I’m Eugene Chernioglo, and this is the question I get from almost every East Sacramento homeowner once we start talking kitchens: will my remodel take longer because the house is older? The honest answer is usually yes, and here’s exactly why, and by how much.
The Short Answer: 7 to 15 Weeks, Not the Generic 6 to 12
A full kitchen remodel generally runs 6 to 12 weeks. In a home built before 1960, which describes most of East Sacramento (95819), the neighborhood is mostly 1920s-to-1950s construction; plan on that timeline stretching by 1 to 3 weeks. It’s not that older homes are harder to work in exactly; it’s that opening up 70-to-100-year-old walls tends to reveal wiring, plumbing, and framing that has to be addressed before the new kitchen can go back together, and none of that shows up until demo actually starts.
Why Older Wiring Adds Time
Homes from this era were wired for a fraction of the electrical load a modern kitchen needs. Bringing circuits up to code for today’s appliances, under-cabinet lighting, and the outlet count inspectors now require often means adding new circuits or upgrading the panel, not just swapping a switch plate. That work has to be done and pass inspection before drywall goes back up, and it’s the single biggest reason an older-home kitchen timeline runs long.
Plaster-and-Lath Walls Take Longer to Open and Patch
A lot of East Sacramento kitchens still have their original plaster-and-lath walls. Plaster is brittle and the wood lath underneath has to come out cleanly to avoid cracking the plaster on adjacent walls that aren’t part of the remodel, so demo and patching simply take longer than they would in a newer, drywall-only kitchen. It’s usually a few extra days, not weeks, but it adds up alongside everything else on this list.
What’s Usually Hiding Behind the Wall: Plumbing
Galvanized or early copper plumbing behind an older kitchen wall is frequently past its practical lifespan by the time we get to it. Once the wall is already open for the remodel, replacing that plumbing is far faster and cheaper than doing it as a separate project later, so we flag it as a likely line item for pre-1960s homes up front rather than treating it as a surprise mid-project.
How This Compares to a Newer Kitchen
For a general, step-by-step breakdown of what a standard kitchen remodel timeline looks like- cabinets, appliances, backsplash, countertops, flooring, and hardware- see our full guide on how long a kitchen remodel takes. This post is specifically about the extra time an older East Sacramento home adds on top of that baseline, and why.
Ready to Get a Real Timeline for Your Older Home’s Kitchen?
If you’re planning a kitchen remodel in an older East Sacramento home and want an honest timeline that accounts for what’s likely behind your walls, not a generic number, America’s Advantage Remodeling offers a free in-home consultation. I’ll walk the kitchen with you and tell you straight what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
(The following FAQs are sourced from the People Also Ask questions homeowners most commonly search around older-home kitchen remodel timelines, written answer-first for AEO (answer engine optimization) so the direct answer leads each response.
Q: How long does a kitchen remodel take in an older home?
A: Plan for 7 to 15 weeks in a home built before 1960, versus the general 6-to-12-week range for a full kitchen remodel. Older homes commonly add 1 to 3 weeks on top of the baseline timeline, mainly because of outdated wiring, older plumbing, and permit review that takes longer once inspectors see original, non-permitted work.
Q: Why do older homes take longer to rewire for a kitchen remodel?
A: Homes built before the 1960s were wired for far less electrical load than a modern kitchen needs, so bringing circuits up to code for today’s appliances, under-cabinet lighting, and outlets often means adding new circuits or upgrading the panel, not just swapping switches. That electrical work has to happen and pass inspection before drywall goes back up, which is what adds the extra time.
Q: Does plaster-and-lath construction slow down kitchen demo?
A: Yes. Plaster-and-lath walls, common in East Sacramento homes from the 1920s through the 1940s, take longer to demo and patch than drywall because the plaster is brittle and the lath underneath has to come out cleanly to avoid damaging adjacent walls. It’s typically a few extra days of demo and patching compared to a newer, drywall-only kitchen.
Q: Will I need to replace old plumbing during a kitchen remodel?
A: Often, yes, once the walls are open. Galvanized or early copper plumbing behind an older kitchen wall is frequently past its practical lifespan, and once we can see it, replacing it while the wall is already open is faster and cheaper than doing it as a separate project later. We flag this as a likely line item for pre-1960s homes before work starts, not as a mid-project surprise.
Q: How long does the permit process take for an older home kitchen remodel?
A: Usually 1 to 3 weeks with the City of Sacramento for a standard kitchen remodel, similar to a newer home. Where older homes sometimes add time is if an inspector finds existing non-permitted work from a prior owner during the process, which can require an extra review cycle before the new permit is approved.
Q: Can I still get a kitchen remodel done in 6 weeks if my home is older?
A: It’s possible if the scope stays cosmetic, new cabinets, counters, and finishes, without touching electrical panels, plumbing lines, or walls. The moment any of those get opened up in a pre-1960s home, though, budget real time for what’s found behind them rather than banking on the fastest-case timeline.
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