What's the trade sequence for an Ottawa kitchen reno?

The correct trade sequence for a kitchen renovation is critical — getting it wrong means tearing out finished work, which costs time and money.

In Ottawa, a typical kitchen gut-and-renovate follows a logical flow that respects both the Ontario Building Code and practical construction reality. Here's how a well-managed project unfolds:

Phase 1: Demo and Rough-In

Everything starts with demolition — removing cabinets, flooring, drywall, and anything else being replaced. Once the walls are open, this is your window to do all rough-in work simultaneously. Your electrician runs new circuits (kitchens require dedicated 20-amp circuits for countertop receptacles under OBC), your plumber relocates or upgrades supply and drain lines, and if you're moving a gas range or adding a gas line, a TSSA-licensed gas technician does that work at this stage too. All of this happens before anything gets closed up.

Phase 2: Inspections Before Closing Walls

This step is non-negotiable in Ottawa. Once rough-in is complete, you need your rough-in inspection from the City of Ottawa Building Code Services (613-580-2424) and an ESA inspection for the electrical. Don't skip this — inspectors need to see the work inside the walls before drywall goes up. Closing walls without inspection approval can result in mandatory tear-outs later, which is an expensive lesson.

Phase 3: Drywall and Finishes

After inspections pass, drywall goes in, gets taped, mudded, and primed. Tile work (backsplash, flooring) typically follows drywall. In Ottawa kitchens, cement board backer is required behind any tile near the sink or stove area — paper-faced drywall isn't appropriate in wet zones.

Phase 4: Cabinets and Countertops

Cabinets are installed after flooring is roughed in but before countertops are templated. This sequencing matters because countertop templating (especially for stone like quartz or granite) can only happen once cabinets are fully set and level. Expect a 10-14 day lead time from template to countertop installation for most Ottawa stone fabricators.

Phase 5: Appliances, Fixtures, and Trim

Once countertops are in, your plumber returns to set the sink, hook up the dishwasher supply and drain, and connect the faucet. Your electrician does the trim-out — installing outlets, switches, under-cabinet lighting, and connecting appliances. The range hood gets connected, and if applicable, the gas range is hooked up and tested.

Phase 6: Final Inspection and Touch-Ups

A final building inspection closes out the permit. Paint touch-ups, hardware installation, and punch-list items wrap up the project.

Ottawa-Specific Timing Note

A full kitchen renovation in Ottawa typically runs 6-10 weeks from demo to completion, depending on scope and material lead times. Cabinet lead times are currently running 4-8 weeks from most Ottawa suppliers, so ordering early — ideally before demo — keeps the project moving. Permit processing through the City of Ottawa typically adds 10-20 business days at the front end.

The biggest mistake homeowners make is letting trades work out of sequence — particularly finishing walls before inspections, or setting cabinets before flooring decisions are finalized. A good general contractor manages this sequencing so nothing gets redone.

If you're planning a kitchen renovation and want to make sure the sequencing and trades are properly coordinated, Justyn Rook Contracting offers free estimates and handles full trade coordination from permit to punch-list. Reach out anytime to get the conversation started.