I recently inherited my mother's ranch-style house, and it's essentially a total gut job. I'm new to all this and will need to hire contractors for various renovations. I have a long list of things to tackle, including the roof, gutters, siding, windows, exterior doors, deck demolition and installation, and attic insulation. Can anyone advise on the best order to handle these renovations? Thanks in advance! 🙂
3 Answers
Great question! I’d follow a flow from the outside in. Start with the roof, then get those new windows installed next because they'll influence the siding installation. After that, you can do any deck demolition and finish off with siding. Insulation can be done anytime as long as you don’t leave your attic exposed for too long. Consider using exterior insulation; it can really help with energy efficiency!
I’d suggest starting with the roof and gutters since that would lay the foundation for everything else. If there’s a risk of leaks, it could damage your new work later on. After that, tackle the windows and exterior doors to ensure they’re sealed in before you move on to siding. If the deck isn’t an immediate hazard, I’d save that for last so you can manage any water runoff from the other projects. Lastly, do the attic insulation before summer hits!
It really depends, but I’d recommend a systematic approach: Roof and gutters first, then go to the windows and doors. After that, it’s good to focus on the siding and deck next, making sure everything is weatherproofed before moving to the interior. Think of doing the attic insulation at a time that works better for you; maybe after the exterior is done?