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by Jim O'Keefe
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etween.
Step Three - Phase One: Demolition
Through experience, I have finally learned to do my entire “demo” first. I used to get into my homes and start the jobs immediately. However, this meant we were constantly working around trash, having to haul trash away, etc. Now, I just get a dumpster or two at the very beginning of a job, bring in a crew, and begin to rip everything out. We clean out all the trash and tear out the kitchen, bath(s), drop ceilings, paneling, flooring, and anything else that might get in our way of completing the job properly and efficiently.
Step Four - Phase Two: Roof, Windows and Siding
The rest of the job typically begins on the exterior of the home. We start with the roof in order to ensure that the inside of the house stays dry, and usually, I’ll have the windows and siding done at the same time. One reason I like completing the entire exterior rather quickly is that it starts to attract attention from the neighbors and people who drive by.
Step Five - Phase Three: Plumbing and HVAC
The next two items on my list are the plumbing and the heating and air conditioning system. In the past, I had contractors who didn’t do the plumbing right away and it only led to disaster. After they hung, finished and painted all of the sheet rock in the home, they turned on the water only to find that there were pipes burst in the walls. Today, I ALWAYS make my contractor check out the plumbing first, including the sewer lines. It is important to have a working heating system in the home upfront so that much of the interior work, particularly the finishing and painting of the sheet rock, can be done. While the plumber is working, I’ll have an HVAC crew installing a new heating system which consists of a new gas furnace and central air conditioning. I haven’t always replaced functional HVAC systems and even today, if the current system is fairly new, I will avoid it. Primarily, though, I always install completely new systems. Finally, if the electrical system needs to be updated in any way, I usually do this while the HVAC system is being installed. In many instances, if I am installing central air conditioning in a home that didn’t have it previously, the electrical system will need to be updated to accommodate the central air. Other than this, which isn’t always necessary, I rarely have to do any elec |
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