Renovation Order: Your Step‑by‑Step Guide
Starting a renovation can feel like juggling a hundred tasks at once. The secret to a smooth project is a clear order – doing the right job at the right time. Follow this guide and you’ll cut down delays, avoid re‑work and keep the budget in check.
Why the Right Order Matters
Think of a house as a puzzle. You can’t fit the kitchen cabinets before the walls are up, and you certainly shouldn’t install new flooring before the foundations are settled. Skipping steps often leads to costly fixes – like discovering a foundation crack after the ceiling is painted. Planning the sequence helps you spot legal requirements (like planning permission for extensions) early, so you don’t hit a stop‑sign mid‑project.
Simple Steps to Organise Your Renovation
1. Check the structure first. Anything that touches the foundation, walls or roof comes before interior finishes. If you’re adding an extension, read up on permitted development limits – most UK homes can extend a certain distance without a full planning application. This is the same advice you’ll find in our post on house extension rules.
2. Get the services sorted. Plumbing, electrical and heating runs need space between studs and before insulation goes in. Running new pipes after the walls are plastered means tearing down work you just finished. Our guide on kitchen installation explains exactly what’s covered in a full service fit‑out.
3. Insulate and seal. Once the structure is sound, add insulation, damp proofing and airtightness. This stage also includes checking for any cracks that might widen as the building settles – a common issue we discuss in our foundation crack size articles.
4. Fit internal walls and floors. At this point you can install studs, plasterboard, and lay the subfloor. If you’re doing a dry‑fit kitchen, the cabinets go in now, before any tiling or floor finishes. This saves you from moving heavy cabinets later on.
5. Add finishes. Paint, tiles, skirtings and joinery are the final decorative layer. Because all the heavy work is done, there’s no risk of cracking or shifting that could ruin the finish.
6. Final checks and handover. Walk through every room, test lights, taps and heating. Make sure any warranty paperwork is signed and keep records of the foundation inspections you ordered early on.
Following this order keeps trades from stepping on each other’s toes. It also gives you a clear timeline to share with contractors, so everyone knows when their part starts and ends.
Quick tip: write down a simple checklist with each step and a deadline. Update it as you finish tasks – a living document keeps the momentum going and makes it easy to spot any missing approvals before they become a problem.
Ready to start? Pull together your budget, get a structural survey if you suspect foundation issues, and then map out the renovation order using the steps above. You’ll be amazed how much smoother the whole process feels when the pieces fall into place in the right sequence.
