All phases
6
Drywall & Interior Finishes
From bare studs to a room the homeowner recognizes.
Typical duration: 4–8 weeks
3 steps
0/16 complete
12–3 weeks
Drywall Hang, Tape, Texture & Prime
Board the house, finish the joints to the specified level, and prime.
Drywall
Painting
Prerequisites & handoff
- Insulation inspection passed
- House dry and conditioned
Critical measurements & tolerances
- 1/2" board typical walls; 5/8" Type X at garage / house separation and where fire-rated
- Ceilings 5/8" or 1/2" sag-resistant at 24" framing spacing
- Screws max 16" on center on ceilings, 16" walls (12" for fire-rated per listing); set dimple, no paper tear
- 1/2" gap above floor to avoid wicking moisture
- Cement board or approved membrane in wet areas — never paper-faced gypsum in a shower
- Finish level: Level 4 typical for flat paint, Level 5 for gloss or raking light
- Maintain 50–80°F and ventilation during taping and drying
Permits & inspection milestones
- Fire-rated assembly inspection at garage separation where required
Field tips & tricks
- Prime before you inspect. Raw mud lies; primer shows every ridge and screw pop.
- Run a bright work light down each wall at a low angle before paint — catching flaws now costs minutes, later costs furniture moves.
- Control humidity. Fast heat with no ventilation cracks joints and bubbles tape.
Reference documents
View in library →- GA-216 Application of Gypsum Panel Products · Industry standard
- USG Gypsum Construction Handbook · Install guide
- Sherwin-Williams Surface Prep & Application Guide · Install guide
Field checklist
0 / 5 complete- Board hung and screwed to pattern
- Fire-rated assemblies correct
- Taped and textured to spec level
- Primed
- Light-raked and touched up
21–2 weeks
Interior Doors, Trim & Stairs
Hang doors, run casing and base, and build out stairs and railings.
Finish Carpentry
Prerequisites & handoff
- Drywall finished and primed
- Flooring thickness known
Critical measurements & tolerances
- Door reveal 1/8" consistent at head and hinge side; 3/16" at strike typical
- Undercut doors for flooring plus HVAC return path (commonly 3/4"–1")
- Stairs: rise max 7-3/4", run min 10", variation between the largest and smallest within a flight max 3/8"
- Handrail 34"–38" above tread nosing; guardrail 36" min with max 4" sphere opening
- Base and casing joints coped, not just mitered, on inside corners
Permits & inspection milestones
- Stair / guardrail dimensions verified at final inspection
Field tips & tricks
- Shim the hinge jamb plumb in both planes before you touch the latch side — every reveal problem starts there.
- Glue miters and pin them; caulk hides nothing on a stained trim package.
- Measure the actual stair rise after flooring is specified, not before. A 3/8" miss fails inspection.
Reference documents
View in library →- TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass & Stone Tile · Industry standard
- Sherwin-Williams Surface Prep & Application Guide · Install guide
Field checklist
0 / 5 complete- Doors hung, reveals even, latching
- Casing and base installed
- Stair rise / run verified
- Handrails and guards to height
- Caulked and puttied for paint
32–4 weeks
Cabinets, Countertops & Tile
Set casework level, template tops, and install tile and flooring.
Finish Carpentry
Tile & Flooring
Prerequisites & handoff
- Trim and paint substantially complete
- Appliance specs confirmed
- Floor flat and dry
Critical measurements & tolerances
- Base cabinets 34-1/2" high, counter at 36"; uppers 18" above counter typical
- Cabinets level within 1/8" across the run and shimmed to a laser line, not to the floor
- Slab template only after cabinets are set and fastened
- Tile substrate deflection max L/360 (L/720 for natural stone)
- Waterproof shower pan pre-slope 1/4" per foot, flood test 24 hours before tile
- Tile lippage: keep under 1/32" for joints under 1/4"; back-butter large format for 95% coverage in wet areas
- Wood flooring: acclimate to site, subfloor moisture within manufacturer spec (commonly ≤ 12% and within 4% of the flooring)
Permits & inspection milestones
- Shower pan flood test inspection in many jurisdictions
Field tips & tricks
- Laser a level line around the whole kitchen first and hang everything to it. Chasing an out-of-level floor ruins a run.
- Flood test the shower pan for 24 hours and photograph it with a date. It is the cheapest callback insurance on the job.
- Check the appliance cut sheets against the opening before the tops are templated. A 1/8" fridge opening miss is a new cabinet.
Reference documents
View in library →- TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass & Stone Tile · Industry standard
- Schluter KERDI Shower System Installation · Install guide
- KCMA Cabinet Installation Guidelines · Install guide
Field checklist
0 / 6 complete- Cabinets set, level, fastened to blocking
- Appliance openings verified
- Tops templated and installed
- Shower pan flood tested
- Tile set, lippage checked
- Flooring moisture tested and installed