· by Michael Blair, Nashville's Remodeling
A renovation has a required order, and it is not negotiable in the way schedules are. Work done out of sequence gets undone, and that is where most unplanned cost appears.
The broad sequence
Structure, then the systems inside it, then close it up, then finishes. Roof and envelope before anything that would be damaged by water. Demolition before rough-in, rough-in before insulation, insulation before drywall.
Cabinets before worktop templating, flooring timing depending on whether cabinets sit on it or beside it.
The ones people get wrong
Windows after siding, which means cutting into new cladding and compromising the flashing. Flooring before cabinets when it should be after, or vice versa depending on the design.
Painting before the flooring is in is usually right; the touch-up after is a separate visit and should be expected.
- Envelope and roof before interior work
- Demolition, then rough-in, then inspection
- Insulation, then drywall
- Cabinets, then worktop template, then worktop
- Windows before siding, always
- Final paint touch-up after flooring
Where selections have to be made
Tile, fixtures and appliances need to be chosen far earlier than people expect, because they determine rough-in positions. A shower valve cannot be selected after the wall is closed.
Late selections are the most common cause of a stalled project, more than material availability.
Inspections in the sequence
Rough-in inspection sits between systems and closing up, and it cannot be skipped or reordered. A crew that closes a wall before inspection will be opening it again.
Building the inspection lead time into the schedule matters — inspectors are not available on demand.