Are you thinking of starting a remodeling project? Before carrying out any work, you have to plan, hire contractors, apply for permits, etc. The most important aspect of the planning process is to ensure that you have enough money to pay for the project, regardless of how large or small the scope of the work is. Therefore, the second step in planning a home remodel is to make a simple list of the work you want to do and decide if it's something you can do yourself or not. Once you've established your plan and chosen your contractor, it's time for the demolition to begin.
To make way for the new, you must first clean the old. This involves not only demolition but also the removal of debris, so you'll likely have to rent a large rolling container to handle the waste. This will minimize risks and clutter during your demolition project and allow you to finish it as quickly, safely and as smoothly as possible. If you decide to do any of the demolition work yourself, be careful and follow all safety precautions.
Demolition can be very dangerous, especially when done at random. After the demolition work is finished, the “preliminary process” can begin. Since wiring and plumbing will likely need to be reinstalled, do all the preliminary work before working with floors, drywall, and paint, as they could be damaged in the process. Painting is something you can do yourself, but it can also be a tiring job.
Fortunately, we've worked with many Central Ohio homeowners on their comprehensive home renovation projects, and we know how much detail is needed to get a complete home renovation done right. We love planning, designing and building the renovations our customers dream of, and over the years, we've developed a general checklist to help our customers better understand the process. So what are the general whole-house remodeling steps you should follow? And what kinds of things should be on your home remodeling checklist? Here are our best tips to help you plan and organize your renovation. The scope of this step is largely due to your plan.
You may have to rebuild extensively, or this may only be framing a few new walls. This step includes all the elements “behind the scenes” and is usually performed simultaneously with the reconstruction and framing. Basically, everything that needs to go into floors, walls, or ceilings will be completed in this step. It could include some minor plumbing and electrical adjustments, or it could be a complete rewiring or reinstallation of your home's plumbing.
Once everything has been reformulated and rebuilt, all the mechanical components will be where they should be and the insulation is in place, the drywall can be lifted. It will need to be glued together with adhesive tape and mud, then the mud will have to be dried and sanded. Once the walls are smooth, they are ready for priming, painting, or other finishes. Many contractors like to paint at this point to avoid dripping or over-spraying on the final finishes.
Before you start remodeling your home, whether you're doing some of the work yourself or hiring a contractor to handle everything, familiarize yourself with the remodeling process and what it entails. While this is by no means an exhaustive checklist, here is a general order of a complete home remodel:
- Planning
- Demolition
- Preliminary Process
- Reconstruction & Framing
- Mechanical Components
- Drywall Installation
- Painting & Finishing
You should also partner with someone who truly understands the disruption that a complete remodel of a house causes in your daily life. The beauty of a complete home remodel is that you can create exactly the home you want, so it's worth investing time and energy in precisely understanding what's important to you and your family. Your newly remodeled home becomes collateral and all you have to do is pay on time to avoid the risk of losing your property. Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance and remodeling.
If you have a major remodel in mind, it's worth consulting a remodeling professional as soon as possible to learn what changes are feasible and what challenges they may entail.
