The process of rehabbing a building takes many steps. When you are making these changes you must tear down existing walls, change all electrical installation, and redo plumbing and many other jobs. The goal of a rehab is to make the building look interesting and then you can sell the units easily.
The first step in remodeling a building is to hire a general contractor. They are the manager of the entire job. Overall the general contractor is the most important person, because they have to purchase materials and hire employees, electricians, plumbers, HVAC and landscapers. This person meets with the owner of the building what they want done. They must set up a budget and design how they want each unit to look.
The next step is to give notice to any tenants that might still live in the building. When all persons have vacated the building you can start the demolition. Most demolitions remove interior walls, old doors, windows. They also tear all old electrical wiring and water pipes without removing the existing drains. The demolition process is probably the easiest step in rehabbing, because it takes the least amount of time and costs are minimal.
Now that the demolition is done they must install new windows and also build interior walls. The heating and cooling company begins to install a furnace for each unit and air conditioner on the roof. They than must connect metal ducts to the furnace, this ducts are placed through the apartment to deliver heat and cooling. Also they have to run a cooper pipe from the roof where the air conditioner is located to the furnace, this pipe carries the Freon which is the cold air that comes from vent. The new building code requires that each unit must have a humidifier built inside the main duct.
Next step of the remodeling is for the plumbers to begin the installation of new pipes. First the plumber must ask the general contractor if the water heater must be a gas or electric, if the water heater is going to be gas they must install an exhaust pipe which goes outside. Now that water heater is in place they must install cooper pipes to the bathroom kitchen and laundry room. They also must connect a main gas pipe from the city hook up to the building which goes to an individual meter for each unit.
Now that the plumbers are done the electricians must start their service. First must meet with the general contractor to decide which appliances are going to be an electric, they must know how large of an electrical service to install. Each unit is required to have a separate electric meter; all of these meters are located in the power room. Each unit has a circuit breaker box which controls power for that unit. From that box electrical wires are placed to the outlets, fixture lights and appliances.
For the next step the drywall crew comes in and places the drywall on the framed walls. After the drywall is complete now flooring people install or repair existing floors.
The trim crew comes in and installs cabinets, baseboard, and crown molding. Painters paint all the walls.
The process of converting an apartment building into a condominium is a very complex and challenging job. Many times you find unexpected complications with the building and organizing subcontractors. But the owners of these buildings can make large profits for themselves. Also it is good for the cities because of additional property taxes are collected.

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