Interior Finish Work: Transform Your House Into a Home

Overview

This is where your house becomes a home. It's the longest phase by calendar time and where you'll make hundreds of decisions about colors, finishes, and fixtures. Many owner-builders DIY portions of this phase to save money.

When This Phase Happens

What's Included in Finish Work

Interior Finishes

Flooring

Kitchen

Bathrooms

Painting (if not already done)

Final Fixtures

Should You DIY This Phase?

Good DIY Projects (Save 40-60% on labor)

✅ Painting - Most owner-builders can handle this ✅ Trim work - If you're comfortable with miter saw and nail gun ✅ Door installation - Hanging doors takes practice but is learnable ✅ Simple tile work - Backsplashes, small bathroom floors ✅ Hardware installation - Cabinet knobs, towel bars, etc ✅ Closet systems - Wire shelving or basic built-ins

Hire These Out (Worth the cost)

❌ Hardwood flooring - Requires specialized tools and experience ❌ Cabinet installation - Precision critical, affects entire kitchen ❌ Countertop installation - Heavy, expensive materials, one shot to get right ❌ Complex tile work - Large format tile, intricate patterns, waterproofing ❌ Stair railings - Code requirements, safety critical

Materials Needed

Trim and Doors

ItemTypical CostNotes
Baseboard trim$1,500-$3,0002,000 sq ft house
Door/window casing$2,000-$4,000All openings
Crown molding (optional)$2,000-$5,000If using throughout
Interior doors$3,000-$8,000$150-$400 per door
Door hardware$600-$1,500Knobs, hinges, etc

Flooring

ItemTypical CostNotes
Hardwood (1,000 sq ft)$8,000-$15,000Installed
LVP/Laminate (1,000 sq ft)$3,000-$6,000Installed
Tile (500 sq ft)$3,000-$8,000Installed
Carpet (1,000 sq ft)$2,000-$4,000Installed

Kitchen

ItemTypical CostNotes
Cabinets$8,000-$25,000Stock to semi-custom
Countertops$3,000-$8,000Granite/quartz
Backsplash tile$800-$2,000Materials + install
Appliance package$3,000-$10,000Range, fridge, dishwasher, microwave
Sink and faucet$400-$1,200Undermount or drop-in

Bathrooms (per bathroom)

ItemTypical CostNotes
Vanity and top$400-$1,500Per bathroom
Toilet$150-$400Per toilet
Shower/tub$400-$2,000Basic to tile shower
Tile work$1,000-$4,000Floor and walls
Faucets and fixtures$300-$800Per bathroom

Paint and Supplies

ItemTypical CostNotes
Interior paint$1,500-$3,0002,000 sq ft house
Primer$300-$600As needed
Supplies (brushes, rollers, tape)$200-$400Multiple rooms

Step-by-Step Process

Weeks 1-4: Trim Work

Install in this order:

  1. Baseboard (after flooring decision is made)
  2. Door casings
  3. Window casings
  4. Crown molding (if using)
  5. Any built-ins or shelving

Tips:

Weeks 2-6: Flooring Installation

Order matters:

  1. Tile first (bathrooms, entry, kitchen)
  2. Hardwood or LVP second (living areas)
  3. Carpet last (bedrooms)
  4. Install transitions between different flooring types

Tips:

Weeks 4-12: Kitchen Installation

Kitchen sequence (CRITICAL):

  1. Install cabinets first (base, then upper)
  2. Countertop template (after cabinets installed)
  3. Countertop installation (1-2 weeks after template)
  4. Backsplash tile (after countertops)
  5. Appliances last (after everything else)

Tips:

Weeks 6-16: Bathroom Finishes

Bathroom sequence:

  1. Tile work (if shower/tub surround or floor tile)
  2. Vanity installation
  3. Toilet installation
  4. Plumbing fixtures (faucets, shower heads)
  5. Mirrors and accessories

Tips:

Weeks 8-18: Interior Doors

Door installation:

Tips:

Weeks 10-20: Painting (if DIY)

Painting sequence:

  1. Touch-up primer on patched drywall
  2. Ceiling paint (first coat)
  3. Wall paint (first coat)
  4. Ceiling paint (second coat)
  5. Wall paint (second coat)
  6. Trim paint (after trim installed)

Tips:

Weeks 12-24: Final Fixtures and Details

Final installations:

Decision Fatigue Management

You'll make 200+ decisions in this phase:

Paint colors, flooring types, cabinet style, countertop material, backsplash tile, grout color, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, door hardware, cabinet hardware, carpet color, window treatments...

How to handle it:

1. Front-load decisions (8-12 weeks before needed)

2. Create a decision schedule

3. Limit options

4. Batch similar decisions

Common Mistakes

1. Waiting Too Long to Order

Problem: Cabinets take 8-12 weeks, countertops 4-8 weeks Solution: Order materials 3-4 months before installation

2. Cheap Paint

Problem: Requires 3-4 coats, looks bad, doesn't last Solution: Use quality paint (Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore)

3. Wrong Flooring Height

Problem: Baseboards don't meet floor, doors scrape Solution: Plan flooring heights before installing trim and doors

4. Poor Tile Layout

Problem: Small slivers at edges, unbalanced pattern Solution: Dry-lay tile before setting, plan cuts carefully

5. Forgetting Backing

Problem: Towel bars, grab bars fall out of drywall Solution: Install blocking during framing, or use toggle bolts

6. Installing Appliances Too Early

Problem: Appliances damaged during other work Solution: Install appliances last, after all other work complete

7. Not Protecting Finished Work

Problem: New hardwood scratched, fresh paint marked up Solution: Cover finished areas, remove shoes, protect corners

Quality Checkpoints

Before moving to next room/area:

Trim Work:

Flooring:

Kitchen:

Bathrooms:

Painting:

Budget Breakdown

Example for 2,000 sq ft home:

CategoryMaterialsLaborTotal
Trim and doors$8,000-$15,000$8,000-$15,000$16,000-$30,000
Flooring$10,000-$20,000$5,000-$10,000$15,000-$30,000
Kitchen$15,000-$35,000$5,000-$10,000$20,000-$45,000
Bathrooms (2)$4,000-$10,000$4,000-$8,000$8,000-$18,000
Paint$2,000-$4,000$4,000-$8,000$6,000-$12,000
Fixtures$3,000-$6,000$2,000-$4,000$5,000-$10,000
**TOTAL****$70,000-$145,000**

DIY savings potential: $20,000-$40,000 if you do painting, trim, some tile work

Timeline Tips

This phase takes longest because:

How to stay sane:

What Comes Next

After all finish work is complete:

Typical gap before move-in: 1-2 weeks (for final inspection and cleaning)

Link to: Final Inspection

Related Resources

Need help choosing finishes? See our material selection guides.