Before you sign anything, you want to know what you are actually signing up for: how long it takes, how disruptive it is, and what could go wrong. Most cabinet pages sell the finished kitchen and skip the messy middle. Think of this as the roadmap a contractor who has done it hundreds of times would walk you through. One thing to set straight up front: our cabinets are semi-custom, designed with you, ordered from our vendor and assembled, and installed by our own team.
The process from proposal to finished kitchen
A cabinet project is a sequence, not a single event. It starts with a measurement of your kitchen, which we take first, or work from the measurements and photos you send us, so we can prepare an accurate proposal. From there it runs to your sign-off on the final drawings, to your order being placed and assembled, to tear-out of the old kitchen, to installation, and finally a walkthrough and punch list. The hands-on installation is a small part of the calendar, and because your semi-custom order typically arrives in about 7 to 10 business days including assembly, the wait before your installers arrive is far shorter than most homeowners expect. As a budgeting benchmark, a complete cabinet and countertop renovation typically starts at around $8,000.
The process from proposal to finished kitchen
We take a measurement of your kitchen first, because a fraction of an inch decides whether the run fits cleanly, and sometimes we can prepare the estimate from measurements and photos you send us. That measurement is what your proposal is built on. You then receive a project proposal with your overall project cost and a detailed scope of work, and you sign off on the final drawings before anything is ordered. In older San Antonio homes that are rarely square, this is where we plan the scribing and fillers that make the finished kitchen look built-in. We also confirm any plumbing or electrical that needs to move, and whether the work requires a permit, before we proceed.
Lead time: how long the cabinets take to arrive
Once your drawings are approved, we place your order with our vendor. Because the cabinets come in standard sizes with adjustable depth and height rather than being built one-off, your order typically arrives in about 7 to 10 business days, including the time to assemble it, far faster than the weeks or months a fully bespoke custom job can take. We keep you updated through this window so you can plan the disruptive part around your life.
Tear-out: what happens to your old kitchen
Tear-out is usually a single day, and the messiest. The old cabinets and often the countertops come out, and this is when hidden problems surface: water damage behind a sink base, an out-of-level floor, or a wall further out of plumb than expected. Catching these now is the point, not a setback. A proper crew protects your floors and pathways, keeps the work area clean, and clears the debris at the end rather than leaving your old kitchen in the driveway.
Installation day: the sequence and what to expect
Crews start by shooting a level line to find the high point of the floor, which sets the reference for the whole room. From there they set the base cabinets first and make sure every one is level. Once the bases are set and leveled, we take the countertop measurement and send it straight to our fabricator so the stone can be cut while the rest of the installation continues, which shortens the overall timeline. The cabinet install then carries on: set, level, shim, touch up, and door and drawer adjustment, followed by the upper cabinets, hardware, and toe kicks, with final adjustments so every door aligns and every drawer glides. For a typical kitchen, installation takes 1 to 3 days depending on the size of the kitchen.
The countertop gap most people are not warned about
Your countertops are templated once the base cabinets are set and leveled, then sent straight to the fabricator to cut while the rest of the cabinet installation continues, which shortens the wait. Even so, stone is fabricated off-site and installed separately, so there is usually a stretch of roughly one to two weeks between cabinet installation and countertop installation when you have cabinets but no counters. It is normal and planned, not a delay, so build it into your expectations from the start.
Final walkthrough and punch list
The job is done when the punch list is clear. We walk the finished kitchen with you and note anything that needs attention, a door to realign, a touch-up, a final adjustment, and we complete those items. This step is the difference between a kitchen that looks finished and one that actually is.
How to prepare your home for install week
Empty the cabinets and clear the counters right before install week. Set up a temporary kitchen station elsewhere with your microwave, coffee maker, and essentials, and plan for the kitchen to be out of use during the on-site work days. Plan for noise and restricted access, and keep pets and young children clear of the work zone. In older Alamo Heights and King William homes especially, expect a little extra scribing time so the new run looks native to a house that has shifted over the decades.
What most San Antonio homeowners get wrong
They assume install day is the whole project. They are caught off guard by the countertop gap. They do not set up a temporary kitchen. They panic when tear-out reveals a hidden problem, when catching it now is exactly the point. And they treat the punch list as optional, then live with a misaligned door for years.
FAQ
How long does it take to install kitchen cabinets?
The on-site installation for a typical kitchen takes 1 to 3 days depending on the size of the kitchen; the wait before install is shorter than most expect, since your semi-custom order typically arrives in about 7 to 10 business days, plus a one to two week gap before countertops.
What happens during cabinet installation?
Crews set a level reference, set and level the base cabinets first, then take the countertop measurement for the fabricator, and go on to fit the uppers, doors, drawers, hardware, and toe kicks with final adjustments.
How long do the cabinets take to arrive?
About 7 to 10 business days for semi-custom, including assembly; fully bespoke custom can take weeks or months.
Do I need to empty my kitchen before installation?
Yes, right before install week, and set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere.
How disruptive is a cabinet install?
Tear-out day is the messiest and the kitchen is out of use during the work, but a proper crew protects your floors, keeps the work area clean, and keeps the timeline predictable.
What happens next
- Book a design consultation and we measure and plan your project, or work from the measurements and photos you send us.
- You approve your project proposal and final drawings, and we place your semi-custom order, which typically arrives in about 7 to 10 business days including assembly.
- We tear out the old kitchen and install the new one, which takes 1 to 3 days for a typical kitchen.
- We walk the finished kitchen with you and clear the punch list. Ready to start?
- See our cabinet installation in San Antonio, compare your options in our custom vs stock cabinets guide, and browse styles in our kitchen cabinets range.
