What to expect during construction.
The main thing you can expect during the renovation or construction of your new home is… the unexpected.
A totally trouble-free build is a rare thing – something almost always crops up to throw a spanner in the works. Little spanners are usually fairly easy to manage, causing no more than a minor bump in the smooth running of your project. Big ones, however, have the potential to throw the whole build off course, causing delays, budget blow-outs and untold stress for everyone involved.
For the uninitiated, building a new home appears to be a relatively straightforward process. The site is cleared, foundations are laid, the frame is constructed, the roof, walls, windows and doors are added, the interiors are fitted out, and you call the removalists to arrange a moving-in date. Job done!
In reality, there are myriad tasks to be done and any number of tradespeople required to be on site – some at the same time, some at different times. Every build has different challenges, and your site and build-specific plans can affect both the order of the job and how it plays out.
For example, if you’re putting a pool in the backyard, or planting large, mature trees as part of your landscaping plan, the best access for the diggers could well be at the time you’re clearing the site, so those jobs need to be scheduled before a brick is laid. Plumbing choices and placement have to be made early in the build, so the plumber can fit piping and items such as an in-wall toilet cistern, before the plasterboard is installed. Some jobs are inter-dependent; you’ll need the waterproofer to finish in the bathrooms before your tiler can get started, and the actual tapware isn’t added until the tiles are in place.
In other words – there’s a lot going on, a lot to manage, and a lot that can go awry. Tradies commonly work multiple jobs, so if something unavoidable throws out the schedule of your project – even something like a couple of days of heavy rain – your painters might be held up finishing work elsewhere. If they’re a few days late coming back to your job, that could, in turn, prevent other contractors from completing their tasks.
It’s how these issues are managed that makes the difference as to whether your build stays on track and avoids extra costs. It helps a lot if you have fully detailed, interior design plans – among many other things these deal with the choice of fittings and their placement well in advance, which means crucial timings aren’t thrown out when building is actually in progress. The HOME BY BELLE team regularly works with clients to create such plans for their build. Plus, the builder can refer to them when they need specific information such as the position of taps or light fittings, avoiding delays while this detail is worked out with the client.
If you aren’t across the building process, or confident in dealing with builders yourself, you could also consider turning the construction management of your project over to an expert team. Their knowledge and experience means they will have seen and dealt with virtually every potential problem, helping to tackle any issues smoothly and working with your builder to make sure those big spanners remain little ones. HOME BY BELLE offers this service too, helping clients navigate the building process and to help the project stay on time and on track.