Gut Renovations Challenges: Prep for a Smoother Remodel

Dreamt of ripping out your outdated kitchen and bathroom and starting from scratch? A gut renovation can be the perfect way to transform your home into your dream space. But before you take a sledgehammer to your walls, be aware of the hidden challenges that can lurk beneath the surface of your seemingly ordinary home. From unexpected structural issues to skyrocketing costs, gut renovations can be a wild ride. But with careful planning and a qualified contractor by your side, you can navigate these challenges and emerge with a home you love.

“After” photos by Miao Jiaxin for Sweeten

A gut renovation involves layers of costs, design, timing, and permits. This kind of renovation may at first seem mysterious and full of uncertainties. Ultimately, having the right contractor who knows how to handle any unexpected gut renovation challenges is key to a successful remodel. Below, Sweeten outlines hidden gut renovation challenges during a remodel to help you prep in advance.

At Sweeten, we’re experts at all things general contractors — we pre-screen them for our network, carefully select the best ones for your remodeling project, and work closely with hundreds of general contractors every day. So, we’ve tapped our internal expertise to bring you this guide.

Plan for Hidden Problems Under Floors and Walls

Gutting and renovating a house often reveals unpleasant surprises, like black mold, termite activity, rotting studs, and joists or foundation issues. The best way to handle these is through discovery and repair, which will prevent problems from worsening over time. Perform this due diligence with your contractor so they can provide a more accurate cost estimate and work schedule.  

Clearly Communicate about Timing & Scheduling

While it might seem surprising, homeowners and contractors often have similar goals when it comes to timing and scheduling. Most contractors want to move your project along at a brisk yet efficient pace! With multiple projects on their plate, including those with subcontractors and tradesmen, effective communication is key.

Maintaining open and honest communication with your contractor will help keep the project on track. Homeowners should feel comfortable asking questions and raising concerns, while also providing timely responses to the contractor’s inquiries. This is crucial since no reputable contractor will undertake tasks that you haven’t authorized and signed off on.

Before starting any work, you and the contractor will develop a timeline for the project. While building and renovation schedules always have some flexibility, the goal should be to stick to that schedule as much as possible.  

Costs for a Gut Renovation: Controlling the Budget

You want your home’s gut renovation to cost as close to the estimate as possible. Once a contract has been accepted and signed, most contractors also aim to bring the project in at or near the estimated cost. Homeowners undertaking major gut remodels should build in an extra cash reserve for unexpected issues that may arise. Add in an additional 10 to 15 percent above the expected budget for a non-gut remodel, and more than 15% for a gut remodel.

All of these “extra cost” issues are addressed in an orderly way via the change order: regular adjustments to the original contract that accommodate additional work and are signed by both you and the contractor. 

Gutting a House? Architects & Designers Need Extra Time

If you plan on working with an architect or designer, ensure there is sufficient lead time for your design team to do their work. The majority of the design team’s work occurs before any physical remodel work begins. A solid design plan must be in place before the first piece of drywall or plaster is removed from the home

Handle hazardous materials safely

Fortunately, consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of home renovation waste. This is good, as hazardous materials found during the project must be properly dealt with! These materials include:

• Walls painted with lead-based paint
• Asbestos insulation packed around pipes, in tile mastic, or in loose-fill insulation
• Black mold, which can impact respiratory functions

No hazardous waste case is totally unsolvable. However, you’ll need qualified subcontractors to help, and they must be added to the overall plan for cost and timing. Sometimes, a hazardous material can stay in place if left undisturbed, or if it is contained.

Permits, codes, & approvals for gutting and renovating a house

Nearly every gut home renovation needs some type of permit or approval by a legal entity.

If you live in a condo, alterations may need to be approved by the board. For owners of houses controlled by a housing association (HOA), interior improvements typically do not need to be approved by the HOA (but exterior improvements do!)

Owners of condos and single-family detached houses under an HOA must seek approval and permits from their local permit agency. It covers a wide range of activities for a gut renovation.

Removing a load-bearing wall, electrical and plumbing work, and major HVAC work are examples of sub-projects that likely will require a permit. Owners of properties in dense metro areas usually need to secure permits for trash dumpsters parked on the street.

Contractors perform a valuable service when it comes time to arrange, or pull, the permits. The contractor or representative will manage this whole process. This includes making visits to the permit office and meeting with inspectors at the building site.

Neighbors and the neighborhood

Simpler updates like window replacements, flooring installation, or interior painting are often unnoticed by neighbors. But gut home renovations, especially those involving the entire house, can draw attention. A trash dumpster on the street or multiple tradesmen vans parked by your home hint to others that major work is happening.

Neighbor relations are best handled by the homeowner before the project begins. Take the time to inform your neighbors of the upcoming work. Speak to your contractor about how they handle noise ordinances or illegal parking.

Hopefully, being aware of the type of bumps you may encounter during a gut renovation will be helpful in smoothing the path forward. The right contractor will be a partner in guiding you during this renovation process.

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