Do cabinets or countertops go in first?

Cabinets. Countertops are templated from the installed, leveled cabinets so they fit the actual space rather than a drawing.

Does flooring go in before or after cabinets?

It depends on the project. Some kitchens run new flooring under the cabinets and others install it up to the cabinet base. We talk through the options during the free in-home estimate.

When should I choose my materials?

Before demolition. Choosing cabinets, countertops, backsplash and flooring together keeps the project moving and helps the finishes work with each other.

How do I find out what my kitchen remodel will involve?

Request a free in-home estimate. We measure the kitchen, look at the existing conditions and explain the scope before anything is ordered.

October 27, 2026

Planning a Kitchen Remodel in Surprise, AZ: The Right Order of Work

Remodeled kitchen with white quartz island and dark cabinetry

A kitchen remodel goes more smoothly when the work happens in the right order. Many of the headaches homeowners run into, like a countertop that doesn't sit flush or flooring that has to be cut back, come from steps done out of sequence. Here is how a typical kitchen project in Surprise and the West Valley comes together, and what you can do to keep yours on track.

Start with decisions, not demolition

The best time to choose your cabinets, countertops, backsplash tile and flooring is before anything comes out of the kitchen. Some materials have to be ordered, and deciding after demolition can leave you without a working kitchen while you shop. Choosing everything together also helps the finishes work with each other, since cabinet color, countertop pattern and floor tone all affect how the others look.

Look at cabinet doors, countertop samples and flooring side by side in a showroom.
Bring photos of your kitchen and a rough list of what you want to change.
Decide early whether the layout stays the same or whether the sink, range or walls will move.

A typical order of work

Every kitchen is different, but most remodels follow a sequence like this:

Planning and selections: measure, design and choose materials.
Demolition: remove the old cabinets, countertops and anything else being replaced.
Behind-the-wall work: any plumbing, electrical or wall changes happen while things are open. This work may require licensed trades and permits, so ask who handles it on your project.
Wall repair and prep: patch and prepare walls before new cabinets go in.
Cabinets: set, leveled and secured.
Countertop template: measured from the installed cabinets.
Countertop installation: once fabrication is complete.
Backsplash tile: installed after the countertops are in.
Final connections and trim: sink, faucet, appliances, hardware and finish details.

Why cabinets come before countertops

Countertops are cut to fit the cabinets they sit on. Walls are rarely perfectly straight and floors are rarely perfectly level, so the countertop template is taken from the installed, leveled cabinets rather than from a drawing. Measuring before the cabinets are in place is a common cause of gaps, uneven overhangs and seams in the wrong spot.

Where flooring fits

Flooring is the step with the most variation. In some kitchens the new floor runs under the cabinets. In others it is installed up to the cabinet base after the cabinets are set. Each approach has trade-offs: running flooring under the cabinets can make future layout changes easier, while installing it afterward uses less material and keeps the new floor out of the way of much of the construction. The right answer depends on your flooring type, your slab and whether the floor continues into other rooms.

Decide the flooring plan at the same time you plan the cabinets.
Think about how the kitchen floor will meet adjoining rooms and where transitions will fall.
Ask how the new floor will be protected while other work is going on.

Choosing countertops for a West Valley kitchen

Quartz is a popular choice here because it is non-porous, consistent in color and easy to keep clean. Granite and other natural stone offer one-of-a-kind patterns and may need periodic sealing depending on the stone. Whichever you lean toward, look at samples in good light next to your cabinet door and flooring before you decide.

What affects cost and schedule

There is no single number for a kitchen remodel. The factors that move cost and schedule the most are:

Whether the layout stays the same or plumbing, electrical or walls move.
Cabinet type and how many cabinets are being replaced.
Countertop material, edge details and the number of seams and cutouts.
Material availability and special-order items.
The condition of what's behind the old cabinets and under the old floor.
Whether permits and inspections are needed.

A free in-home estimate is the best way to see how these factors apply to your kitchen.

Common sequencing mistakes

Starting demolition before materials are chosen.
Measuring for countertops before the cabinets are installed.
Choosing flooring last and finding it clashes with the cabinets or countertops.
Leaving the backsplash decision until the end, then waiting on tile.

Plan your Surprise kitchen remodel

Henley's Floor & Home Pros helps homeowners in Surprise, Sun City West and across the West Valley plan cabinets, countertops, backsplash tile and flooring together. Visit our showroom at 15226 W Bell Rd #104 in Surprise to see materials side by side, or request a free in-home estimate and we'll come measure your kitchen.