Lock the functional plan before ordering finishes
Document how the kitchen should work: cooking, storage, cleaning, seating, lighting, circulation, and accessibility. Create a measured plan that locates walls, doors, windows, bulkheads, plumbing, electrical service, ventilation, and heating. Confirm appliance specifications and required clearances before cabinets or counters are released for production. A finish mood board cannot replace coordinated dimensions.
Separate the decision sequence from the construction sequence
Many products must be selected early even though they are installed late. Appliances affect cabinetry and services; sinks and faucets affect counters and plumbing; range hoods affect ventilation; floor thickness affects transitions and appliance clearances. Track who measures, who approves drawings, when products arrive, where they are stored, and what happens if an item is delayed or substituted.
Define demolition and rough-in assumptions
Ask what protection, disconnection, demolition, disposal, framing, wall repair, plumbing, electrical, ventilation, and inspection work is included. State whether the layout changes or services remain in place. Hidden conditions should have a written review and change process. Before closing walls, confirm that required inspections and documented approvals are complete.
- Protection and temporary kitchen plan
- Demolition and disposal limits
- Plumbing, electrical, and ventilation changes
- Framing, drywall, and surface preparation
- Inspection and close-wall responsibilities
Confirm municipal and electrical requirements
Building permit requirements depend on the scope and municipality. Structural changes, plumbing changes, ventilation work, or other alterations can require review. Ontario electrical work also has notification and inspection requirements. Use the official municipal and Electrical Safety Authority resources to confirm the current process for the specific project rather than relying on a generic renovation checklist.
Sequence visible finishes around dependencies
The exact order varies, but coordination commonly connects wall preparation, flooring decisions, cabinet installation, counter templating, appliance fit, backsplash, trim, painting, fixtures, final connections, deficiencies, and cleanup. Ask the contractor to explain the proposed sequence, dependencies, access needs, and decision deadlines in writing.
Official sources
Requirements can change. Use these primary sources and confirm details for your property and municipality.
Additional planning examples
These external contractor pages illustrate how one provider describes a service scope. They are included for planning context and are not an EZ Clear endorsement.
- View one kitchen-renovation scope example — use it to identify questions, then request project-specific responses through EZ Clear