Home Renovation & General Contracting

What Does a Full Interior Renovation Include?

A full interior renovation may cover most or all of the finished space inside a house. The exact scope depends on what can stay and what needs to change.

Typical whole-home renovation work can include:

• Interior demolition and removal of old finishes
• Wall removal and new interior layouts
• Framing, drywall and insulation
• Electrical and lighting upgrades
• Plumbing changes and fixture installation
• Kitchen renovation and cabinetry
• Bathroom renovations
• Flooring throughout the home
• Staircases, railings, doors, trim and baseboards
• Painting and final finishing
• Basement renovation when included in the project

Some homes need mostly cosmetic work while others are stripped back much further. That difference in scope has a major effect on both cost and schedule.

How We Phase a Whole-Home Renovation

A large renovation needs to be sequenced so trades are not working against each other and finished work is not damaged by work that should have happened earlier.

1. Planning and scope: we walk through the house, establish what is changing and identify structural, electrical, plumbing and finish requirements.
2. Design and pre-construction: layouts, material selections, drawings and required approvals are addressed before the affected work begins.
3. Demolition and rough construction: demolition is followed by framing and structural work where required.
4. Mechanical rough-ins: electrical, plumbing and other services are completed while walls and ceilings are accessible.
5. Close-up: insulation, drywall and preparation work bring the interior back together.
6. Finishes: kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, doors, trim, painting, fixtures and other finish items are installed in sequence.
7. Final review: remaining details are reviewed before project completion.

Fixed Scope, Payments and Change Orders

A renovation contract should make it clear what you are paying for before construction begins. The written scope should identify the work being completed, significant materials and allowances, payment terms and the project schedule.

What Does a Fixed-Price Contract Cover?

A fixed price applies to the work and selections defined in the contract. That is why the scope needs to be detailed: flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, demolition, trade work and other included items should not be left to assumptions.

Items specifically excluded from the contract, owner-requested additions and conditions that could not reasonably be confirmed before opening the building may need separate treatment.

How Do Change Orders Work?

If you decide to add work, upgrade a selection or change an agreed part of the renovation after the contract is signed, the change should be documented before that extra work proceeds. The change order records what is changing and any effect on price or schedule.

How Are Payments Handled?

The contract sets out the deposit and subsequent payment schedule rather than leaving payments informal. Larger renovation projects are typically divided into defined stages so the payment structure follows the progression of the work.

This makes the financial side of the renovation visible from the outset instead of relying on verbal agreements as construction progresses.

Who Is Actually Working in Your Home?

Whole-home renovation requires several different skills. Some work can be completed by the general renovation crew while specialized scopes require the appropriate trades.

Rather than asking the homeowner to independently schedule each contractor, the general contractor coordinates the sequence.

Depending on the project, that may include:

• Demolition, framing, drywall and carpentry crews
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• HVAC trades
• Tile and flooring installers
• Cabinet and countertop suppliers/installers
• Painters and finishing trades
• Structural or design professionals when required by the scope

The important distinction is accountability: the individual trades may change from stage to stage, but the project remains coordinated through the general contractor.

Insurance, WSIB and Our 2-Year Installation Warranty

A contractor is responsible for more than the finished appearance of a renovation. The business and the trades working on the project also need to be managed properly behind the scenes.

Deomax maintains appropriate business insurance and manages WSIB requirements applicable to the people and subcontractors working on our projects. Where subcontracted construction work requires clearance, that documentation forms part of proper trade management.

Our renovation work also includes a 2-year installation warranty. The written agreement identifies the warranty applicable to your project so you know what is covered after construction is complete.

If you are comparing general contractors in Mississauga, ask each company about insurance, trade responsibility, warranties and who is accountable for subcontractors before comparing the bottom-line quote.