Kieran McCarthy: Getting the stages right in a home renovation

Sequencing of trades is important for a home transformation

One of the the first things you will need is in fact the plumber and electrician to disconnect the various services.

Hi Kieran,
I am about to renovate my late grandmother’s house which I have inherited. It is an Arts and Crafts house in Wilton Road, Cork. I don’t think it needs an extension as I am single and the house is a fine-sized four-bed, so my plan is to just renovate it as it is, to make it more energy efficient and comfortable to live in. I also propose knocking the wall between the kitchen and the dining room to create a little bit of open-plan space. However, even this relatively simple project seems daunting to me. I will be running the project myself to save money but I don’t know where to start. So, what are the stages of getting this house done up, who comes first builder, plumber, etc?
Thanking you
Christina Fannon

Hi Christina,
Thank you very much for this question which will certainly require a detailed answer.