For a Greater Vancouver renovation involving a custom kitchen, bathroom vanities, walk-in closets, built-ins or whole-home cabinetry, start speaking with cabinet makers as soon as you decide to renovate. Do not wait until the existing cabinets have already been removed.
Before demolition, you can share photos, approximate dimensions, existing drawings and your project requirements to obtain preliminary pricing and compare cabinetry companies. Precise field measurement can then take place after you have selected Urban Vista, paid the deposit and prepared the site—often after the existing cabinetry has been removed.
The most useful distinction is this:
Your final field measure may happen after demolition, but your search for a cabinet maker should begin before demolition.
Starting early does not mean releasing the cabinetry for production early. It gives you time to understand the budget, compare suppliers and make a considered decision before a dismantled kitchen or disrupted living space creates unnecessary pressure.
The Three Cabinet-Maker Engagement Windows for a Renovation
| Engagement window | Typical project status | What should happen now |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended window | You have decided to renovate and are planning the scope, budget or contractor team | Contact cabinet makers, submit the information available, obtain preliminary quotes and compare project fit |
| Common window | The demolition date has been set or demolition is approaching | Complete your comparison and confirm the cabinetry company so field measurement and design can begin when the site is ready |
| Late-stage window | Demolition is underway or complete, but the cabinetry company has not been selected | Submit the project information immediately and establish a realistic schedule for measurement, design, approvals and production |
Recommended Window: As Soon as You Decide to Renovate
Well-planned clients often begin researching cabinet makers when they first decide to undertake a substantial renovation. They do not wait for demolition to begin.
At this stage, you may not have final dimensions. That does not prevent a useful first conversation. You can provide:
- photographs or video of the existing space;
- approximate room and cabinetry dimensions;
- the areas and types of cabinetry included in the renovation;
- features or layouts you want to retain or change;
- architectural plans, interior design drawings or sketches, if available;
- confirmed appliance models or approximate appliance sizes;
- the project location, anticipated demolition date and target completion date.
This information can support an initial scope review, preliminary concept and budgetary quote. It should not be treated as final fabrication information.
The main advantage of starting early is time to compare properly. You can assess more than the final number on a quote, including:
- whether each proposal covers the same cabinetry scope;
- design and technical capabilities;
- materials, hardware and construction methods;
- local manufacturing and installation capacity;
- communication and project coordination;
- the steps required before production can begin.
Early contact does not require every finish, handle or internal accessory to be selected. It also does not require cabinetry to enter production before the site is ready. It simply moves supplier research and budget planning out of the most time-sensitive part of the renovation.
Common Window: The Demolition Date Is Approaching
Many homeowners begin comparing cabinetry companies once they have selected a general contractor or scheduled demolition. This is still a workable stage, but the time available for gathering quotes and making a decision is shorter.
Two separate milestones are often confused:
- starting the search for a cabinet maker;
- having a site that is ready for precise measurement.
They do not need to happen on the same day.
You can begin the consultation and preliminary pricing process before demolition. At Urban Vista, detailed field measurement and design begin after the client has selected us and paid the deposit. For renovations that require the existing cabinetry to be removed, the first precise field measure usually takes place after demolition, when the relevant walls, floors, openings and other conditions can be properly assessed.
If the cabinetry company has already been selected, measurement and design can be coordinated as soon as the site is ready. If the search begins only after demolition, the time spent requesting, receiving and comparing quotes becomes part of the period when the homeowner is already waiting for the renovated space to return to use.
Late-Stage Window: Demolition Is Underway or Complete
Starting the search after demolition does not mean the project cannot proceed. It does mean the cabinetry portion of the project may only be beginning.
The following steps still need time:
- submitting project information and requirements;
- receiving and comparing preliminary quotes;
- selecting a cabinetry company and paying the deposit;
- completing a precise field measure;
- preparing the first design drawings;
- reviewing the design with the homeowner, interior designer or general contractor;
- completing revisions and obtaining approval;
- verifying critical site dimensions before production;
- manufacturing, scheduling delivery and installing the cabinetry.
When an existing kitchen or another essential living space has already been dismantled, the waiting period feels more urgent. That urgency, however, does not remove the design and verification work required for made-to-measure cabinetry.
The safest way to keep the remaining process moving is to provide complete information, make timely decisions and maintain clear communication among the client, contractor and cabinetry team. Skipping measurement, review or verification steps can turn schedule pressure into dimensional errors, unresolved site conflicts or rework.
Why Contact a Cabinet Maker Before Demolition If Measurement Happens After?
“Measure after demolition” and “start looking after demolition” are not the same instruction.
Before demolition, the preliminary process can help establish:
- whether the intended cabinetry scope and budget are reasonably aligned;
- which rooms and built-in elements are included;
- whether the available information is sufficient for preliminary pricing;
- which appliance, function and material decisions may affect the design;
- whether the cabinetry company is a suitable project partner;
- what must happen before measurement, design approval and production.
After demolition, the exposed site conditions can support more precise measurement and detailed design. This sequence respects the realities of an existing home without postponing every commercial and planning decision until the space has already been dismantled.
Urban Vista’s Renovation Cabinetry Process
1. Submit the Available Information for Preliminary Pricing
Send approximate dimensions, site photographs, project requirements and any existing architectural or interior design drawings. Urban Vista uses the information available to review the scope and prepare preliminary pricing for budget planning and supplier comparison.
The accuracy of preliminary pricing depends on the quality and completeness of the information submitted. Pricing may need to be adjusted after field measurement, detailed design, material selection or a change in scope.
2. Confirm the Project With a Deposit
After the client has compared the available options and chosen Urban Vista, the deposit confirms the project and starts the detailed measurement and design process.
The deposit may be paid before or after demolition, depending on when the client is ready to decide. It does not mean that manufacturing starts immediately.
3. Complete the Precise Field Measure
After the deposit is received, Urban Vista schedules the site measure. When existing cabinetry must be removed, precise measurement usually takes place after demolition so the design can respond to the actual site conditions.
Removal of existing cabinetry and site clearing are not part of Urban Vista’s cabinetry scope. They are typically arranged by the homeowner’s builder, general contractor, renovation contractor or another qualified trade.
4. Develop, Review and Approve the Design
Urban Vista prepares the first design drawings from the verified site dimensions and client requirements. The homeowner, interior designer or contractor reviews the drawings and identifies any required revisions.
The cabinetry must also be coordinated with confirmed appliances and the plumbing, electrical and other construction conditions that affect it. Existing homes vary, so there is no single plumbing or electrical layout that applies to every renovation. The responsible project team and trades must coordinate these conditions around the approved cabinetry design and the realities of the home.
5. Re-Measure Before Production
In most projects, Urban Vista verifies critical site dimensions again before fabrication begins. This is not limited to renovations; it is an additional quality-control step used for both renovation and new-build custom cabinetry.
Even when measurement and design have already been completed, a pre-production re-measure can identify relevant changes caused by design development or other site work. The objective is to reduce avoidable dimensional errors and the risk of rework.
6. Release the Project for Manufacturing and Installation Planning
Once the design, critical dimensions and required project information are approved and production-ready, the cabinetry moves into manufacturing and installation planning.
Urban Vista’s standard manufacturing window is typically four to eight weeks after final design and shop-drawing approval. This period does not include the time spent researching suppliers, comparing preliminary quotes, waiting for demolition, revising the design, supplying missing information or preparing the site. Project scale, specialty materials and on-site trade coordination can also affect the schedule. See the current Urban Vista Cabinetry Guide and FAQ for additional context.
Starting the Search, Paying the Deposit and Starting Production Are Different Milestones
| Milestone | What it means for a renovation |
| Start researching cabinet makers | Begin once you have decided to renovate; demolition does not need to be complete |
| Receive preliminary pricing | Use photos, approximate dimensions, requirements and available drawings to compare scope and budget |
| Confirm the cabinetry company | Pay the deposit after completing your comparison; this begins detailed measurement and design |
| Complete the field measure | Schedule after the deposit and when the site is ready; for removal projects, this is usually after demolition |
| Release for production | Proceed after the design, critical site dimensions and required project information are approved |
Understanding these milestones prevents two common assumptions:
“There is no point contacting a cabinet maker because demolition has not happened yet.”
“Demolition is finished, so the cabinetry should be ready to manufacture immediately.”
The first conversation is for scope, budget and supplier selection. The field measure establishes accurate site information. Production depends on approved drawings and verified conditions.
Is Your Renovation Ready for a Cabinetry Conversation?
If you know that your renovation will include custom cabinetry and can describe the general scope, it is appropriate to start the conversation.
Contact a cabinetry company if any of the following applies:
- you have decided to renovate a kitchen or another cabinetry area;
- you are establishing the project budget;
- you are comparing contractors and cabinetry companies;
- you have an initial layout or interior design drawings;
- the demolition date has been scheduled;
- demolition is complete, but the cabinetry company has not been selected;
- you need to determine whether the current completion target is realistic.
Incomplete information does not prevent an initial review. The important distinction is which information can support preliminary pricing now and which dimensions must be verified when the site is ready.
Discuss Your Renovation Cabinetry Project With Urban Vista
Urban Vista Cabinets Inc. works with homeowners, interior designers and builders on custom kitchens, bathroom vanities, walk-in closets, built-ins, whole-home cabinetry and architectural millwork for renovations across Greater Vancouver.
Our design and manufacturing work is supported by a 20,000-square-foot facility in Port Coquitlam, helping keep project coordination, local production and installation planning connected.
If you are planning a renovation, send the information currently available:
- project city;
- rooms and cabinetry included;
- site photographs and approximate dimensions;
- existing plans, design drawings or reference material;
- anticipated demolition and completion dates;
- confirmed appliance information, if available.
You do not need to wait for demolition to begin. An initial review can establish the scope, preliminary budget and most useful next step.
For homeowners:
Start a Private Custom Cabinetry Consultation
For interior designers, builders and renovation professionals:
Submit Project Information Through Professionals & Trade
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I hire a cabinet maker for a home renovation?
Start researching cabinet makers as soon as you decide that the renovation will include custom cabinetry. Before demolition, you can obtain preliminary pricing and compare companies using photos, approximate dimensions, requirements and available drawings. Precise field measurement can follow after the company has been selected and the site is ready.
Should I contact a cabinet maker before or after demolition?
Contact and compare cabinet makers before demolition. For a project that requires the existing cabinetry to be removed, the precise field measure will usually take place after demolition. Early contact and post-demolition measurement are complementary steps, not conflicting advice.
Can I get a custom cabinet quote before the old cabinets are removed?
Yes. Photos, approximate dimensions, project requirements and existing plans can support preliminary pricing. The price may be adjusted after accurate field measurement, detailed design, material selections or changes to the project scope.
Does Urban Vista remove existing cabinets?
No. Removal of existing cabinetry and site clearing are not part of Urban Vista’s cabinetry scope. Homeowners typically coordinate demolition through their builder, general contractor, renovation contractor or another qualified trade.
Does paying the deposit start cabinet production?
No. The deposit confirms the project with Urban Vista and starts the detailed measurement and design process. Manufacturing begins only after the drawings, critical site dimensions and required project information are approved and production-ready.
Why does Urban Vista measure again before production?
The pre-production re-measure is an additional quality-control step. It verifies critical site dimensions and can identify relevant changes that occurred during design development or other site work, helping reduce dimensional errors and rework risk.
Is it too late if demolition is already complete?
Not necessarily. Submit the available information promptly and establish a realistic timeline. Field measurement, design, review, re-measurement and custom manufacturing still require time even when demolition has already been completed.
What should I provide for a preliminary renovation cabinetry quote?
Provide site photographs, approximate dimensions, the rooms and cabinetry required, functional priorities, available drawings, the project location, anticipated demolition date, target completion date and any confirmed appliance information. More complete information usually supports a more useful preliminary scope and budget review.