Renovation Planning
The Complete Kitchen Renovation Guide for Johannesburg Homeowners
From planning and permits to installation and snagging — what to expect at every stage
8 min read · Cupboards2Cabinets design team
A kitchen renovation is disruptive, and most of the stress comes from unclear sequencing. Here is the realistic timeline from first conversation to final snag.
01Weeks 1–2: brief, measure, design
Home visit, measurements, appliance list, and a first layout. Confirm the position of every plug point, gas line, and waste before drawings are signed off.
02Weeks 3–7: manufacture and trades
While cabinetry is in the workshop, electrical and plumbing first-fix happens on site along with any tiling or plastering. This overlap is what keeps a renovation to six weeks rather than twelve.
- Strip-out: 1–2 days
- Electrical and plumbing first fix: 2–4 days
- Cabinetry installation: 3–5 days
- Worktop template and fit: 5–8 working days after cabinets
- Second fix, splashback and snagging: 2–3 days
03Permits and body corporates
A like-for-like kitchen replacement rarely needs municipal plans, but moving a gas point, altering structure, or working in a sectional-title complex usually requires approval and a certificate of compliance. Confirm this before demolition, not after.
04Living through it
Set up a temporary kitchen with the fridge, kettle, microwave and a table. Agree working hours and a dust-control plan up front, and expect the worktop template gap — five to eight working days without a countertop is normal.
The takeaway
Sign off every service position before manufacture begins. Changes after that point are what turn a six-week renovation into a three-month one.
Planning this project yourself?
Use our cost estimator for an indicative range, or book a free home consultation and we'll measure, design and quote precisely.