A full renovation involves many trades, and the order they work in matters more than it seems. If the painter comes in before the electrician, you have to repaint. If the floor goes down before the tiling is finished, it gets damaged. Knowing the right sequence helps you understand the schedule, spot when something does not add up and decide in time.
Before you start: planning
A renovation done well is decided on paper before the first blow is struck. This stage includes:
- The technical visit and measuring the current state.
- Studying the layout: what stays, what moves and what goes.
- Choosing materials and finishes, starting with those that take longest to arrive.
- The itemised quote and the work schedule (see our guide on how to compare quotes).
- Procedures with the town hall and the residents' association (explained in building permits in Valencia).
If you want to see how it will look before deciding, this is where an optional 3D design fits in.
The stages of the work, in order
1. Protection and demolition
Elements that stay (entrance, lift, floors and doors along the route) are protected and what is planned is demolished: partitions, wall coverings, flooring and, if relevant, false ceilings. The rubble is removed.
2. Building work and new layout
New partitions go up, openings are made or closed and the surfaces are prepared. This is when the home takes its new shape.
3. Installations: plumbing, electrics and climate control
With the walls open, the pipes, wiring, ventilation and air conditioning are run. Doing this before closing up and finishing lets everything go in the right place and the connections sit where you need them. More on this in our guide to installations in an older flat.
4. Waterproofing and screeds
Bathrooms and wet areas are waterproofed before tiling. Floors are levelled so the finish sits flat.
5. Ceilings, plastering and first-fix joinery
Walls are closed, false ceilings fitted and door and window frames installed, if they are being replaced.
6. Wall and floor tiling
Bathroom and kitchen tiles and the floors throughout the home are laid. Each material needs its drying time before anyone walks on it or the next trades continue.
7. Painting
Painting happens once the dirtiest work is done. A good practice is to apply the base coat before fitting furniture and trim, and leave the final coat for the end, touching up where needed.
8. Joinery, furniture and sanitaryware
Doors, wardrobes, the kitchen, bathroom furniture, sanitaryware and taps are fitted. It is a precision stage in which every piece has to match what was prepared earlier.
9. Final electrics, lighting and finishing touches
Switches, light fittings and appliances are installed. All the installations are tested.
10. Final clean and handover
A thorough clean is done and the whole home is reviewed with you against a snag list. Then the work is handed over.
Why it does not pay to skip the order
- Redoing finishes when a wall is opened to run a service.
- Damaging freshly finished floors or paint.
- Paying twice for the same work.
- Stretching the schedule because of waits between trades.
How long does a full renovation take?
It depends on the size, the scope, the condition of the home and the materials. A full renovation of a whole home is measured in months, not weeks, and we set the exact timescale at the technical visit. Also allow for the town hall's timescales before starting and for delivery times of items such as made-to-measure joinery or the kitchen.
Living elsewhere while the work is on
In a full renovation the easiest option is not to live in the home while the work lasts. If that is not possible, it helps to work zone by zone, leave one room habitable and agree which days water or power is cut. Ask before you start so you can organise yourself.
How we work at New Home 10
We coordinate every trade in the right order, with one contact and a written schedule. We review each stage with you and warn you in good time about any pending decision. To learn more about how we approach a whole home, visit our full renovations page or tell us about your project on the quote page.
Planning a renovation?
Tell us about your project and we will reply within 48 hours.
