When to bring in the experts-an idiots guide?

[charlie-ia]

We have decided theres no turning back. The contracts are on the kitchen table. youve all read the survey by now ("it all seems too simple")
the plan is to do 100% of everything ourselves, no matter how long it takes.

the reality is-
1 we know only what we've read
2 we have no real experience at anything except digging
3 we wont aways be able to physically or technically able to do it
4 things could turn out terrible in so many different ways if we're wrong
5 we cant just up sticks and emmigrate immedieately
6 etc. (insert your own option)

im hoping for answers that could apply to anyone (or perhaps another "Grahams top tips" very funny-that reminds me! i shall go there next...)

so for what jobs would you say-
A ALWAYS get a professional & leave well alone(insulating the roof sounds like one!)
B its just cheaper to get someone to do it/stupid not to
C Looks tricky, but actually not to bad
D get a bunch of mates and a crate of beer
E you could do but be verry careful
F get a professional assesment (before or after), but can do the work yourself
G it all depends, cant give a specific reply, would have to know more

Im declaring option G null and void! We have read that one!

 

[middi]

Charlie-ia, the challenge, the adventure, the shear stupidity of thinking you may fail will make you learn and succeed, if time is on your side.

If you truly believe you do not need any challenges in life, especially if these are totally within your control then you should forget it.

 

[Jill]

No matter how long it takes. - Thats what we thought, did you know that once you've had your plans passed you've only got 3 years to complete the work or the plans have to be resubmitted. This is what we've just been told, thats why we're currently just doing jobs that we can do ourselves without much cost so that when the plans are submitted and passed we have the money and time to do it. We thought we'd do it over about 10 years but it doesn't appear thats possible.

Just go for it, the pleasure of achieving something yourself is far better than giving someone a whole dosh of money if you can have a go at doing it yourself. It will take time, mistakes will be made, but to sit back and say I did that is such an achievement and fulfilling. [/quote]

 

[Gervase]

Oh, Es all the way - but with added beer. Don't get the mates involved, unless they're professional - they'll make a Horlicks of it and you'll find it hard to keep a civil tongue in your head.
Welcome to the asylum. Make sure your sense of humour is well-oiled and glasses are suitably rose-tinted.

 

[charlie-ia]

The house is not listed, but is right next to a viewing area.
The irish electricity board recently tried to put pylons across the view, and were refused permission. they had to avoid the area at great expense.

http://energy-matters-amp.gotwiki.com/AMP/HomePage

we checked with the surveyor and solicitor, and dont appear to need any permission for anything bar the usual.
just the reverse, because the area is underpopulated with people moving to the cities coupled with historical depopulation, there are many derilict buildings. people want newbuild. the powers that be are keen to help. and keen to get that once pretty house slap bang in the middle of the view cleaned up a bit.

it also appears that when you buy a house you're entitled to build a 40m2 extension on many properties, seamingly regardless. we dont plan to even take this up, though it may be usefull later. thoughts of a consevatory type thing perhaps. somewhere you could lie in bed in the warm and look at the stars. there are no streetlights for miles, and the nearest town is behind the mountain.

the house is just how we want it, under the muck and rot and worms and bog. we just plan to make it back how it is, but healthy.even if we do have to rebuild the settled wall, replace all woodwork, redig the foundations, and get caught with an illegally discharging septic tank, were not expecting much trouble.

 

[middi]

The 40 sq. metres allowed development question is a bit more complicated, look into it if the need arises.

Common sense will dictate that if a house could be added to, or extended an extra 40 sqm by new owners, let us say every 25 years, after 300 years the house, in theory, could be half a kilometer long.

If the unfortunate owner happens to have the only bathroom at the other end of the property ,he/she would need to catch a bus or go by car.
Just the thought of the journey could make someone s**t themselves.

( sorry, friday night, the mind is wondering)

 

[NT]

quote charlie-ia

> the plan is to do 100% of everything ourselves, no
> matter how long it takes.

then you'll grow in confidence greatly.


> 1 we know only what we've read

Everyone was at that point one time. With almost everything in life.


> 2 we have no real experience at anything except digging

you soon will have


> 3 we wont aways be able to physically or technically able to do it

after rest or reading or tool buying you will in nearly all cases. Trial on a bit of scrap is also a way to approach small confusing things.


> 4 things could turn out terrible in so many different ways if we're wrong

thats life. Whatever happens you've still got a house you can live in, so its not really terrible. A humidistatic dehumidifier will remove quite a lot of the terribleness, and may be a good way to feel a lot better about the project quickly.


> so for what jobs would you say-
> A ALWAYS get a professional & leave well alone
> (insulating the roof sounds like one!)

Insulation? You're kidding. Always get a pro: about the only thing I can think of is structural faults.


> B its just cheaper to get someone to do it/stupid not to

Plastering youre not going to get a great result first time. Really this class is for anything where the equipment is excessively expensive, but given how technologically basically these houses were built, its hard to think of much.


> C Looks tricky, but actually not to bad

Loads of things


> D get a bunch of mates and a crate of beer

When a lot of muscle is needed, and competence isnt. Eg earth moving, breaking up large amounts of concrete.


> E you could do but be verry careful

underpinning, gaswork


> F get a professional assesment (before or after), but can do the work yourself

structural work


I trust you're paying a realistic price considering all the work you've got to put in.


NT

 

[Me!]

did you know that once you've had your plans passed you've only got 3 years to complete the work or the plans have to be resubmitted.

Are you sure? Things may obviously have changed, but ten years ago that wasn't the case. At that time, there was a deadline by which you had to start the work, but once you had started and had an official council inspection to prove you had started (and this only needed to be an inspection of a test hole to prove how deep the foundations needed to be (which you could then fill in again after the inspection!)) the permission did not expire.

 

[charlie-ia]

"I trust you're paying a realistic price considering all the work you've got to put in. NT"

(':lol:')

http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10006275.shtml

 

[Penners]

1. So read more!
2. Everybody starts with no experience.
3. That's when you (a) ask advice from wherever you can get it (here, for example), and/or (b) get in an expert.
4. Some will. And the more they do, the more you'll learn.
5. There will be times when you'll wish you had.
6. The ultimate sense of pride and satisfaction will outweigh any frustrations and problems along the way. By a factor of a thousand.

A. Electrics. It's the law.
B. Not many things/electrics.
C. Most other things.
D. Read and mark Gervase's advice above.
E. See C.
F. Anything structural unless you're very sure....
G. Everything!

Good luck!

 

[NT]

A. Electrics. It's the law.

Not even close.

Good luck!

agreed!


NT

 

[Pford75]

Penners wrote:
A. Electrics. It's the law.


Not even close.

Well....given your stated lack of knowledge & experience in this area....it is the law that the work must be completed by a competent person.

If you want to save costs, you could do as we did and offer your services to the electricians for lifting of floorboards (you'll probably take more care)...chasing (if required and you feel confident)...but my personal advice is electric & plumbing (esp. where gas/oil involved)...you should involve the professionals. I know how to wire a basic circuit etc. but getting into loading etc. is a complex business and not something you can afford to 'tinker' with...on gas/oil....it's the law.

There are some very capable DIY'ers on this forum who will not perhaps share this view.....but for ease of mind....this is one area I would leave well alone


Agree wholeheartedly with Gervase's post re: help from friends.....can be tricky if the job is not done well.

Personally, I've left re-puttying to the professionals....I've spent ages trying to learn and I'm still useless The cost of using a professional is not great....so didn't see any reason to persevere.

Despite the bad press it gets on 'Grand Designs' and similar....I honestly think that project managing your own job is very acheivable (especially if you have some PM experience in your everyday work). Even more so if you plan on stretching the job over some time.....but do think long and hard about the order of works...

 

[DaveBrigg]

Can you post a picture of this house? Sounds fascinating.
The loft insulation was a horrible job, but it saved giving a few hundred quid to a company who couldn't start work until the Spring.
We paid for plastering, having no experience of lime, and a tight time frame. Now, I've just tried using some ready-mixed render and fine finish, and was amazed at how easy it was. A bit like icing a cake (OK, the finish isn't perfect, but that's completely in keeping with the house). Just keep the brickwork wet.
We hired a plumber too, for speed and ease, but watching him clip together the push-fit connections like a child's toy made me wish I'd done it myself. I can support the comments about lifting boards for the electricians too.
If you're going down the DIY route, these people are really helpful. http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/home-main.jsp;jsessionid=2JFPHAQZXBXQCCSTHZPCFEY?_requestid=1089402

 

[Flyfisher]

did you know that once you've had your plans passed you've only got 3 years to complete the work or the plans have to be resubmitted.

Are you sure? Things may obviously have changed, but ten years ago that wasn't the case. At that time, there was a deadline by which you had to start the work, but once you had started and had an official council inspection to prove you had started (and this only needed to be an inspection of a test hole to prove how deep the foundations needed to be (which you could then fill in again after the inspection!)) the permission did not expire.

My understanding is the same as Jill's - once work has started, there is no deadline for completion, but if the work is not started then permission may lapse and need re-submission.

Can anyone else confirm, deny or correct this?

 

[NT]

Penners wrote:
A. Electrics. It's the law.


Not even close.

Well....given your stated lack of knowledge & experience in this area....

Que?

it is the law that the work must be completed by a competent person.

and you then confuse competent with professional

I know how to wire a basic circuit etc. but getting into loading etc. is a complex business and not something you can afford to 'tinker' with...

tinker with, no, you need to calculate things or look them up in a table. Even inexperienced diyers can do that with assistance. Its not difficult.

on gas/oil....it's the law.

wrong again. One has to be competent to do the job. Then you can do all the work for yourself that you want.


NT

 

[charlie-ia]

see below.

 

[charlie-ia]

 

[charlie-ia]

> B its just cheaper to get someone to do it/stupid not to

Plastering youre not going to get a great result first time. Really this class is for anything where the equipment is excessively expensive, but given how technologically basically these houses were built, its hard to think of much.

My parents spent a month digging french drains. they were pleased with the interest and encouragement from their new neighbours, and how nice of them to stop and chat.
after the month was up, the visits slowed down.
then someone mentioned Paddy and his minidigger that could have done it in an afternoon for a few quid.
':lol:'

 

[charlie-ia]

"> B its just cheaper to get someone to do it/stupid not to

Plastering youre not going to get a great result first time. Really this class is for anything where the equipment is excessively expensive, but given how technologically basically these houses were built, its hard to think of much."-NT

My parents spent a month digging french drains. they were pleased with the interest and encouragement from their new neighbours, and how nice of them to stop and chat.
after the month was up, the visits slowed down.
then someone mentioned Paddy and his minidigger that could have done it in an afternoon for a few quid.
':lol:'

 

[Penners]

Charlie - please ignore NT's rather cryptic posts about this electrics-and-the-law thing. He has a perfectly valid point-of-view, but he's an expert. You and I are not (unless I've misunderstood your situation).

It's true that there are all kinds of ifs and buts to the situation, but the safest approach if you want to abide by the law is get a professional electrician to do the job.