Homeowner Remodel Checklist

Before You Contact a Contractor

Scope Assessment

• ☐ Define what is being remodeled. List every room, surface, and system being touched. Contractors bid on scope — ambiguous scope creates ambiguous bids and change orders.
• ☐ Identify the building envelope work. Are walls being opened? Is insulation being replaced? Is sheathing being changed? Envelope work triggers moisture management requirements. Finish-only work (paint, flooring, cabinets) has different protocols. Know which category your remodel falls into.
• ☐ Assess existing moisture conditions. Before remodeling: check for signs of past or active moisture problems — staining, musty odor, peeling paint, soft spots in flooring, condensation on windows. Remodeling over existing moisture problems installs new materials on a compromised substrate.
• ☐ Determine whether you will occupy during construction. Occupied remodels require HVAC isolation, containment barriers, and directed exhaust during finishing work. Unoccupied remodels simplify air quality management but still require the Clean Air Construction Protocol before re-occupancy.
• ☐ Choose your build option. Review the 7 build options. For most remodels, Forgiving Wood Assembly (Option 1) is the practical path. Note which option you are targeting — this determines material specifications.

Material Decisions (Before Bidding)

• ☐ Review Materials to Avoid. Know what you are eliminating before specifying alternatives.
• ☐ Select material categories from Safer Alternatives. Key decisions: sheathing (if walls are opened), insulation type, drywall type (fiberglass-faced vs paper-faced), paint/primer system, flooring, cabinet substrate.
• ☐ Obtain the spec pack for your build option. The $79 Build Package includes option-specific contractor spec packs with specific product examples. The spec pack is what you hand the contractor — not a conversation about preferences.
• ☐ Decide on flooring system. Review the Flooring Protocol. Key decision: adhesive-free installation (nail-down, click-lock, tile) vs. glue-down (requires adhesive specification and cure management).
• ☐ Decide on cabinet substrate. Review the Cabinets & Millwork Protocol. Formaldehyde-free plywood, CARB Phase 2 compliant with sealing protocol, or metal cabinetry.

Contractor Selection

• ☐ Interview at least 2–3 contractors using the Builder Interview Script.
• ☐ Verify licensing and insurance. Active state/local contractor license. General liability insurance ($1M minimum). Workers' compensation if required in your state.
• ☐ Ask specifically about HVAC isolation. "Will you seal all HVAC registers before painting and finishing work begins?" If the answer is "we'll just open windows" — that is your screening answer.
• ☐ Ask about material substitution. "If a specified material is unavailable, will you notify me before substituting?" Contractors who substitute without notification will use whatever is available at the supply house.
• ☐ Provide the spec pack with the bid request. Contractors bid against the specification. If they refuse to bid against a written spec, they are not the right contractor for this project.
• ☐ Check references. Ask specifically about communication, change order handling, and willingness to follow unusual specifications. Detail-oriented clients are the best references for this type of work.
• ☐ Check for Good Air Certified Builders in your area. If available, they have already passed the 10 verification gates.

Before Work Begins

• ☐ Written contract includes material specification. The spec pack should be an attachment to the contract, not a verbal agreement. "Contractor will follow the attached material specification" should appear in the contract language.
• ☐ Establish a material substitution protocol. Written agreement: no substitutions without written approval. Contractor provides alternative product data (manufacturer, emissions data) for review before substitution.
• ☐ Plan HVAC isolation schedule. When will registers be sealed? When will they be unsealed? This should be discussed and agreed before work starts, not negotiated during the finishing phase.
• ☐ Plan occupancy during construction (if applicable). Which rooms are construction zones? Which are living zones? How are they separated? Where is the directed exhaust going?
• ☐ Set up documentation system. Designate where the contractor logs materials used (product name, manufacturer, batch if available). Photo documentation of concealed work (framing, insulation, flashing) before it is covered.
• ☐ Baseline air quality reading (optional but recommended). If you have a TVOC monitor, take a baseline reading in the work area before demolition begins. This provides a reference for post-construction comparison.

During Construction

• ☐ Verify materials match specification. Check product labels on-site. Compare to spec pack. If a product does not match, stop and discuss before installation.
• ☐ Photo-document concealed work. Insulation type and installation quality. Flashing details. Drainage plane continuity. Vapor barrier position (or absence, per assembly design). These cannot be inspected after drywall.
• ☐ Verify HVAC isolation before finishing phase. Physically check: are registers sealed? Is the system off or isolated? Is directed exhaust in place?
• ☐ Monitor cure periods. Track when each coating phase begins and calculate expected cure completion per the Paint & Finishes Protocol and Flooring Protocol.
• ☐ If mold is discovered during demolition: Stop. Assess extent. Follow the Mold During Construction Protocol. Do not cover over mold with new materials.

Before Re-Occupancy

• ☐ All cure periods complete. Verify against the timeline established during construction. "It doesn't smell anymore" is not the same as "the chemical cure is complete."
• ☐ HVAC registers unsealed and system running. After all cure periods, unseal registers, replace construction-phase filters with fresh MERV-13 filters, and run the system continuously for 48–72 hours.
• ☐ Post-construction deep clean. HEPA vacuum all surfaces. Damp wipe hard surfaces. Clean cabinet interiors. See Cleaning & Maintenance Protocol.
• ☐ Air quality verification (recommended for sensitive occupants). TVOC reading compared to baseline. If levels are elevated above pre-construction baseline, extend ventilation period. Professional air quality testing if symptoms are anticipated or if TVOC readings do not decline as expected.
• ☐ Collect material documentation. Gather the contractor's material log, product receipts, and photo documentation. This record is valuable if questions arise later about what was installed.