Renovations - "DIY" vs using contractor

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leonb

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I'm planning some renovations to an existing room (5m x 13 m) which is currently underutilised. It used to be a tv/playroom for the kids. The plan is to convert it to an ensuite bedroom (one side) and a TV/braai room (other side).

There are no major structural works, only the internal walls to separate the rooms, and breaking through the existing walls for new windows and doors. New tiles throughout, etc. It also need a 40m underground sewage line to connect up with main line. The plan has been drawn up and ready to submit, but I'm first getting some quotes from builders to check costs.

The quotes are ridiculously high (in my mind anyway), in the order of R400k I'm considering project managing this myself and getting small subs to do the work, i.e. bricklayer, tiler, electrician, plumber.

The actual work I will be able to manage, but how does the legal and regulatory stuff work? Like the municipality, building inspections etc.?

Any general advise if I decide to go this route?
 
If you're not comfortable doing your own electrics and plumbing and structural woodwork you should probably get someone. Brick laying is a bit of an art and tiling is difficult to get right the first time but neither is rocket science. If you're in Cape Town I have a dude that's pretty good at remembering everything I taught him :-)
 
Koos Custodiet said:
If you're not comfortable doing your own electrics and plumbing and structural woodwork you should probably get someone. Brick laying is a bit of an art and tiling is difficult to get right the first time but neither is rocket science. If you're in Cape Town I have a dude that's pretty good at remembering everything I taught him :)
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I think he meant project managing himself and not doing the work, but I might be wrong.
 
If you can sketch a before and after and what needs to be done, then we can guesstimate what it should cost.

Don't try and do things you don't know how to do or think it will save money, redoing it will cost more. Also breaking things done or digging things up might save you R1,000 but it will take you a month, a builder and his team will do it in a day <-- they have the power of 7 buffalos, us honkeys get tired in 10 minutes!

The 40m sewer line sounds odd, why not just connect it to your current house, but anyway.
 
Wrath of Khan MD said:
If you can sketch a before and after and what needs to be done, then we can guesstimate what it should cost.

The 40m sewer line sounds odd, why not just connect it to your current house, but anyway.
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I'll post a diagram, thanks.

Unfortunately the renovations are on the side of the house without any sewers and furthest point away from the the main sewer point.
 
leonb said:
I'll post a diagram, thanks.

Unfortunately the renovations are on the side of the house without any sewers and furthest point away from the the main sewer point.
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I'm still trying to figure out how you'll fit all that into that small space?
 
TheMightyQuin said:
I'm still trying to figure out how you'll fit all that into that small space?
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HUH? A single garage is 3x6, thus 18msq
If he takes 5x5m for bedroom and ensuite that is 25msq and more that enough. Then he has 8x5m left for braai room. 40msq is bigger than a double garage.
OK maybe my maths is wrong, but that how I see it.
 
Jean Claude Vaaldamme said:
HUH? A single garage is 3x6, thus 18msq
If he takes 5x5m for bedroom and ensuite that is 25msq and more that enough. Then he has 8x5m left for braai room. 40msq is bigger than a double garage.
OK maybe my maths is wrong, but that how I see it.
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That seems rather toit...but that's just me I guess. Unless it is a very small room with a single bed against a wall and no built-in cupboard.

I understand we all have different requirements, but that just seems rather small.

I'm glad to see that you prioritized space for the braai room. 8 x 5 is a nice space.
 
leonb said:
Correct. I will be taking the role of main building contractor and manage sub contractors.
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One of my rules in life is that I will not try to manage someone doing a job that I can't do myself. For example, I can and have assembled surface mount PCBs. But there are people who are a lot faster, neater and just plain better at it than I am. If needs be, I will contract those people and manage them. However, if I don't know how to do the job, I will hire someone who does -- this is your original scenario and it gets expensive because you are paying for knowledge / know-how.

Did you add your location or did I miss it last time? The Malawian dude that did pretty much the kind of work you need done when I renovated this place can definitely do this job, he knows where to get a minivan full of Mexi^H^H^H^HMalawians when he needs them, gimme a shout on the side and I will put you in contact with him.

If you need certificates for electricity and / or plumbing you will need to oursource that to the people with the signing rights, I might be able to help you there too.
 
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