House Renovation Guide: Expert Tips on How to Plan and Prepare
House renovation typically involves cosmetic updates rather than structural changes, making it less extensive than remodeling. However, both renovations and remodels can become costly, especially when updating areas like bathrooms, kitchens, or rooms by replacing appliances and fixtures such as bathtubs, sinks, cabinets, flooring, and walls. Renovations enhance a home’s appearance, functionality, and resale value.
The scope of a house renovation can range from updating a single room to overhauling the entire house. The larger the project, the more expensive it tends to be, and you’ll likely need a contractor to help bring your vision to life.
Here’s what you should know when planning a major home renovation project.
Contents
Step-by-Step House Renovation Guide for Successful Planning:
Understanding what to expect and identifying potential pitfalls during a home renovation can help minimize frustration. Start by creating a detailed plan and evaluating your budget. Be sure to account for every aspect, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, finishes, and the full scope of the project from start to finish. Before you dive into a house renovation, visit https://housewiseup.com/ for expert planning tips and ideas.
Set a Clear Vision
Before jumping into a renovation project, it’s important to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Ask yourself: What is the purpose of the renovation? Are you updating a specific area, such as the kitchen or bathroom, or are you remodeling the entire house? Having a clear vision helps you set realistic goals and ensures that your plans are aligned with your expectations.
Create a Budget
One of the most crucial steps in any renovation project is setting a budget. Renovations can become costly quickly, so it’s essential to determine how much you’re willing to spend upfront. Be sure to include both the materials and labor costs, as well as any additional expenses that may arise. It’s also wise to allocate a contingency fund—typically 10-20% of your total budget—to cover unexpected costs that may come up during the renovation.
The cost of a home renovation typically ranges from $15 to $60 per square foot, but this can vary significantly based on factors like location, materials, and the complexity of the project. For example, renovating a home between 1,250 and 1,600 square feet typically costs around $52,040, with some projects reaching up to $189,000.
Before starting your renovation, it’s important to ensure you have sufficient funding. While cash may be enough for smaller projects like remodeling a bathroom or kitchen, painting, installing new flooring, or adding a small room, larger, more extensive home renovations often require additional financing.
Unsecured home improvement loans generally have lending limits of $50,000 to $100,000. These loans can be processed quickly for qualified borrowers but often come with higher interest rates compared to secured loans.
Start by planning a design
Begin by creating a design plan or sketch of your vision for the space, along with a list of goals. You can experiment with online design tools to capture your initial ideas. If you’re aiming for a more detailed project, consider working with an architect or interior designer.
Make a list of potential DIY projects or decide if you’d prefer a contractor to manage everything. Estimate when you’d like to begin and complete the project. While a rough timeline is a good starting point, it’s important to work with your contractor to develop a more precise schedule.
Hire a Professional or Contractor?
Start by researching contractors and subcontractors, compiling a list of well-regarded professionals with positive reviews. Reach out to those with strong reputations or personal recommendations. Request multiple quotes, confirm they are licensed and insured, and assess their communication style. Do they respond promptly? Are they straightforward, or do they seem evasive and vague?
Your contractor will oversee the entire home renovation, ensuring the project stays on schedule and within budget. They will coordinate the work of subcontractors, including electricians, plumbers, structural carpenters, and foundation experts. With established relationships with these professionals, the contractor can vouch for their work quality.
Gaining Knowledge of Building Codes
In many areas, building codes mandate that only licensed professionals handle certain aspects of renovations. Be sure to verify the specific requirements for your location. If you hire a contractor, they will typically secure the necessary permits and coordinate with inspectors on your behalf.
For smaller projects, you’ll need to apply for permits on your own. This means you’ll be responsible for the entire process, including submitting the application, scheduling inspections, and finalizing the permits. Remember, in some regions, the approval process can take weeks or even months, depending on the scope of the work.
Planning Your Renovation Project
The timeline for a project takes shape when considering the full picture and all the necessary elements that must fall into place, from structural carpentry to electrical and plumbing, windows, drywall installation, and paint finishes. Delays can occur if a fixture, appliance, or material is discontinued, backordered, or if subcontractors fall behind schedule.
Here’s what each part of the project may involve:
HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing: These services must be installed when the walls and ceilings are still open. Open spaces make it easier for HVAC technicians to install ductwork for heating and cooling systems, and for electricians and plumbers to run new systems.
Carpentry: While most home renovations don’t require structural carpentry (which is more common in home remodeling), you may need a carpenter to install baseboards, trim, molding around windows and doors, or built-in elements like cabinets, bookcases, or breakfast nooks. A structural carpenter works with moving or building new walls, adding support beams, constructing frames for new windows, or installing/removing doors.
Fixtures and Appliances: Fixtures such as cabinetry, bathtubs, toilets, sinks, and large appliances like dishwashers and stoves must be planned for in advance. These items need to be ordered early to ensure they arrive on time for installation, and their specifications will influence the layout of the renovation.
Windows: Adding new windows or enlarging openings is typically considered a remodeling task. Repair or replace any leaking windows unless they are severely damaged, in which case it might be better to handle them during a larger remodeling project. Professionals should be hired for the installation or replacement of windows if you don’t have the necessary experience.
Wall Insulation and Drywall: Insulation and drywall installation is an easy task for some DIYers, but many contractors prefer to handle this themselves to ensure it’s done correctly. Be sure to clarify what you’ll do and what the contractor will take care of. Before closing the walls, a second inspection from the electrical (and possibly plumbing) inspector is needed to proceed. Drywall installation is a multi-step process that includes hanging, mudding, and sanding.
Flooring: Flooring installation should be one of the final steps to avoid damage from other construction work. Choose the type of flooring you want, whether it’s hardwood, laminate, carpet, or tile.
Paint or Wallpaper: Many homeowners can manage painting interior walls, hanging wallpaper, and painting or staining trim and molding. These detailed surface finishes should be done last to avoid damage from ongoing work.
Exterior Work: Exterior renovations can often be done alongside interior work. This may include installing new gutters, repaving driveways, landscaping, repairing siding, painting the exterior, or replacing damaged masonry.