We always recommend installing the flooring under the cabinets and appliances, but also to apply at least one coat of sealer on the floor that will be covered by the cabinets and flooring....by leaving the floor without at least a coat of sealer it will act as a "wick" if there is ever a water problem

You don't necessarily need the appliances in place for countertops to be templated - as long as you've got the appliances at the house or have the specs handy, they can use that info for counters and cabinets. Make sure to note if you need a strip of stone behind your FS range.

Also your final plumbing will probably have to wait until you have your counters in place - the plumber will need to install the faucet/DW etc. Are you pulling permits for this yourself or are your contractors pulling their own? Depending on where you live you might need a general building permit on top of what your contractors pull. You'll need to remember to have the inspector back before they close up the walls to sign off on plumbing and electrical and then back again once everything is finished.

Your fridge probably has wheels so should make it pretty easy to move. We used furniture sliders to move our appliances around but you can easily get away with some upside down carpet squares and achieve the same thing.

http://www.bestdealsandbargains.com/products/furniture-sliders-easy-furniture-movers-discs-set-of-8.html

This is the order that I employ;

1. Remove countertop and cabinets
â¨2. Rough plumbing and electrical
â¨3. Remove old laminate and tile flooring
4. Drywall repair.
â¨5. Prime and/or paint all repaired areas
6. Install new hardwood flooring -- leave it unfinished
and protected
â¨7. Install cabinets -- leave base molding uninstalled â¨
8. Install hood and make up air â¨
9. Do countertop templates (There should be no need
for the appliances to be in place to template the
counter materialâ¨. The dimensions and/or and
installation manuel should be all thats necessary.)

10. Install countertop and backsplash
11. Final plumbing and electrical. â¨
12. Stain and finish hardwood flooring â¨
13. Install freestanding range and fridge â¨
14. Add base molding for cabinets

Regarding the range and fridge installation.

There are services who are subcontractors or employees of major appliance retailers who will accomplish this for a fee.

This post was edited by snoonyb on Tue, Sep 23, 14 at 11:25

Thank you very much for your replies, ajc7, Swentastic, snoonyb. The information you've provided is very valuable to us.

We are pulling the permits ourselves. We have the forms from the township -- including the general building one -- and plan to have the contractors fill out their section (where the contractor name and license no. is needed), and submit the forms by ourselves.

We will speak to the flooring guy about the "wick" issue. I read that some people have their flooring finished before the cabinets go in, and they lay down cardboard or something to protect the new floor.

We need to speak to the countertop people too. The checklist (part of the contract) that we received from them says that "all appliances must be on site, set in place, and adjusted, and all sinks & faucets must be on site".

No kidding - I've never seen that requirement for counters but I guess I can see why they'd want it. What a pain.

I forgot to mention - make sure you get lien waivers from all your contractors when they're finished. An oft-overlooked detail by many DIY GCers. Good luck on your project! We love progress pics!

edit: spelling

This post was edited by Swentastic on Tue, Sep 23, 14 at 11:57

"(where the contractor name and license no. is needed), and submit the forms by ourselves."

Are you also responsible for collecting, verifying the authenticity of and submitting certificates of insurance?

"all appliances must be on site, set in place,"

If the refer and the counter, do not intersect, why?

If the appliance opening is square and the cabinet face frames are aligned and the appliance is on-site, this should not be necessary.

It's the cabinet installers responsibility to install the cabinets insuring that they are plumb, square and aligned, including the appliance openings.

Now, if the wall is wavy, they need to make the adjustment in their template to compensate, insure the range opening is square and the front overhang is equal the length of the cabinet run.

A square cut, is a square cut.

"Are you also responsible for collecting, verifying the authenticity of and submitting certificates of insurance?"

Hmm, we haven't thought of that. So maybe it would be better to give the relevant form to each contractor, and ask them to fill out and submit to the township?

"If the refer and the counter, do not intersect, why?"

All the openings will be square. We also feel like it's not necessary to have appliances installed in place before the template. It would be a big hassle to install, uninstall, and re-install the range and fridge. We will talk to the cabinet maker and the countertop guy to see if that requirement can be waived.

"So maybe it would be better to give the relevant form to each contractor,"

If them being required to obtain there own permits, was not iterated at the time of bid, you may face an additional charge.

However, they are responsible for calling for their own inspections, however, someone has to be present, to allow access.

I'm not trying to talk you out of acting as your own GC, it's not always as simple as the premise.

Hmm, it sounds like we will be better off pulling permits on our own. We could certainly ask each contractor for a copy of their insurance and license.

I don't know how to "verify the authenticity of certificates of insurance". Would calling the insurance companies suffice?

Regarding lien waiver -- does that simply involve asking each contractor for a signed copy of conditional waiver upon final payment?

Depends on your municipality - sometimes you need a GC license to pull certain permits.

"Regarding lien waiver -- does that simply involve asking each contractor for a signed copy of conditional waiver upon final payment?"

Yep - basically its you and the contractor agreeing that the work has been completed as agreed and they (including their subs) have been compensated accordingly. It means they can't come back later and put a lien on your house for unpaid work/materials. Usually this is something each contractor will already have and know about but you can also download the forms yourself.

Having the appliances on hand is a condition that must exist before any of my countertop guys will do a template. The manufacturer of all appliances reserve the right to change things without updating the literature, and yes, that happens frequently enough that it's not something I will ever waive.

If you use prefinished flooring, you only need to deal with a single install and the progress of the remodel doesn't need to backpedal as much. Of course, you will still have to protect the flooring until the end of the project, but it's much simpler than doing site finished. More durable as well.

"I don't know how to "verify the authenticity of certificates of insurance". Would calling the insurance companies suffice?"

Have the insurance co., not the contractor, mail you a proof of insurance.

Lien laws are published for each state. Just search Lien Laws and select the state.

We recently replaced our kitchen and used site finished floors to match floors being refinished in an adjoining room. After demolition, the new floors were installed and finished with only 2 of the 3 top coats and covered with red paper and hardboard. The cabinets were installed and appliances were on site but not installed during the templating of the countertops. While waiting for the countertops the floor guys came back and did the final finish coat on the floors and installed base moldings. Countertops, appliances, toe kicks and cabinet crown were then installed. The site finished floors took extra time but we worked with the different contractors and remarkably it all came together very smoothly. Well worth the effort to have matching floors throughout.