Critical path items
Order cabinets, windows, and custom items before demo when possible.
- Design sign-off before ordering
- Permit approval before rough-in
- Inspections before cover-up
Build slack into the schedule
Homeowners underestimate inspections, tile cure, and weather on exterior work.
- Add 2–4 weeks buffer on major remodels
- Identify long-lead items first
- Book trades before demo when possible
Long-lead items own the calendar
Custom cabinets, special-order windows, and exterior doors set the start of finish work. Demo before those items are confirmed is how families eat takeout for four extra weeks. Put order dates on a shared calendar with the GC, not in a text thread.
- Windows and exterior doors often lag kitchens by weeks
- Stone template cannot happen until cabinets are set and filled
- HOA or historic-district review can add a month before a dumpster appears
Do not stack every room at once
A whole-house sequence that closes the kitchen and the only bath in the same week is a morale failure. Keep one cooking surface and one shower whenever the house stays occupied. That is a planning choice, not a luxury.
- Temporary kitchen: fridge, microwave, and a utility sink with a plan
- School-year work is slower because of access and noise rules
- Weather windows for roofing and siding should not collide with interior paint