A professional kitchen demolition takes 1 to 3 days depending on the kitchen size and what’s being removed. The crew removes cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, and sometimes drywall — then hauls everything away so your remodel can start on a clean slate.
Here’s exactly what happens from start to finish.
Before Demo Day
Your demo crew should walk the kitchen with you before any work starts. During this visit, they’ll confirm:
- What stays and what goes — are you keeping the floor? The ceiling? Any cabinets?
- Utility shutoffs — water lines to the sink and dishwasher, gas line to the stove, electrical circuits
- Protection plan — how they’ll protect flooring, walls, and doorways in adjacent rooms
- Debris path — how materials get from the kitchen to the truck without damaging your home
A good crew handles all utility disconnects. You should never have to call a plumber or electrician just to start demo.
What Gets Removed
In a full kitchen demolition, the crew typically removes:
- Upper and lower cabinets — unscrewed from walls and carried out
- Countertops — granite, quartz, laminate, and butcher block all come out differently
- Backsplash tile — chipped off the wall, drywall patched or replaced depending on condition
- Appliances — stove, dishwasher, microwave, hood vent
- Flooring — tile, hardwood, vinyl, or linoleum down to the subfloor
- Drywall — if you’re moving plumbing or electrical, some or all drywall comes down
- Fixtures — sink, faucet, garbage disposal, light fixtures
Everything gets loaded into the truck and hauled to the appropriate disposal facility. You shouldn’t have to make a dump run.
The Demo Process Day by Day
Day 1: Prep and soft demo. Plastic sheeting goes up on doorways. Drop cloths cover floors in the path to the door. Appliances get disconnected and removed. Upper cabinets come down first, then lowers.
Day 2: Hard demo. Countertops get cut or lifted out. Backsplash comes off. Flooring gets pulled. If drywall is coming down, this is when it happens. This is the loudest day.
Day 3: Cleanup and haul. Final debris gets swept and shop-vacuumed. Any remaining nails or screws get pulled from studs. The space gets left broom-clean for your contractor.
Smaller kitchens or partial demos often wrap in 1-2 days.
How to Prep Your House
You don’t need to do much, but a few things help:
- Clear the kitchen. Remove everything from cabinets, drawers, and countertops. Box up dishes, food, and small appliances.
- Move fragile items from adjacent rooms. The vibration from tile removal can knock things off shelves in the next room.
- Set up a temporary kitchen. A folding table with a microwave, coffee maker, and cooler in the dining room or garage goes a long way.
- Tell your neighbors. Demo is loud. A quick heads-up keeps the peace.
- Keep pets away. Dust, noise, and an open front door are a bad combination with dogs and cats.
What Does Kitchen Demo Cost in Metro Detroit?
Kitchen demolition in the Metro Detroit area typically runs $1,500 to $4,000 for a full gut including haul-away. The price depends on:
- Kitchen size
- Whether flooring and drywall are included
- Countertop material (granite is heavier and takes more labor)
- Access — second floor kitchens cost more because everything goes down stairs
Partial demos (cabinets and countertops only, keep the floor) run less — usually $800 to $2,000.
Questions We Get Asked
Will demo damage my walls in other rooms? It shouldn’t. A professional crew uses protection on every surface in the debris path and works carefully around corners. We fix any incidental dings before we leave.
Can I do kitchen demo myself? You can, but most homeowners underestimate the time, the mess, and the disposal logistics. A crew with the right tools finishes in days what takes a homeowner weekends. And improper removal of tile or drywall can damage subfloors and framing.
What about asbestos in older homes? Homes built before 1980 may have asbestos in floor tiles, pipe insulation, or drywall joint compound. If your home is older, get it tested before demo starts. We can point you to local testing services.
How soon can my contractor start after demo? Immediately. We leave the space clean and ready — exposed studs, clean subfloor, all debris gone.
Planning a kitchen remodel in Metro Detroit? Call us at (586) 371-7905 to talk about your demo — we’ll give you an honest timeline and price.