Remodeling Services, Products & Stores

Step 4: Set Up
- Remove personal belongings from the work area.
- Set in place a trash bin, portable toilet, and construction fence.
- Make room for large supplies, such as rafters, which are delivered at this point.

Step 5: Demolish
- Your house gets the treatment from the wrecking crew.
- Plastic sheeting seals the demolition area from the rest of the house; check it frequently to make it as airtight as possible, or you will have dust and debris everywhere.

Step 6: Rebuild
- The crew prepares the foundation; frames the walls, floors, and roof; and installs windows.
- The plumbing is roughed in; electric, phone, and cable lines are run; and conduits for HVAC systems are installed.
- The top layer of flooring is installed, and plumbing and electrical systems are finalized.

Step 7: Follow Through
- Tour the remodeled space with your contractor, itemizing any details that need to be finished and any mistakes that need to be corrected; keep a detailed list.
- Complete a final inspection with the contractor, checking off the items from your preliminary walk-through.
- Go over instructions for equipment and discuss warranties.
- Let the new space settle in for a few months. Make sure all systems work properly, and watch for drywall cracks or nail pops. Call back the contractor for any follow-up repairs; good contractors will check back periodically to make sure everything is right.

Better Homes and Gardens

FIND HELP FOR THIS PROJECT