Pre‑demo procurement checklist: 8 weeks out
Actionable PDF‑ready checklist with order‑this‑by dates and lead‑time sources. What's the one thing your procurement checklist is missing?
Let's cut the fluff.
If you wait until demo starts to order your materials, you're already behind. Every renovation has a critical path, and procurement is the part that trips up more projects than any trade conflict. The window that takes 10 weeks. The tile that's "in stock" but actually ships from Italy. The vanity that needs 14 days just to be crated.
The solution is simple, but not easy: a pre‑demo procurement checklist with hard deadlines.
This checklist is designed for a typical full‑kitchen or whole‑floor renovation, assuming demo starts on Day 1 and you have about 8 weeks between signing and swinging the first sledgehammer. Adjust the dates based on your actual lead times, but the principle is universal: order the long‑lead items first, and work backwards.
The golden rule of procurement
If it touches the structure, order it before demo. If it touches the finish, order it before rough‑in.
That means windows, doors, tubs, shower pans, and any structural steel need to be in your garage before the dumpster arrives. Cabinets, tile, flooring, and fixtures can come a little later – but "a little later" means during the demo phase, not after the drywall is up.
8 weeks before demo – The "critical path" window
These are the items that will stop your project cold if they're not on site. Order them now. Not next week. Now.
Item | Order by | Lead time source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Custom windows | 8 weeks pre‑demo | Manufacturer quote | Measure rough openings, not existing frames. Confirm with supplier. |
Exterior doors (custom) | 8 weeks pre‑demo | Manufacturer quote | Same lead time as windows. Order together if possible. |
Structural steel / LVL beams | 8 weeks pre‑demo | Supplier / engineer | If you're removing walls, the beams need to be on site before demo. |
Framing lumber (if adding) | 6 weeks pre‑demo | Lumber yard | Not usually a lead‑time issue, but order early to secure prices. |
Action step: Call your window supplier today. Schedule a site measure. Get a written quote with lead time. Place the order.
6 weeks before demo – The "long‑lead finishes"
These items take 4–8 weeks and are often overlooked because they're "just finishes." But without them, your plumber can't set the tub, your electrician can't mount the vanity lights, and your tile setter can't start.
Item | Order by | Lead time source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Custom cabinetry | 6 weeks pre‑demo | Cabinet shop | Some shops quote 10–12 weeks. Call them today for their actual lead time. |
Bathtub (freestanding / special order) | 6 weeks pre‑demo | Supplier / showroom | Acrylic and cast iron can have different lead times. Ask. |
Shower pan / curbless drain system | 6 weeks pre‑demo | Supplier | Linear drains and custom pans often ship direct from manufacturer. |
Specialty tile (handmade / imported) | 6 weeks pre‑demo | Supplier | If it comes from Italy or Spain, assume 8+ weeks. Order samples now. |
Range hood insert (for custom hood) | 6 weeks pre‑demo | Appliance supplier | If it's not a standard box, it may be a special order. |
Custom mirrors (non‑standard sizes) | 6 weeks pre‑demo | Glass supplier | Custom cuts can take 4 weeks. Order after your vanity is selected. |
Radiant floor heating system | 6 weeks pre‑demo | HVAC supplier | Mats, cables, and thermostats are usually in stock, but the manifold may not be. Check. |
Action step: Finalise all your finish selections – tiles, tub, vanity, cabinet style – and place orders. Don't wait for "final measurements." Order based on the rough dimensions and adjust later.
4 weeks before demo – The "standard lead‑time" items
These are items that usually take 2–4 weeks. You have some buffer, but don't assume they're sitting on a shelf.