Section 5 · NYC Renovation Logistics
How to Get Cabinets Up 4 Flights of a Walk-Up Without Scratching the Hallway
5 min read · Brooklyn, NY
By Joseph Ng
Co-Owner & Lead Estimator, Creative Home Decor
Written from real Brooklyn job notes. 15+ years on Utica Ave. · 5 min read
Walk-up kitchen deliveries are the most physically demanding deliveries we do, and the ones with the highest hallway damage risk. Done right, the building never knows we were there. Done wrong, you owe the co-op a hallway repaint. Here is how we keep walk-ups clean.
Key Takeaways
- Confirm flights and stair turns before delivery day.
- Use cabinet lines that fit through 28-inch stairwells.
- Hallway protection is non-negotiable, blankets and runners.
- Schedule for early morning, before tenants leave for work.
- Budget 2 to 4 hours just for the carry on a 4th-floor walk-up.
Contractor Insight
If the cabinets are bigger than the stair turn, breaking the order down into single cabinets and tipping each one separately works. If they still do not fit, switch lines to a knock-down option. There is no third answer.
Brooklyn walk-up reality
Older Brooklyn walk-ups are common in Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Sunset Park, and parts of Park Slope. Most stairwells are 36 to 42 inches wide with one or two turns per flight. 4 to 5 flights is typical. No freight elevator, sometimes no service door.
What actually happens on delivery day
Step by step, what our crew does.
Pre-walk the building
10 minutes before unloading, the lead walks the route, photographs the existing condition, and identifies the tightest turn.
Lay protection
Moving blankets at every turn, cardboard runners up the stairs, corner guards on the door frames.
Tip and turn
Most cabinets carry vertically up to the landing, then tip to clear the turn, then carry vertically again.
Stage in the apartment
Cabinets stacked along the longest wall in install order. The installer arrives the next day to a staged kitchen, not a jumble.
Clean up
Blankets and runners off, photo of the hallway in original condition before we leave.
Walk-up vs elevator vs single-family
Same cabinet delivery, three buildings.
| Building | Carry time | Crew size | Upcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family, ground floor | 30 to 45 min | 2 | Base price |
| Elevator building, any floor | 45 to 75 min | 2 | $0 to $100 |
| Walk-up, 2nd floor | 1 to 1.5 hrs | 2 | $100 to $200 |
| Walk-up, 4th floor | 2 to 4 hrs | 2 to 3 | $300 to $600 |
| Walk-up, 5th floor + tight stairs | 3 to 5 hrs | 3 | $500 to $900 |
- Crew size goes up before carry time gets unreasonable.
- Building permits and parking are the same regardless of floor.
- 5th-floor walk-ups are the edge of what we will do without a crane truck.
Our walk-up delivery checklist
What we confirm before the truck leaves the warehouse.
- 1
Confirm flights
Number of flights, in writing, before delivery date.
- 2
Stair turn measurement
Diagonal at the tightest turn, sent in advance.
- 3
Parking permit
Pulled the day before for the curb in front of the building.
- 4
Crew sized to flights
2 for 2 flights, 3 for 4 or more.
- 5
Protection pack
Blankets, cardboard runners, corner guards loaded on the truck.
Walk-up delivery cost
Honest numbers, what we and partner installers charge.
| Floor | Delivery only | Delivery + install |
|---|---|---|
| 1st floor | $150 to $300 | $3,500 to $6,500 |
| 2nd floor | $250 to $400 | $3,800 to $7,000 |
| 3rd floor | $350 to $550 | $4,200 to $7,500 |
| 4th floor | $450 to $700 | $4,500 to $8,000 |
| 5th floor | $600 to $900 | $5,000 to $8,500 |
Install cost varies by kitchen size, the walk-up upcharge above is the carry premium only.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Not telling the cabinet shop it is a walk-up until delivery day.
- Ordering a 48-inch tall pantry cabinet for a 4th-floor walk-up without checking the stairwell.
- Skipping the protection layer, hallway damage costs more than the carry premium.
- Trying to save on crew size, a 4-flight walk-up needs 3 people.
- Scheduling delivery for 5 p.m., the carry will run past 9 p.m.
FAQs
Can I help carry the cabinets to save money?+
Yes, and we will discount the delivery. Most homeowners give up after one flight, which is fine, but plan to leave the work to the crew.
What if a cabinet does not fit up the stairs?+
We bring it back, unbox it at the warehouse, see if it can ship as parts. Worst case we re-order in a knock-down line.
Do you deliver weekends?+
Saturday yes, Sunday only on emergencies. Saturday delivery is the same price as weekday for walk-ups.
References
- Internal job notes, Creative Home Decor, 1831 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY
- NYC Department of Buildings renovation permits guidance, nyc.gov/dob
- Remodeling Magazine 2025 Cost vs Value Report, New York metro
- Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association installation specs
- Marble Institute of America natural stone care guidelines
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