I'm in the process of submitting plans for an extension to my house, a very simple two story box. It would be the first time i have had any major work done. I'm thinking about running the job myself and contracting the work out to the various trades required rather than getting a builder to carry out the whole job. Has anyone had any experience in doing this and if so how did it go? The main reason for doing this would be to keep the cost down knowing that most builders sub contract most of the work anyway and I would be able to do some of the work myself. My only worry would be the amount of my time it would take up and the stress of keeping the job moving on. Any past experience or advice would be great.
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Having building work done
- Thread starter LockStock
- Start date
RexCathedra
Aurea Mediocritas
The original Stateside Bob the Builder (quondam host of PBS's long-running This Old House ) on the topic:
Being Your Own General Contractor
Codes, planning, etc. might vary with the jurisdiction, but I'd bet the overall process is similar.
(My son's employed by a US architects' firm that bids and manages UK work from time to time, he says at the bricks and mortar level, there's not much difference.)
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
Nothing worse than an amateur on site.
champion7
fast and furious
Just completed a loft conversion with the help of my neighbour (he's a builder),took 5 weeks and I have very little experience.I worked during the day then slept for 6 hours before going to work on my night shifts.very knackering but saved £14k so was well worth it.
Whatever you do, get a fixed price quote on the entire contract, or by your method, fixed price quotes from the individual subbies. With the fixed price, ensure you have in writing everything you want done, including them getting away waste.
Beware of lowest quote - a tight fisted associate went for the lowest by far of 3 quotes with an unknown builder who'd spotted his planning application online and pushed himself forward for the work. My associate assumed the other 2 were being greedy in their price. Surprise, 4 months later, the chosen builder had bodged plastering, dismantled asbestos without protective gear, splattered chipboard which was held down poorly with nails not screws, become unreliable on snagging, switches sticking out walls too far, etc.
Beware of lowest quote - a tight fisted associate went for the lowest by far of 3 quotes with an unknown builder who'd spotted his planning application online and pushed himself forward for the work. My associate assumed the other 2 were being greedy in their price. Surprise, 4 months later, the chosen builder had bodged plastering, dismantled asbestos without protective gear, splattered chipboard which was held down poorly with nails not screws, become unreliable on snagging, switches sticking out walls too far, etc.
hitony
Administrator
[MENTION=1804]sams dad[/MENTION] is the person you want, a very competent and experienced builder, look him up on here and send him a PM, I am sure (assuming you live in the sussex area) he will sort you out, you wont do better than him and that's a fact! (and no he is not my brother or relation etc etc 
)
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beorhthelm
A. Virgo, Football Genius
- Jul 21, 2003
- 35,310
my very old experince (things may have changed) is that your average builder will get in their tradesman for cheaper than if you went off and got them. it might not work out of course if they know a bunch of scrots on the sausage who disappear once a week to sign on 
seriously though, i know a few thing about building and i'd rather just get a decent reputable builder in. by all mean offer yourself as a labourer to save money.
seriously though, i know a few thing about building and i'd rather just get a decent reputable builder in. by all mean offer yourself as a labourer to save money.
What is your trade ? And do you know all the other trades personally ?
atfc village
Well-known member
Ask to see proof of work done before easiest way.
How much do you know about Planning Permission and Building Regulations? What about signing off for electrical and plumbing work? Some builders have accounts with local suppliers and are able to get discounts for the bulk orders they make for several jobs. Can you co-ordinate the order in which the various contractors do their work? It's often a case of waiting for one lot to finish before the other lot can start, so there can be a lot of waiting around and time wasted. We've built an extension ourselves and "done up" our present house, and it can be maddening when the contractors don't turn up, because they've had to go to another job they're working on at the same time. But we're lucky. My brother's a surveyor and knows lots of builders who don't mind doing us a favour for him. But we've had to be patient. Very patient.
Garage_Doors
Originally the Swankers
[MENTION=1804]sams dad[/MENTION] is the person you want, a very competent and experienced builder, look him up on here and send him a PM, I am sure (assuming you live in the sussex area) he will sort you out, you wont do better than him and that's a fact! (and no he is not my brother or relation etc etc
"Gary, get your tounge out of my arse"
hitony
Administrator
Why don't you try being a bit more positive and help the OP rather than making stupid comments?
- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,221
Don't suppose you've done any cladding jobs in the South London area recently..?
Diego Napier
Well-known member
- Mar 27, 2010
- 4,416
Garage_Doors
Originally the Swankers
Fair point, I'll remind you of that the next time you try your attemp at humour shall I?
Shropshire Seagull
Well-known member
My philosophy is simple - if your house isn't big enough for you, buy a bigger one and don't feck about bodging up a good house with extensions - MOVE HOUSE.