinets are confirmed delivered to the supplier. Cabinet delays are the single most common reason Seattle kitchen remodels run 4–8 weeks over schedule.
Phase 4 — Construction: 3–14 Weeks
Bathroom remodel (cosmetic): 3–4 weeks Bathroom remodel (full gut, no layout change): 4–6 weeks Bathroom remodel (full gut, layout changes): 6–10 weeks Kitchen remodel (cosmetic update): 3–5 weeks Kitchen remodel (full, no structural): 6–10 weeks Kitchen remodel (full + wall removal or structural): 10–16 weeks
These are construction-phase-only estimates per the 2025 Seattle Home Remodeling Guide. Add planning, permits, and material lead times for total elapsed time.
Phase 5 — Punch List & Final Inspection: 1–4 Weeks
After construction is complete, final inspection must be scheduled with the relevant city department. Seattle inspectors book 1–2 weeks out. If the inspection reveals issues requiring correction, add another cycle.
Punch list items — small corrections, paint touch-ups, hardware adjustments — typically take 2–5 contractor visits spread over 1–3 weeks.
The Most Common Causes of Delays in Seattle Remodels
1. Permit revisions (1–4 added weeks)
SDCI frequently requests plan revisions before approval. Incomplete initial submissions — the cause of ~95% of permit delays per SDCI data — push timelines significantly. Contractors experienced with SDCI typically have submission-ready packages; first-timers often cycle through 2–3 revisions.
2. Hidden conditions after demo (1–3 added weeks) Asbestos tile, rot, galvanized pipes, knob-and-tube wiring — these require stop-work periods for remediation. In Seattle homes built before 1978, assume asbestos testing ($250–$500) is needed before any demo work.
3. Cabinet delays (2–8 added weeks) The most common single cause of kitchen remodel overruns. Semi-custom cabinet lead times can shift by 2–4 weeks without warning when suppliers have production backlogs.
4. Subcontractor scheduling (1–3 added weeks) The GC coordinates plumbers and electricians around their own project queues. In Seattle's active market, the best subcontractors book out. A GC without established sub-relationships creates scheduling gaps.
5. Change orders (variable) Every change after construction starts costs time and money. Changing a tile midway through installation means stopping work, returning tile, ordering new tile (potentially weeks), and restarting. The best protection is completing all finish selections before demo day.
Realistic total elapsed time for a Seattle primary kitchen or bathroom remodel: Add 3–5 months to whatever construction timeline your contractor quotes. That covers planning, permits, materials, and punch list. For complex projects, budget 6–9 months total from decision to done.
How Permit Timelines Differ by City
Permit processing speed varies by city — and it matters significantly to your overall timeline.
| City | Dept. | Simple Permit | Full Plan Review | Expedite Option? | Online Tracking? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | SDCI | 1–2 days (STFI) | 6–12 weeks | Limited | Yes — Seattle Services Portal |
| Bellevue | City of Bellevue | 1–3 days | 3–6 weeks | Yes ($250–$500) | Yes |
| Redmond | City of Redmond | 1–3 days | 3–5 weeks | Yes | Yes |
| Kirkland | City of Kirkland | 1–3 days | 3–6 weeks | Yes | Yes |
How to Protect Your Schedule
Start permit applications early. The permit clock starts when you submit — not when construction starts. For projects requiring plan review, submit 8–10 weeks before your desired construction start.
Lock in all finish selections before demo. Create a 'selections deadline' 2 weeks before construction start. Nothing changes after that date without a formal change order.
Confirm cabinet delivery before demo. Do not gut your kitchen until you have confirmed delivery of cabinets to your supplier's warehouse. Construction without cabinets on-site is a schedule risk.
Book your inspector early. Once your permit is issued, schedule your rough-in inspection immediately — even if you won't need it for 3 weeks. You can reschedule; you can't speed up a 2-week booking queue.
Buffer for weather. Exterior work in Seattle between November and March carries real weather risk. Build 2-week weather buffers into any scope that involves exterior penetrations, window replacement, or roofwork.
The best single thing you can do for your schedule: Hire a contractor with established permit relationships in your specific city. A contractor who regularly pulls permits with Bellevue's building department knows what reviewers look for, submits complete packages, and gets fewer revision requests.
The Ultimate Guide to Home Repair and Improvement (Updated Edition)
The most comprehensive single-volume reference for homeowners tackling a remodel. Covers every major trade — plumbing, electrical, framing, tile, drywall — with step-by-step photos. Useful before contractor meetings so you understand what they're describing.
- 600+ pages covering every trade involved in a kitchen or bath remodel
- Step-by-step photos make contractor scopes easier to understand
- Helps you spot vague or incomplete bids before you sign
- Updated edition includes modern materials and code references
Get the Remodel Timeline Tracker
A week-by-week project tracker spreadsheet built for Seattle-area remodels — with permit milestones, material order deadlines, and inspection checkpoints.