OK I've been quoted around the £20000 - £25000 region for a basic conversion with shower room which I think is about the going rate for the South West. But aside from architecht's fees and a few other specialized jobs, most of this cost would appear to be in labour. Would it be more cost effective to say "project manage" I.E nasty jobs like RSJs and stairs to contract out and take on the other work myself or am I absolutely mental and best leaving this type of stuff to experts. (My wife says I am!). The only reason I ask is aside from the afore mentioned RSJs and stairs it looks relatively simple, please don't feel i'm belitttling any Loft build specialists out there, it is only a question.
Loft converting
- Thread starter Unbelievablyconfused
- Start date
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Project Management is a skill like any other and requires experience, aptitude and wide knowledge. A good one will save you far more than he costs, by getting things right first time and avoiding overruns in time and cost.
Most people (including most builders) aren't good at it. If you're really good at it, you could be off earning pots of money to pay your bullder.
Most people (including most builders) aren't good at it. If you're really good at it, you could be off earning pots of money to pay your bullder.
it's really down to the individual’s personality. most people would prefer to earn the money or extend their mortgage and pay someone else. either they are not practical, not got the time or not interested.
if the individual can answer yes to the above 3 and does not mind getting things wrong (and having to put them right themselves) then why not go for it.
don't forget though the apparent profit margin is there for a reason - it's not an easy job.
the key attributes to project managing are thinking ahead, getting things in the right sequence and getting on with other people (even when u dislike them) - keep the end point fixed in your mind and focus on getting there.
project managing tends to be heavily reliant upon experience, for obvious reasons.
as a builder who specializes in extensions, then you are at worst, thinking at least two weeks ahead. you get to know which materials or trades require the longest period of notice or which products take longest to arrive.
some products can take many weeks to arrive. i remember ordering some complex bespoke velux flashing kits, as we were digging out the foundations. they arrived in the nick of time six weeks later.
being loyal to one or two builders yards does have its plus points. they will bump you up the delivery queue if pushed.
as a builder who specializes in extensions, then you are at worst, thinking at least two weeks ahead. you get to know which materials or trades require the longest period of notice or which products take longest to arrive.
some products can take many weeks to arrive. i remember ordering some complex bespoke velux flashing kits, as we were digging out the foundations. they arrived in the nick of time six weeks later.
being loyal to one or two builders yards does have its plus points. they will bump you up the delivery queue if pushed.
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Its obviously more cost effective to do work yourself rather than pay someone else - unless you would earn more money in your normal job doing a days work than you would have to pay a builder for that day.
Its no big deal getting quotes from a few trades and then getting them in to do their bit of work.
However, individual contractors are going to cost more pro-rata than a builder doing the whole job
The other thing, is that when things don't go according to plan .... like when the beams are a bit too high or too far apart, or the stair angle is wrong, or things are not in the correct place which then has a structural implication for other parts of the roof, then you need to know what to do, and who to get to do it.
A contractor putting the floor in for instance, is not going to be bothered where the pipe runs will be, so then you have a scenario where the plumber spends more time then he needed to in doing his work. If you are not aware how the construction will be done (which is different to project management) then you will be paying more in labour than you need to .... and it may end up costing you more than the builders quotes - even with you doing a lot of the work yourself
Its no big deal getting quotes from a few trades and then getting them in to do their bit of work.
However, individual contractors are going to cost more pro-rata than a builder doing the whole job
The other thing, is that when things don't go according to plan .... like when the beams are a bit too high or too far apart, or the stair angle is wrong, or things are not in the correct place which then has a structural implication for other parts of the roof, then you need to know what to do, and who to get to do it.
A contractor putting the floor in for instance, is not going to be bothered where the pipe runs will be, so then you have a scenario where the plumber spends more time then he needed to in doing his work. If you are not aware how the construction will be done (which is different to project management) then you will be paying more in labour than you need to .... and it may end up costing you more than the builders quotes - even with you doing a lot of the work yourself
might be worth getting someone(a friend you dont have to pay) but with the knowledge you require to have a look at the drawings .
loft conversions arnt rocket science but as someone has said you need the right material on site when you need them , you need to know what to do when and know how to act on whats next to do
an arcetects drawings will specify what steel work you need if any and if building control have any doubts they will send someone senior to look at something they arnt sure of so you do have some help.
good luck
loft conversions arnt rocket science but as someone has said you need the right material on site when you need them , you need to know what to do when and know how to act on whats next to do
an arcetects drawings will specify what steel work you need if any and if building control have any doubts they will send someone senior to look at something they arnt sure of so you do have some help.
good luck
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