Self build project management

RE: Self build project management

Bob Russell — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 09:44:14 GMT

Also don't let anyone gold plate things.

Don't spend £2K on a bathroom unless you want to!

A perfectly serviceable white suit was £90 for the loo and basin and £80 on ebay for a white bath including delivery!

Don't keep changing specifications mid way because this can add a lot to your final bill!

RE: Self build project management

Sam — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 17:38:13 GMT

Good luck with your project!

We have done this a few times. A few things that we have found helpful are as follows;

Find good tradesmen whom you can work with and trust. If anyone seems not to be up to scratch change quickly... the damage (for example from poor plumbing) may only be found several months or years later!

We find paying a day rate to trades better than a job rate. Then if you can be on site you will know if they are working or not.

Source your own materials wherever possible. It can cut costs dramatically.

Learn to do a few things yourself. By watching the tradesmen and asking questions you may be able to take over some of the more simple tasks (if you have time). It is great to look at a building afterwards knowing that you did some of it yourself.

Enjoy it! It might be something you only do once so treat it as something to experience.

RE: Self build project management

Lindsey Edwards — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 15:05:15 GMT

Get to know your tradesmen well and keep in contact regularly! Timing is the hardest factor, as in getting one set of jobs finished in order for the next set to move on with tasks. Consult an engineer etc about the mandatory red tape and plan that in advance (ie do you need clearance for site works / sign off before able to move in etc).

RE: Self build project management

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 14:50:42 GMT

We didn't have a main contractor, so used seperate builder, electrician, plumber, flooring, decorator. You need to be very organised and plan ahead. Planning permission initially was easy but we are a conservation area so there were hold ups with daft things like approval for windows (and that means builder can't finish and decorator cant paint etc). You need to be 3 steps ahead.

Tradesmen seem a bit crap at planning ahead. They like to spend 2 hours of the 8 hour day at the merchants. Top tip is keep asking if they need anything getting so they stay on site doing stuff. I did quite a lot of the forward ordering of materials. It was cheaper to source things like light fittings myself than via the electrician. Get familiar with Toolstation (6pm) and Screwfix (8pm) as you can order late for next day delivery.

If you have time invetigate how you want things to look and do your research. Don't discount places like Ikea. You can often get a similar look on a budget with some legwork. Also consider what you can do yourself. I did most of the ripping out myself. I framed ceilings and cut insulation and fitted plasterboard. I put the ply down under the flooring. I built bases for the kennels. I assembled all the Ikea kitchen uits and fitted them. I did some simple plumbing. Stripped wallpaper. Knocked a non loadbearing wall through. Removed internal doors (that were later refitted). Fill holes in walls before decorating. Ran cables and oxygen pipes under floors. Insulation in ceilings. Dug holes for drians. Fixed some rotten joists. SO much painting. I did quite a lot......

It gives me great satisfaction looking at the jobs I did, even when I got a plasterer to do the plastering!

RE: Self build project management

Jill Butterworth — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:21:30 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]Trying to do it alongside full time vet work and writing up a masters dissertation was fun but doable![/quote]

OMG!

I've got pp on my stables to convert to a small house and feel like I'm up to doing it, but want to be aware of the pitfalls. My budget is probably a bit low, but you read of anything from £500 to £3000 per sq meter, so it seems like with good planning and design, the budget can be made to fit. I feel that the architect I used originally can only think high end, and that there is a cheaper way of doing things. I also understand that making mistakes can cost £1000s, so I just want to be prewarned and take as much advice as possible before I start.

RE: Self build project management

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:29:42 GMT

As in your own house or a practice?

I managed the project when we converted an old station building into the surgery. Trying to do it alongside full time vet work and writing up a masters dissertation was fun but doable!

I'd do it again.

Is there anything specific you want to know?

RE: Self build project management

Julie Innes — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 09:42:06 GMT

No, but I would love to! Do let us know how it goes