Kitchen Remodels in Tempe & Maricopa County

Zona Floors handles full kitchen renovations across Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, and the rest of Maricopa County. Cabinets, countertops, custom tile backsplash, flooring, lighting design, and layout changes — all coordinated by one project lead under one schedule. Most full kitchen remodels finish in 6 to 10 weeks.

If you only need new kitchen floors, our kitchen flooring service covers that scope. This page is about full kitchen remodels — tear-out, cabinetry, counters, backsplash, and finish.

What a Full Kitchen Remodel Covers

A full kitchen remodel from Zona Floors typically includes:

• Complete demolition of existing cabinets, countertops, backsplash, and flooring
• Layout changes if needed — wall removals, island additions, peninsula reconfigurations
• Structural work when load-bearing walls come out, coordinated with a structural engineer and permitting
• Plumbing relocations for sink moves, new dishwasher locations, pot fillers, and added water lines
• Electrical updates to current code — dedicated circuits for appliances, under-cabinet lighting, pendant fixtures, USB outlets
• Cabinetry installation — stock, semi-custom, or fully custom; base cabinets, uppers, pantry, island
• Countertop installation — quartz, granite, natural stone, butcher block, or solid surface
• Custom tile backsplash — porcelain, ceramic, glass mosaic, or natural stone
• Kitchen flooring — waterproof LVP, porcelain tile, engineered hardwood
• Lighting design — recessed cans, pendant fixtures over islands, under-cabinet lighting
• Appliance coordination — built-in, paneled, freestanding, induction, gas
• Final trim work — toe kicks, crown molding, baseboards, transitions, paint touch-ups
• Punch list and cleanup — walk-through, debris removal, deep clean

We don’t break the project across three different contractors. Flooring, cabinets, counters, tile, and finish work all run through one team.

Our Kitchen Remodel Process

1. Free In-Home Consultation

We meet at your home, walk through the existing kitchen, and listen to what’s not working — workflow problems, storage shortages, dated finishes, layout fights with how you actually cook. We bring physical samples for cabinets, countertops, tile, and finishes so you see real options in your actual lighting. By the end of the meeting, you have a realistic budget range and a clear path forward.

2. Design & Detailed Written Estimate

Layout decisions get finalized first — that drives everything else. Cabinet specifications (door style, finish, hardware, accessories), countertop material and edge profile, backsplash tile and grout color, appliance dimensions, flooring choice, and lighting design all lock during this phase. You receive a detailed written estimate itemizing every line: demolition, framing, plumbing, electrical, cabinets, counters, backsplash, flooring, lighting, fixtures, and finish work. No “kitchen labor” bundle that hides the actual scope.

3. Demolition & Rough-In

Demo day starts with cabinets and counters coming out, then the old flooring, then the backsplash. With the room down to studs and slab where needed, we tackle the hidden work: plumbing relocations, dedicated electrical circuits for new appliances, under-cabinet lighting wiring, pendant boxes over the island, exhaust ventilation upgrades, and any framing or structural changes. Inspections happen before walls close.

If a load-bearing wall is coming out, we install the temporary support, set the new beam to the structural engineer’s spec, and pass framing inspection before drywall.

4. Flooring & Cabinet Installation

Flooring goes down before cabinets in most builds — cabinets sit on finished floor, which makes the floor easier to install (no cutting around cabinet bases) and avoids future problems if cabinets ever come out. Once flooring cures, cabinet boxes get leveled and secured directly to wall studs with cabinet screws (not drywall anchors). Toe kicks, crown molding, and any trim accents follow.

Custom cabinet lead times typically run 8 to 12 weeks from order. We begin design and ordering before demo so cabinets arrive at the right point in the timeline.

5. Countertop Templating, Backsplash, and Appliances

Countertop fabricators come out to template against the actual installed cabinets (not the drawings). Quartz and stone typically fabricate in 1 to 2 weeks. Once counters install, the backsplash gets templated against the finished counter edge and cabinet returns — measured to the actual installation, not the plans.

Appliances install last, with plumbing trim-out (faucet, dishwasher, ice maker, pot filler) and electrical finish work. Built-in and paneled appliances get scribed and trimmed for a clean integrated look.

6. Punch List & Final Walk-Through

We walk the finished kitchen with you, capture any punch list items, and address them quickly. Final invoice ships with warranty documentation, care instructions for each surface (countertop sealing schedules, cabinet maintenance, tile and grout care), and contact info for any future questions.

Major Decisions You’ll Make

The decisions that drive budget and outcome on a kitchen remodel:

Layout changes. Keeping the existing footprint is the cheapest path. Removing a wall to open up the kitchen, adding an island, or relocating the sink adds plumbing, electrical, framing, and sometimes structural scope. Often worth it. Always priced separately so you can compare.

Cabinet selection. Stock cabinets ship pre-built in standard sizes — affordable, faster, less custom. Semi-custom adjust within standard sizes for door styles, finishes, and accessories. Fully custom builds to your exact dimensions and specifications — most expensive, longest lead times, biggest design flexibility. Most of our mid-range kitchen remodels use semi-custom.

Countertop material. Quartz dominates for good reason — durable, easy to maintain, consistent appearance. Granite for the natural-stone look at a friendlier price than marble. Natural stone (marble, quartzite, soapstone) for high-end statement kitchens. Butcher block for islands and accent areas. Our quartz vs granite countertops guide compares the top contenders.

Backsplash style. Subway tile remains a safe, timeless default. Large-format porcelain creates a seamless modern look. Glass mosaic adds reflectivity and color. Natural stone mosaics bring high-end character. Full-height backsplash up to the underside of upper cabinets is a current trend; standard 18-inch height is the classic.

Flooring. LVP installation gives you a waterproof, comfortable underfoot, affordable kitchen floor. Porcelain tile installation is harder, longer-lasting, and survives anything you drop on it. Hardwood is possible but harder to justify in kitchens because of spill and dent risk. Our kitchen floor replacement guide covers material trade-offs.

Appliances. Built-in and paneled appliances integrate beautifully but require careful cabinet planning. Freestanding appliances are the cheaper, more flexible default. Induction cooktops are gaining ground over gas in Phoenix for cooling efficiency and ease of cleaning.

Lighting. Recessed cans for general lighting, pendant fixtures over islands and peninsulas for task lighting, under-cabinet LED strips for counter task lighting, and accent lighting for glass cabinets or open shelving. Lighting design often gets underspecified — we plan it as part of the electrical design.

Arizona-Specific Considerations

A few things specific to remodeling kitchens in this climate:

• Heat near cooktops. Quartz handles cooktop heat well but isn’t bulletproof — trivet under hot pans is still smart. Granite and natural stone are more heat-tolerant. We discuss this during material selection.
• Hard water. Sink faucets, dishwashers, and ice makers all see hard-water mineral buildup faster in Phoenix metro. We recommend matte-finish fixtures (hide mineral spots) and water softening conversations during plumbing planning.
• Solar gain in south-facing kitchens. Window placement and lighting design affect how the kitchen functions in summer. We factor this into lighting and finish material recommendations.
• Slab moisture. Affects flooring choice and underlayment requirements. We test slab humidity before any flooring goes down.

Timeline Expectations

These are realistic timelines including material lead times, inspections, and trade coordination. Anyone promising you a finished kitchen in 3 weeks is either doing surface work only or skipping steps.

When to Choose Full Remodel vs. Just New Floors

Why Tempe Homeowners Choose Zona Floors

Over 350 completed renovation projects across the Greater Phoenix area, including kitchen remodels ranging from $30,000 starter projects to high-end luxury builds. We are licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC #336899 & #349964, CR8 Floor Covering classification), bonded, and fully insured. Thumbtack Top Pro 2023, 2024, and 2025. Active members of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce and the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.

Owner Tom Inman runs estimates personally for full kitchen remodels. You’re talking to the decision-maker from the first walk-through.

Ready to start? Schedule your free in-home consultation or call 480-939-0208. Most kitchen remodels schedule design within 1 week of signed estimate, with start dates timed around cabinet lead times.