What "Finish Work" Means in a Home Remodel (and What It Doesn't)

When homeowners call about a remodel, one of the first questions is what we actually do. The short answer: Dunning and Sons handles finish work. That is everything you see and touch when the project is done. It is also worth knowing what finish work does not include, so your remodel is planned in the right order from day one.

What finish work includes

Finish work covers the visible surfaces and details of a room. On a typical remodel that means:

• Demolition of old finishes like flooring, tile, trim, and damaged drywall, plus haul-away.
• Drywall: hanging, taping, mudding, and matching the texture to the rest of the house.
• Trim carpentry: baseboards, door and window casing, crown, and other millwork.
• Doors and hardware for bedrooms, closets, and bathrooms.
• Flooring such as LVP, laminate, and tile.
• Tile for bathroom floors, shower walls, and kitchen backsplashes.
• Cabinet, vanity, and shelving installation.
• Paint for walls, ceilings, trim, and doors.

Those trades are where a remodel succeeds or fails visually. Straight tile lines, tight trim joints, and texture that blends into the existing walls are what make a room look finished instead of patched.

What finish work does not include

We do not do plumbing or electrical work. That includes moving drains, adding supply lines, replacing shower valves, adding circuits, and installing new outlets or light fixtures on new wiring. Those jobs need a licensed plumber or electrician.

That is not a limitation you have to work around so much as a sequence to plan. On any remodel that touches plumbing or wiring, the licensed trades do their rough-in work first, while the walls are open. Once that work is done (and inspected, if your project requires a permit), the finish work closes everything up and makes it look new.

How to sequence a remodel

1. Decide the scope. Which rooms, which finishes, and whether anything behind the walls is changing.
2. Bring in licensed trades if needed. If you are moving a sink, adding a shower, or adding outlets, schedule your plumber or electrician first.
3. Check permit requirements. Many projects, like finishing a basement, require a building permit from your city. Your city's building department can tell you what applies.
4. Finish work. Drywall, tile, flooring, trim, doors, cabinets, and paint, typically in that general order so each trade protects the one before it.
5. Final walkthrough. Walk the space together and punch out anything that needs a touch-up.

Rooms that are a great fit for finish-work remodels

Many of the most satisfying remodels do not require moving a single pipe or wire. Swapping carpet for LVP, replacing dated trim and doors, re-tiling a bathroom floor, adding a backsplash, and repainting can completely change a living room, bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen. Basements that are already roughed-in are another great fit.

If you are not sure whether your project needs a plumber or electrician, that is exactly what the free consultation is for. We will walk the space with you and tell you what we can handle and what should go to a licensed trade first. Learn more about our remodeling services.

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