The short answer: 2 to 4 days for most kitchens
A standard San Diego kitchen with 20-30 cabinet boxes takes 2-4 working days to reface from start to finish. Day one is demo and prep: old doors and hardware come off, the box faces get cleaned and sanded. Day two is veneer or laminate application. Days three and four are door and drawer front hanging, hardware installation, and final adjustments.
Larger kitchens, kitchens with bathroom vanities included in the same project, or projects involving custom doors with longer fabrication lead times run closer to 4-7 days on-site. But the days are not consecutive outage days in many cases: the crew may apply veneer on day two and return on day four after the adhesive has fully cured.
What the timeline looks like day by day
Measurements and material ordering (before the job starts)
An in-person measurement visit is required before ordering. The crew measures every door opening, counts drawer fronts, and checks the box face dimensions. Materials are ordered at that visit. Fabrication and delivery of custom doors typically takes 1-3 weeks. This is the lead time that surprises people most: the job itself is fast, but you may wait two to three weeks between the measurement visit and the start date.
Day 1: demo and prep
Old doors and drawer fronts are removed. Hardware comes off. Box faces are cleaned, light sanding smooths any raised areas, and any minor damage to the existing box is repaired. On a 25-cabinet kitchen, this takes 4-7 hours.
Day 2: veneer or laminate application
Cabinet box faces and visible sides get the new skin applied. Veneer is cut to size, adhesive is applied, and the veneer is pressed and trimmed. Laminate follows a similar process with a rigid sheet instead of a wood veneer. Filler strips along the ceiling, walls, or between upper and lower cabinets are cut and fitted.
Day 3-4: door hanging, hardware, and trim
New doors and drawer fronts go on. Hinges are adjusted so every door closes flush. New pulls or knobs are installed. Soft-close hardware, if included, is fitted and tested. The crew does a final walkthrough and makes small adjustments.
Factors that extend the timeline
Kitchen size
Going from 20 doors to 40 doors roughly doubles the door-hanging portion of the job, though the box veneer step doesn’t scale at the same rate.
Custom vs. stock doors
Stock doors in common sizes ship faster, sometimes within a week. Fully custom doors in non-standard dimensions, unusual profiles, or glass inserts take 2-4 weeks to fabricate. This is the fabrication lead time, not the installation time.
Box repairs
If a cabinet box at the base of the sink cabinet has water damage, that box needs to be repaired or partially replaced before veneer can go on. Minor repairs add hours. Significant damage to multiple boxes can add a full day.
Bathroom vanities
If the project includes refacing bathroom vanities in addition to the kitchen, add one day per bathroom for a single-vanity setup, more for double vanities or master baths with significant cabinet runs.
Paint-grade doors requiring site finishing
Some homeowners choose paint-grade wood doors that will be painted on-site after installation to get an exact color match. That adds a full day for painting plus curing time before the kitchen is back in use.
Living in the house during the project
You can stay in the house during a cabinet refacing project. The kitchen will be out of commission for the on-site days: you won’t be able to use the stove, the sink is accessible but awkward, and the crew needs clear access to the cabinets.
Plan for 3-4 days of limited kitchen use. Most families manage with a cooler, a microwave on the dining room table, and takeout. It’s less disruptive than the 2-4 weeks of a full kitchen remodel where the plumbing is disconnected and the boxes are out.
How to plan around the project
A few things that make the project go smoothly:
Clear out every item inside your cabinets before the crew arrives. The crew won’t move your dishes, pots, or pantry items. Budget two to three hours for this the day before the project starts.
Make sure there’s parking close to the kitchen entrance. Cabinet doors are large, the crew needs to carry them in, and access matters.
If you’re having countertops done at the same time, sequence the cabinets first: refacing needs the countertops in place for accurate filler strip fitting. Do the countertops after the cabinets if you’re replacing both.
For more on what the refacing process involves, see the cabinet refacing service page. If you’re also thinking through the door style for your project, the custom cabinet door options page covers the range of styles and finishes available.
How far in advance do I need to schedule?
Most refacing crews in San Diego are booking 2-4 weeks out. Between the measurement visit, material lead times, and crew scheduling, plan for 3-6 weeks from first contact to project start. Busy periods around Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the December holidays book faster.
Does refacing require a building permit in San Diego?
In most cases, no. Cabinet refacing is cosmetic work and doesn’t trigger a building permit requirement in San Diego County. If the project includes electrical work (under-cabinet lighting, for example), that work requires a separate permit. Confirm with the crew before work starts.
Can the kitchen be used during the project?
The kitchen is out of commission during on-site work days. Most families manage by setting up temporary cooking and eating arrangements. The disruption period is much shorter than a full kitchen remodel.
The bottom line
Cabinet refacing in San Diego takes 2-4 days on-site for a typical kitchen, but plan for 3-6 weeks from first contact to project completion once you account for measurement visits, material fabrication, and crew scheduling. Clear out your cabinets, line up temporary cooking arrangements, and make sure parking is accessible.
Call (858) 925-5546 to connect with insured cabinet refacing crews serving San Diego County from Oceanside to Chula Vista. Verify any contractor at cslb.ca.gov before signing a contract.