Planning your material shipment will require working with your contractor to determine how long each job takes. Schedules are the only way to keep work delays to a minimum. Having a good set of drawings will help. Talk to each supplier to find out how long each item takes to deliver. Then check up on the orders. Charting your project is the only way to keep sane.
Your home is built to Building Code and passes all inspections. Does this mean you have a high-quality finished home? Maybe not. If you have questions regarding quality, arrange to shadow your home inspector when he comes.
Advance payment to your contractor only when the work is completed. Make a schedule with a detailed cost breakdown that your builder will help you with at the beginning of the job.
Up front planning and job scheduling will help you, your contractor and subcontractors keep your building project running smoothly. Special orders will be spelled out and the delivery time determined up front. Each job listed should specify when it will be done.
Allowances in the quote from a contractor cover items not yet selected. Financial woe can result if this budget is exceeded. Your contract should be very specific to avoid overspending projected costs.
The costs of building a new home or adding room additions will vary from contractor to contractor. Request a breakdown of the costs. Provide them with a standardized form to help you compare "apples to apples." This will also help you determine if your contractors payment requests are in line.
Plans require detailed written specifications to convey to the contractor and subcontractor exactly what's desired and how it is to be done.
Square your project in order for it to be a success. Angles must be perfect. To check for square you can use a calculator or follow the instructions below.
A patio slab that doesn't have a foundation shouldn't have a structure built on top of it. Foundations protect structures from frost heaving that could crack the slab.
Your heating ductwork is okay. Your furnace and air conditioner are working and are sized correctly, but no air is coming out of some of the heating ducts. Equalized static pressure is important for air flow. As supply pipes are branched off the main supply duct, they should get smaller to provide the correct static pressure.
Subscribe to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home. Complete the form below and each week you'll get:
Unsubscribe at any time. We respect your email privacy.