Basic schedule of works
Every renovation project is unique, but there is a certain flow of work that makes sense in order to get jobs completed as efficiently as possible. Here is a typical action plan that many schemes follow: 1 Demolition & structural repair
You’ll need to make sure the building is structurally sound before anything else can get started. Jobs at this beginning stage range from removing old extensions that are going to be replaced through to repairing rafters, stabilising walls and fixing bad damp problems.
2 Weathertight & external finishes
This includes any updates to the roof covering, external walls, doors and windows. Once the external envelope is up to scratch you should have a nice dry home to get started on the inside. Any updates to the facade, such as new cladding or render, should be completed now, too. Depending on the nature of your project, this might run in tandem with some of the first fix work.
3 First fix
This is when everything that goes on behind the scenes to make your home run smoothly is installed. Carpentry jobs, such as new stud walls, happen here, as well as fitting pipes, cables, insulation and the boiler.
4 Plastering
With all the work inside the walls and floors complete, you can seal these up ready for decoration - start with the ceiling so that the finishing elsewhere is smooth.
5 Second fix
It’s at this point that your interiors will start to take shape, as you’ll be fitting the elements that you’ll be interacting with on a day-to-day basis. That includes kitchens, light fittings and sanitaryware. The boiler and heating system will get commissioned (turned on and certified), too. Floor tiles and wood flooring can be laid, especially if you want the surface to go under kitchen cabinets. But they’ll need to be protected while other work continues.
6 Finishes & decorating
Anything that could get damaged during the previous stages should be left until last – that includes painting, wallpapering, applying skirting boards and fitting new carpets. Staircases tend to be put in at this later stage, too, to ensure they aren’t ruined while the potentially messier jobs are being completed.
7 Snagging
You’ll have picked up some issues as you go along, but this is your final chance to check there are no problems or areas where the quality isn’t what you agreed with your trades. This is when it pays to be clear on who is responsible for what and what level of finish you’re expecting right from the beginning of the scheme.