After the Shell: Sequence of Interior Work in a Villa

The right order of work once the frame and roof are done: windows, first-fix services, plaster and screed, drying time, finishing trades and final installations.

When the frame and roof are finished, the villa already looks like a building, and the client often feels the hardest part is over. In fact the next stage involves more trades and more dependencies between them. The most expensive mistake here is the wrong order: cutting into a finished wall for a cable, spoiling fresh paint with plaster dust, or laying parquet on a screed that is still damp.

First, close the building

The starting condition for interior work is a closed envelope: the roof covering and its waterproofing are complete, and windows and external doors are fitted or the openings are temporarily sealed. While rain, wind and dust can get in, plaster and screed do not dry properly and temperature and humidity cannot be controlled.

This is also when you decide which parts of the facade work must finish before the interior. If, for example, the external insulation around windows and the plinth waterproofing are postponed, damp patches may appear on the inside walls.

If interior work starts in the cold season, the temperature regime is planned in advance. Plasters, fillers and tile adhesives do not perform properly below the minimum temperature stated by the manufacturer. If the permanent heating is not yet running, temporary heaters and ventilation to let humid air out are arranged. Open-flame heaters add moisture to the building, so they are poorly suited to this job.

First-fix services

While the walls are still open, all the concealed runs are installed. These include:

• water and drainage pipes, plus recesses for manifold cabinets;
• heating: radiator pipework or preparation for underfloor heating circuits;
• ventilation and air-conditioning ducts and condensate drains;
• electrical cables, back boxes, the panel position and low-voltage lines (internet, cameras, alarm).

This work is based on the electrical and plumbing layout in the design project. If the furniture, kitchen and lighting plans are not yet final, socket and outlet positions will change later, which means opening the walls again. Interior design decisions therefore need to be made before first-fix work.

Once installed, pipes are pressure-tested and cable routes are recorded with photos or a drawing. These records are very useful later, whenever someone drills into a wall or carries out repairs.

Plaster, screed and drying time

After the services are signed off, the walls are plastered and the screed is poured. Plaster usually comes first and screed second, so plaster residue does not fall onto a finished floor base. If there is underfloor heating, insulation boards and pipes are laid and tested before the screed.

The most underestimated part of this stage is drying. Wet trades put a lot of moisture into the building. If it is not ventilated or drying is rushed, problems appear in the finishes: paint stains, parquet cups, and tile adhesive loses strength. Before floor coverings go down, the moisture content of the screed is measured and checked against the manufacturer’s requirements.

The order of finishing trades

The main rule for finishes is “top to bottom, dirty to clean”. Ceilings come first, including suspended ceiling frames and concealed light profiles, then wall skimming and the first coat of paint. Tiling in bathrooms and the kitchen happens at this stage. Floor coverings follow, and the final coat of paint goes on last so marks left while fitting furniture and doors can be corrected.

Elements such as stair cladding, internal doors, skirting and wall mouldings are fitted after the main dusty work is over. Dimensions of made-to-measure items are confirmed after plaster and screed, because those layers change the real size of the openings.

Protecting finished parts from the trades that follow is part of the sequence too. Window frames and glass are covered with protective film, cardboard or special protection sheets are laid over finished flooring, and the edges of stair treads are covered. Without these simple measures, the final stage brings extra work such as scratched glass and damaged parquet.

Final installations and handover

In the last stage, sanitary ware, light fittings, socket and switch plates, and heating and cooling equipment are installed, and the systems are commissioned and adjusted. Before handover, construction dust is cleaned away, and every door and window, water flow and electrical circuit is checked.

At handover, collecting the records of concealed work, equipment data sheets and warranty terms is important for future use. That folder becomes the technical memory of the villa.

Zaferoğlu İnşaat carries out construction and renovation of private houses and villas and prepares drawings and computer models for interior design. With the frame finished, we can walk the site with you and write down the order for roof, windows and services.