How long does a kitchen remodel take in Washington?

A Washington kitchen remodeltypically runs 5 to 14 months from your first design conversation through move-in day, with a median of around 9 months, figures drawn from 277 completed MOSS kitchen projects across the DMV region. That full span breaks into three overlapping phases: design and selections (where layouts, finishes, and specifications are locked in), permitting and regulatory approval, and on-site construction. The actual build is only one portion of that total timeline, and often not the longest one.

Where your project lands within that 5-to-14-month window depends on several converging factors. Scope and structural complexity matter enormously, a cosmetic refresh of an existing footprint moves far faster than a gut renovation that relocates plumbing, moves load-bearing walls, or opens the kitchen to an adjacent space. Permit review in the District of Columbia adds its own variable; DC's DCRAprocesscan extend review timelines compared to suburban jurisdictions, and projects touching structural, electrical, or plumbing systems typically require more thorough plan review before a permit issues. Long-lead materials, semi-custom or custom cabinetry, specialty tile, and certain appliances, commonly carry 8-to-14-week lead times that must be woven into the schedule from the start. Washington's older housing stock also tends to surface surprises once walls open: aging knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized supply lines, and framing that doesn't meet current code all add remediation time if they aren't anticipated early.

MOSS's design-buildmodel is structured specifically to compress the hand-off gaps that stretch timelines in the traditional architect-then-contractor sequence. Because design, engineering, and construction live under one roof, permit drawings are prepared and submitted while selections are still being finalized rather than weeks after. Cabinetry and other long-lead items are ordered the moment specifications are confirmed, not after a permit arrives, so fabrication runs concurrently with the approval process. That single-team continuity also means the crew walking into your kitchen on day one already knows the project inside and out, which keeps the construction phase itself moving without the ramp-up delays that come with a contractor seeing drawings for the first time.