Kitchen renovation planning checklist for the GTA.

Decisions made before demolition protect the schedule.

A kitchen is a sequence of connected systems—not cabinets and a countertop chosen separately.

Start with a measured record of the existing room: walls, windows, doors, ceiling height, appliances, plumbing, electrical devices, ventilation, flooring, and adjacent finishes. Note what must remain usable during the work and which decisions are still open.

1. Confirm the working layout

• Record existing and proposed locations for cabinets, appliances, sink, dishwasher, range, hood, lighting, and seating.
• Check door swings, drawers, clear walking paths, appliance openings, and access for delivery and installation.
• Identify any wall, plumbing, electrical, gas, or ventilation change for early review rather than after cabinet ordering.
• Document the final cabinet, countertop, backsplash, flooring, trim, and paint boundaries.

2. Coordinate cabinetry and appliances together

Cabinet drawings should reflect the actual appliances, not only a general category. Confirm appliance model numbers, cut sheets, panel-ready requirements, handle clearance, electrical needs, water line, drain, venting, and delivery date. Keep the manufacturer information with the selection log so installers are working from the same details.

3. Map services before they are concealed

Review plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and ventilation scope before framing, drywall, cabinets, or finishes block access. In Ontario, electrical work should be coordinated through a Licensed Electrical Contractor; where applicable, retain the ESA Certificate of Acceptance at closeout. The exact approval, permit, and inspection path depends on the proposed work and location.

4. Finalize the finish assembly

Approve the actual cabinet finish, door style, pulls, counter, backsplash, grout, faucet, sink, lighting, flooring, paint, trim, and transitions together. Check samples in the room where possible. For every item, record supplier, product, quantity, delivery date, who receives it, and who is responsible if it arrives damaged or short.

5. Plan access and daily operation

For condos and occupied homes, confirm work hours, elevator or loading bookings, protection, delivery route, parking, water shutoffs, temporary cooking plan, cleanup, and key control. A condo’s own documents may require approvals or restrictions in addition to municipal requirements.

6. Define completion before work starts

Set the closeout list: appliance operation, cabinet and drawer adjustment, caulking, paint touch-ups, fixture testing, cleaning, manuals, warranty information, approved electrical documentation, and photos of any concealed service changes before walls are closed.

Use this alongside the kitchen renovation timeline, GTA kitchen cost guide, and material selection checklist.