Your winter schedule is filling up, and your clients want their kitchens done before the new year, or at least started. The problem is that cabinet lead times, countertop fabrication, and freight all slow down around the holidays. One late order in November can push a job into February.
Why the Holiday Slowdown Hits Winter Jobs So Hard
At RKB Supply, we work with contractors across the south suburbs every day from our Mokena and Munster showrooms. Here’s how to plan your orders now so your winter jobs stay on schedule.
The last six weeks of the year squeeze every part of the supply chain at once. Several things stack up:
- Manufacturer closures. Many cabinet manufacturers slow production or shut down between Christmas and New Year’s. Orders placed in mid-December often don’t start production until January.
- Freight delays. Holiday shipping volume and winter weather can add days to delivery, especially for large cabinet orders.
- Fabricator backlogs. Countertop shops fill up fast in November and December as everyone tries to finish jobs before the holidays.
- Shorter work weeks. Holiday time off for suppliers, crews, and inspectors means fewer working days to fix a problem.
On a kitchen job, those delays compound. If the cabinets arrive late, you can’t template the countertops. If the countertops are late, you can’t set the sink, finish the backsplash, or close out the job.
Cabinet Lead Times: What to Plan For
Cabinets are almost always the critical path on a kitchen job, so they’re the first order to lock in. Typical cabinet lead times depend on the type of cabinet:
- Stock cabinets: often 1 to 2 weeks, but with limited sizes, colors, and door styles.
- Semi-custom cabinets: often 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the line, finish, and any modifications.
- Custom cabinets: often 8 to 16 weeks or longer.
These are industry ranges, not promises. Painted finishes, special sizes, and add-on accessories can push any order longer, and holiday closures can add more. Always confirm the current lead time on the specific line and finish before you give your client a start date.
Here’s the simple rule: count back from your install date. If you want to install semi-custom cabinets the first week of January, plan to place the order in early to mid-November to leave room for holiday slowdowns.
Countertops and Flooring: Don’t Let Them Become the Bottleneck
Cabinet lead times get the most attention, but countertops and flooring can stall a job just as easily.
Countertops. Most fabricators can’t template until the cabinets are installed. After templating, fabrication and install often take another 2 to 4 weeks, and holiday backlogs can stretch that. Have your client pick their quartz or natural stone early, and reserve the slab if you can. That way, the only thing you’re waiting on is the template date.
Flooring. Luxury vinyl flooring is often one of the faster items to get, but specific colors can sell through, and freight still slows down in December. Order the full quantity plus overage at once, so every box comes from the same lot. Mixing lots mid-job can mean color differences you’ll have to fix.
Sinks and accessories. Undermount sinks need to be on site for countertop templating. Lock in the sink and faucet with the countertop order, not after.
Your Year-End Ordering Checklist
Use this checklist for every kitchen or bath job you plan to start between now and February.
- Lock in selections early. Get your client’s final cabinet door style, finish, countertop, and flooring choices in writing. Curated collections and a showroom visit help clients decide faster.
- Confirm field measurements. Double-check every dimension, including appliance specs, before you submit the cabinet order. A reorder in December can cost you weeks.
- Ask for current lead times. Get the lead time for each specific line and finish, and ask about holiday closure dates.
- Place cabinet orders first. Order cabinets as soon as selections are final, since everything else waits on them.
- Reserve slabs and book templating. Hold your client’s countertop material and get on the fabricator’s calendar early.
- Order flooring in full. Order the total quantity plus overage at once, so every box matches.
- Plan delivery and storage. Confirm delivery dates and where materials will be stored, especially if the job site isn’t ready.
- Inspect on arrival. Check every box for damage and missing pieces the day it arrives, so you have time to replace anything before install day.
- Build in a buffer. Add at least a week of cushion to any schedule that crosses the holidays, and tell your client up front.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are typical cabinet lead times? Stock cabinets often ship in 1 to 2 weeks, semi-custom cabinets in about 4 to 8 weeks, and custom cabinets in 8 to 16 weeks or more. The exact time depends on the line, finish, and time of year.
When should I order cabinets for a January install? For semi-custom cabinets, aim to order by early to mid-November. That leaves room for standard lead times plus holiday closures and freight delays.
Do holidays really affect cabinet lead times? Yes. Many manufacturers slow down or close for part of late December, and freight and fabrication schedules get tighter too.
Where can contractors find a kitchen supplier in the Chicago suburbs? RKB Supply serves contractors from showrooms in Mokena, IL and Munster, IN, with contractor pricing, fast quoting, and curated cabinet, countertop, and flooring selections.
Keep Your Winter Jobs on Schedule With RKB Supply
The contractors who finish strong in January are the ones who order in November. A supplier who quotes fast, knows current cabinet lead times, and helps your clients decide quickly makes that a lot easier.
That’s what our Contractor Program is built for. Members get exclusive contractor pricing, tiered discounts, fast and accurate quotes, and curated selections that help clients make decisions faster. You also get real support from a family-owned team with deep roots in remodeling.
Join the Contractor Program or download the program overview, and get your orders in before the holiday rush.
Want to see the materials first? Book a showroom visit at our Mokena, IL or Munster, IN location. Bring your client or your plans, walk through our curated collections in person, and let our team help you quote and order with confidence.
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Mokena, IL Showroom: rkbsupply.com/mokena-kitchen-bath-showroom
Munster, IN Showroom: rkbsupply.com/munster
Book an Appointment: rkbsupply.com/contact-rkb-supply
Contractor Program: rkbsupply.com/contractor-supply
RKB Supply | Cabinetry · Countertops · Flooring