If you’re taking on the job yourself you’ve got to think like a contractor
BUILDING a deck, re- plumbing a bathr o o m , adding new wiring, hanging new kitchen cabinets – projects like these can be intimidating to start, and once started may seem to drag on forever, with results that don’t always match expectations.
Decide early on if you can take on the project yourself or if you need professional help. Builders and architects will often balk at taking on a project that’s already been started, especially by an amateur.
If you are taking the job on yourself, you can bridge the gap between amateur and professional results with planning and a better understanding of the process. Think like a contractor: get lots of information about the project, draw a clear set of plans, find the proper tools and the right materials – and once you start the job keep moving.
Before starting any large project call Cork County Council and talk with an inspector.
The council provides handouts on code requirements for common projects. For large projects you will need to pull a permit and have your work inspected, but it’s money well spent to have experts check over your work.
Before starting, draw your project to scale on graph paper. This helps with the design process, clarifies the construction details and makes it easier to compile a list of materials. Making a scaled plan organizes your thinking and saves major mistakes during construction.
Keep the construction details as simple as possible to avoid mistakes and unanticipated problems. Projects in how-to magazines and books illustrate standard, code-approved construction practices that can be adapted to fit a variety of situations. Organize your projects around basic building code requirements and intended function and the design will fall into place.
Before starting, buy or rent all the tools you need – it’s counterproductive to attempt a major project with second-rate equipment. Good tools save hours of frustration and make jobs look better with a lot less effort.
Get all the materials you need before starting your job to avoid time-wasting trips to the hardware store, and arrange for deliveries when possible. Special order items like windows and doors can take several weeks to get and are usually non-returnable, so triple check measurements.
Where possible, find sources for good advice at the local hardware store or builders’ suppliers. Ask the more experienced people working at the contractor’s desk for advice. Hardware and paint stores also usually have a few really knowledgeable people. Catch them on a slow day (not Saturday morning) then ask them about your project and let them talk.
Check out builders suppliers that cater to contractors. They’re staffed with experienced people who can give advice on complicated technical issues. They’re set up to make contractors’ lives easy and profitable, and they can do the same for you.
When it comes to getting down to work, make a list of everything you’re doing and work out the sequence of steps. If you’re building an addition, frame it and close it in before you knock out any existing exterior walls. Staging work in the right sequence is a major part of a contractor’s job, but mostly it just requires common sense.
If possible, break your job down into small sections and finish each one before moving on. This will keep a large job from feeling overwhelming.