What To Expect
During a Home Remodel

You can expect to hear from us throughout the entire remodel process. From start to finish, and the days in between, we will be in touch to provide updates, confirm small details, and share progress photos.

Everyday life may look a little different as soon as the project starts. Workers will be coming and going and delivery trucks will be bringing supplies and materials to your house. There may be a dumpster and portable bathroom on site as well. Planning ahead for this will help to avoid any major disruptions in your daily life. 

Your contractor will make every effort to minimize dust and dirt in your home. We install floor coverings and temporary walls to protect the floors and rooms in your home from dust and dirt, but a fine layer of dust can find its way to parts of your home far away from the construction area. If you can, close off the construction area from the rest of your home. Air filtering systems may help to minimize dust in the non-construction side of the house. You may be able to block the warm and cold air returns on your heating and cooling system - please consult with an HVAC company before doing this. 

There will be a lot of noise at times - saws, sanders, nail guns, and air compressors will be operating during construction. If you work from home or have children at home, you may need to make alternative arrangements.

Your project manager can provide some guidance on selecting materials for your home, but you will need to choose flooring, paint colors, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, etc. Many of these decisions will need to be made prior to the start of construction to allow time for delivery and potential supply shortages.

If you expect anything, expect this. Once the project begins, there may be unexpected surprises behind walls and beneath floors. Asbestos, irregular framing, faulty wiring, funny plumbing and more unexpected surprises are not uncommon. Allowing for some extra room in your budget and timeframe can you help you to be prepared for this. 

Following the unexpected may come change orders. Any new or changed work from the original contract will be documented, along with any changes in cost. Change orders can be used to resolve placeholders in the budget, but are typically used if you choose to upgrade an original budget item. Keep in mind that some changes may affect the project schedule as well.

 Even if your project is right on budget, the amount of money you are spending may cause a bit of anxiety. A large remodel will require multiple checks throughout the process, and any changes may add to that budget. It is recommended to budget a minimum of 10% above contract to allow for contingencies. Budgeting 20% above contract will provide more peace of mind.

Your contractor will give you an outline of the project schedule before the work begins, but it is helpful to expect some delays. Wacky weather, sickness, mechanical problems and supply shortages are all factors thay might delay your project. Knowing this in advance helps to mentally prepare you to accept these delays if they arise. 

At the end of your project, expect one or two punch-list items that may take longer to resolve than anything else. It may be a light fixture that arrived broken or the cabinet hardware that was backordered. The important thing is to get the final details right, even if they take a little longer.

Enjoy your new space! Show it off to friends and family, or simply sit and relax knowing the project is done and you have a beautiful new room (or rooms) in your home.