Renovations have a lot of moving parts with even more surprises and unfortunately things can turn into a nightmare very quick. The last thing you want is to deal with more surprises then you have to. In Grubuild’s more than 14 years of renovating residential and commercial properties we have found that these 7 points, if taken care before the project starts, will free up quite a bit of time. Go through the list, use it and with a little bit of planning beforehand you can still pull of that dream renovation.
- Pets.
The four legged children can’t be left to run wild on a construction site, with all the excitement of people coming and going not to mention all the interesting things happening around them, they will find it hard to stay away from the action. Unfortunately it is dangerous they can get hurt or worse. If you are like me you won’t be able to lock them up for 10 hours per day in a small dark room either. Fortunately there are solutions like closing of a piece of the yard just for them with shade and shelter. Then there is pet day care or someone that can look after them for the duration of the project.
- Plants
If you are going to do exterior work, move plants and trees out of the way if needed, giving your contractor enough space to work, bricks and plant are not friends. Don’t leave it to your contractor to move the plants, a person with no plant experience will probably get to do it and you will still end up with dead plants at the end, your gardener is a better option.
- Dust
You will not be able to escape this completely but there are a couple of things you can do. When you are doing exterior work, just keep windows and doors closed, don’t hang washing outside to dry, especially on more dusty and windy work days. For the interior seal off the rooms that won’t be worked in, if there is only going to be worked in one side of the house, seal that part off from the rest of the house if possible. Big unmovable furniture should be covered with plastic, but do it as if you are moving to the other side of the world.
- Storage area
Your contractor will need some space, for materials, tools and vehicles. Sand and bricks will be delivered on the pavement, usually the delivery guys know their stuff when it comes to this, but if there’s no space plants are going to get hurt, and nobody wants that. If you can live without your patio or half of your garage, for a while that will probably be enough space for materials and tools.
- Toilette facilities
This is an easy problem to solve. Just choose a or b.
A. If you have an extra one that can be used by the contractors great, but still you make the rules.
B. If you don’t have one just make sure your contractor knows to allow for site toilet rental in the contract before final costing is done by them.
- Valuables
Don’t leave that vase that Granny got from her Great, great Granny and you got from her, in the work area or where contractors are just walking by, anything can happen and accidents do happen, so go through the house and put it all away even if it’s not valuable in Rand terms but in sentiment only. Rather be safe than sorry, as my Granny used to say.
- Security
Your home will be open 8-10 hours of the day, with gates opening and closing. The opportunistic criminal can see this as an invitation to get access. Inform your contractor if, and when you are expecting deliveries and when your gardener will be there and when not. Most contractors and their staff will guard your house, as if it is their own, so you don’t have to be concerned.
- Extra Thing: Main and most important thing to remember
Just communicate with your contractor have fun and enjoy the process, it will be done sooner and it will look even better than you thought it will.
© THE GRUBUILD TEAM 2021
