Which is the Correct Order of Renovating a House?
Most house renovations that start with a plan are bound to be hassle-free and end up being a successful project. Renovating a single area such as a bathroom, or a kitchen, may seem a smooth undertaking with a plan; but what if you are renovating multiple areas of your house? This is where a home renovation order assumes importance.
If your renovation plan involves structural changes, renovating certain areas of your house such as the bath and the kitchen along with exterior modifications, then knowing where to begin and in what sequence, is crucial.
If your renovation plan involves structural changes, renovating certain areas of your house such as the bath and the kitchen along with exterior modifications, then knowing where to begin and in what sequence, is crucial.
Did you know that about 60% of potential home buyers change their minds, citing structural issues? At least half of homeowners have made mistakes when conducting a renovation project and close to 40% of them have regretted to have not followed the right home renovation order.
The order in which one takes up home renovations will significantly impact the overall outcome of the project. The sequence of works will have a definite impact on the structural efficiency, financial implications, and quality of the project.
For example, imagine having finished cosmetic modifications such as painting, flooring, and installation of electrical & plumbing appliances. Now you have realised that a beam addition or a wall removal was always part of your plan to enhance the structural strength and to free up space! You have entered a point where you have to redo the whole renovation.
What Order to Renovate a House?
Though there is no such thing as a blueprint, conducting house renovation tasks in a logical order will minimise disruption, and reduce significant structural and financial implications.
In this article, we bring to you the correct order in which you should take up your house renovation with absolute cognisance.
This will help especially when your home renovation order is a ‘Do It Yourself’!
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Inspect the House
The first thing you do before diving straight into renovating your house is to inspect each nook and corner of your house. A thorough inspection will help you identify underlying issues that you may have missed to notice. It may be in the form of wall leaks, depreciated electrical & plumbing parts, or may be a detached electrical wiring. Take notice of all issues, add them to the list of your already planned renovation project. The first task of your home renovation order! -
Define a Plan
Regardless of the scale of renovation, it is always better to have a plan. Defining a plan is the most organic and logical way to start your renovation project and will actually guide your home renovation order in terms of start and finish. Not only does a plan makes it easier to organise and manage things, but it also helps you to accumulate materials, manpower, and other mandatory essentials required for your renovation project. For example, a plan will help you to understand whether your renovation project will necessitate the need for a structural engineer or a construction professional or whether you execute the project yourself by hiring skilled labourers on a daily basis. -
Source the Right People
After you have defined a plan, you will by now have an idea regarding the scale of your renovation project. This is where you will get to know whether you require the help of professionals such as an architect or a structural engineer. Hiring such professionals is always recommended when the scale of your renovation is large and involves structural implications. However, if you are “Doing It Yourself”, you can hire skilled labourers who specialise in specific trades such as a mason, electrician, plumber or joiners. Continue this article as it chronicles the next set of home renovation order to guide you further with your project. -
Clean the Slate
After having accumulated the required resources, the next step is to start with demolition. This is one of the most crucial parts in the arrangement of your home renovation order. It is needless to say that building always follows demolition. Start by bringing down those dying wall plasters, damp wall corners, and any depreciating areas that threaten the life of the building. Make sure to eliminate those wires which are no longer connected to a power source and are no more in use, in order to prevent unsafe incidents. Similarly, remove any broken taps, pipes or any depreciating elements. Importantly if you are altering the structure of your house or planning to remove a load-bearing wall, hiring a structural engineer is a must. Bypassing a structural engineer in this case will result in regrettable outcomes both from structural and cost perspectives. FYI for DIY – A wall removal will always require support structures, either temporary or permanent without which the wall if removed will lead to collapsing that will cause irreparable damage to the entire structure. -
Electrical & Plumbing
Once you are through with the demolition, start by fitting plug points, sockets, wiring, plumbing joints, switches, and your HVAC systems. This is where you start to do the first installation for your home renovation order. These types of equipment go beneath the walls and should be installed first. -
Insulate for Energy Efficiency
If you haven’t insulated your home yet, then this is your golden chance for an energy-efficient home. Materials such as fiber glass, foam, mineral wool can be chosen for insulation to attain high energy efficiency and cost savings. -
Plastering
Once you have finished installing the internal framing and insulation upon that, it is now time to plaster the walls. So, use of gypsum-based plaster, or a combination of gypsum and lime is used to form a base coat which is followed by skim coat. -
Flooring/Tiling
Before painting the wall, install floor tiles. This is because flooring will involve the removal of old tiles resulting in dust and debris which may rise and damage freshly painted walls. In another scenario, if you are changing the flooring type, then you are also altering the position of the baseboard beneath. So, if you change to a laminate wooden floor, with already painted walls then it will damage the paint and finish. In addition, stains on newly laid tiles (if vinyl, marble, or granite) are easier to remove (through a thinner or any liquid) as they are hard surfaces. If it is a wooden flooring then it involves cutting baseboards and other machinery use which will give rise to debris. -
Install Cabinets
Once you are done with flooring, install your living room and room cabinets and other fixtures such as shelves or vanities. We recommend this to be done before painting as installing shelves & cabinets involves scraping and bumping, and will result in scars, gouges, and other forms of damages on the new painting. -
Doors & Windows
Install doors and windows in your bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and in the living room. This is to be installed before the painting to avoid disruption of any kind and will also help reduce the need to redo and repair. -
Painting the Walls
After you are done with flooring, it is now time to paint the walls. It is recommended to wait at least 24 hrs – 48 hrs after laying the new flooring before taking up painting the walls. This will allow the newly laid flooring to settle and dry as painting will involve putting pressure on the newly laid flooring. Once settled start with the ceiling, then the walls, and then to the doors and windows in order. -
Bath & Kitchen Fittings
Installing bath and kitchen fittings is best when kept for last. If you are taking up the bath, start with the shower, followed by the washbasin, then the commode, and cabinetry. Wall tiles will be done at the end. In the kitchen, order your appliances such as fridge, oven, and dishwasher installations to the last. Start with cabinets and then countertops.
Conclusion:
A successful home renovation involves pre-emptive actions such as being abreast of building regulations, understanding planning regulations, and budgeting. When renovating a house take cognisance of the structural implications along with the budget.
The above-mentioned sequence is a logical guide to help you with your home renovation order, and varies according to the scale and type of renovation an individual takes.
As experts in house extensions and conversions, at Extension Architecture we have successfully executed numerous renovation projects with absolute precision, efficiency, and adhering to local and acting regulations. If you are planning to take up a home renovation project, feel free to reach us and we shall help.
