A full home renovation rarely involves just one trade. You're typically looking at flooring, painting, electrical, plumbing, cabinetry, and a dozen smaller tasks that need to happen in the right sequence. Poor coordination costs money — trades working over each other's fresh work, delays waiting for one job to finish before another can start, and damage that needs to be repaired before completion.
This guide focuses on what Vancouver homeowners need to know about sequencing trades, with a particular focus on flooring and painting — the two finishes that affect every other trade in the home.
The Golden Rule: Floors Last (Mostly)
With a few exceptions, flooring should be one of the last major trades to complete. Here's why:
- Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC trades all need to move through the space freely — heavy equipment and ladders damage new flooring.
- Cabinetry installation requires flooring to be either in or deliberately excluded beneath cabinets (depending on the product).
- Painting should happen before flooring installation when possible, so paint drips and roller splatter don't risk new floors.
The exception: tile backsplashes and bathroom tile should be installed after plumbing rough-in but can be timed flexibly relative to floor tile. Coordinate with your flooring contractor on the exact sequence.
The Correct Trade Sequence for a Full Renovation
- Demo and rough-in: Structural, electrical, plumbing, HVAC rough-in. All the work inside walls before they close.
- Insulation and drywall: Once rough-in is inspected and approved.
- Priming and first coat of paint: Prime all new drywall before any flooring is installed. This is faster and cleaner without floors to protect.
- Cabinetry: Kitchen and bathroom cabinets go in after drywall and first paint coat.
- Flooring installation: Vinyl plank, engineered hardwood, tile, and carpet all go in at this stage — after cabinets, before finish work.
- Finish painting and trim: Second and final coats of paint, baseboard installation, door casing. Painters protect floors at this stage.
- Fixture installation: Plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, hardware, and appliances.
- Punch list and touch-ups: Final small tasks, paint touch-ups, cleaning.
Managing the Gaps: Where Handyman Trades Fit In
Between major trades, there are always smaller tasks that don't belong to any single contractor: installing grab bars, patching drywall after trades finish, adjusting doors that won't close after flooring raises the floor height, caulking, and dozens of other small items.
These tasks often fall through the cracks and end up either not getting done or being billed at a premium by major trades who don't specialize in them. A reliable handyman or home solutions company is invaluable for this punch-list work. We've referred clients to Sturdy Bee Solutions, a Lower Mainland company that handles the smaller but essential tasks that keep a renovation moving — door adjustments, trim repairs, caulking, and other detail work that major trades typically don't want to return for.
Common Coordination Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Not Confirming Subfloor Condition Before Scheduling Flooring
Flooring installers cannot begin until the subfloor is level, dry, and properly prepared. If your demolition reveals an uneven subfloor, it needs to be addressed before the flooring crew arrives. Build buffer time into your schedule for this.
Having Painters Install Baseboards Before Flooring
A common mistake in new builds and renovations: baseboards installed before flooring means the flooring crew either has to work around them (resulting in visible gaps) or remove them (causing damage). Always confirm sequencing with both trades before either begins.
Not Acclimating Hardwood
Engineered hardwood and solid hardwood need 48–72 hours to acclimate to your home's temperature and humidity before installation. If your flooring material arrives on install day, that's a problem — plan delivery 3–4 days in advance.
Scheduling Too Tightly
Every renovation runs into something unexpected: a hidden water stain, a load-bearing wall that wasn't on the plan, backordered material. Build 15–20% buffer time into your overall schedule. Trades that are rushed make mistakes that cost more to fix than the time saved.
Getting Quotes and Managing Trades
- Get 2–3 quotes per trade for any job over $2,000
- Confirm each trade's start date and duration in writing before signing
- Keep the flooring contractor in all coordination conversations — they need to know what comes before and after them
- Keep a shared document or group chat where trades can communicate about access and sequencing
- Have one person (you or a project manager) as the single point of contact for all trades
Working With TelTac on Multi-Trade Projects
TelTac Contracting regularly works within larger renovation projects alongside painters, cabinet makers, and other trades. We're experienced with multi-trade coordination and can advise on sequencing, acclimation time, and subfloor requirements before your project begins.
Contact us to discuss your project or call (604) 929-8311 to speak with our team.