The order of work in a kitchen remodel

On a kitchen with a permit, the order of work is fixed by the inspections, and the running record scottsdale kitchen remodelers michael burritt holds shows the jobs that ran over were the ones that tried to skip a step. A kitchen remodel in Scottsdale, AZ follows the same sequence from the first swing of the hammer to the last bead of caulk.

Permits and planning

Before demolition begins, the plan is drawn and the permit is pulled through the City of Scottsdale for any work that moves plumbing, wiring or walls. The appliance list, cabinet layout and lighting plan are settled at this stage, because every later trade depends on them. Long lead items like custom cabinets and stone are ordered here so they arrive when the space is ready. Maricopa County sets its own rules on some work, and a house near Camelback Mountain or the McDowell Mountains may carry hillside or design review conditions on top of the city permit.

Demolition

Old cabinets, counters, flooring and fixtures come out, and utilities are shut off at the source. Walls that might hide asbestos or lead paint in older houses are tested before they are opened. Demolition exposes what the plan could not show: old wiring, rotted framing, a plumbing line in the wrong place. Surprises are settled before new work covers them. Houses across the Phoenix metropolitan area hide a different surprise in each decade.

Rough-in and inspection

Plumbers and electricians run lines through open walls and floors. The hood duct, gas line and any new framing go in at this point. The city inspector reviews the rough work before anything is closed, and a pass is required to continue. Insulation follows the inspection if exterior walls were opened.

Drywall, paint and flooring

Drywall goes up, is taped and finished, then primed. Flooring is installed before the cabinets in some jobs and after in others, depending on whether the floor runs under them. Painting the ceiling and walls before cabinets arrive avoids brush marks on new finishes. Dust control matters throughout, because the Sonoran Desert wind finds every open gap in Scottsdale, AZ houses.

Cabinets, templates and counters

Cabinets are set level on a laser line, starting at the highest point of the floor. Only when they are fixed does the fabricator template the countertop, and cutting happens off site. Stone arrives days to weeks later. The sink and cooktop cutouts follow the installed models, not the plan drawings.

Backsplash, fixtures and final inspection

Tile goes on once the counters are in. The plumber sets the faucet and disposal, the electrician sets devices and fixtures, and appliances slide into place. The final inspection reviews the finished work against the permit, and a punch list handles small corrections before the job closes.