Commenti
Serial Renovators on Creating a Schedule for Your Renovation
Got a renovation plan? The next step is to create a schedule. Here are 5 tips to ensure you're set up for success
Alice Pearson
22 agosto 2017
When we start a renovation, our first priority is for it to be well planned. But, as we have learnt, what you plan and what you actually achieve can be two completely different things. So after planning, it’s best to set up a detailed schedule. Here’s how…
With renovations, you need to allow for the unexpected and any extra tasks that will come your way. This will mean adjusting your overall plan to accommodate changes, and not allowing them to derail your preparations. In this story I want to share how we take our big- picture plan and see it progress on time and within budget, through effective scheduling.
With These Essential Makeover Planning Tips
With These Essential Makeover Planning Tips
It helps that my co-renovator and husband, Caleb, works as a project manager. In his role he delivers regular reports to clients – to give them a current snapshot of the health of their projects, changes since previous reporting, key risks and opportunities, and what is being done to manage or take advantage of these. A key concern of any client is how progress is tracking against their schedule, as time is one of the key three drivers on how the success of a project is generally measured.
It is his expertise that we have translated into our own renovations. And while our projects are not large in scale or in cost, we still have a desire, like any other project owner, to see our time managed well, to manage risks, take opportunities and have a project that runs effectively and on time.
It is his expertise that we have translated into our own renovations. And while our projects are not large in scale or in cost, we still have a desire, like any other project owner, to see our time managed well, to manage risks, take opportunities and have a project that runs effectively and on time.
We use an Excel spreadsheet for our schedule; it doesn’t come much simpler. We create an initial draft that allows us to advise contractors when we need their job completed. We also have a column for our actions so we know what we need to focus on or have completed before a certain tradesperson arrives, and a column of material we needed to provide. As the tradesperson confirms their own schedule, we move them from the ‘TBC’ to the ‘Confirmed’ column.
Here are my key thoughts when preparing a schedule:
Here are my key thoughts when preparing a schedule:
1. Understand the order in which tradespeople are required
Each trade you engage for a project will have their own schedule requirements. For a bathroom renovation, for example, a plumber will need to be booked for three separate visits – to turn off your water for demo, then pre-fix and finally to fix everything off. Take the time to understand when each trade needs to be scheduled, and in which order in relation to other trades.
Browse more bathrooms for inspiration
Each trade you engage for a project will have their own schedule requirements. For a bathroom renovation, for example, a plumber will need to be booked for three separate visits – to turn off your water for demo, then pre-fix and finally to fix everything off. Take the time to understand when each trade needs to be scheduled, and in which order in relation to other trades.
Browse more bathrooms for inspiration
2. Understand the work required from you
Before a trade starts onsite, we agree on a price, establish the time they will be onsite and their expectation of how long the project will take, then we ask ‘What do you need from us?’ To ensure they can do the work, it may require additional details or decisions, or for us to supply certain products or material.
For example, while a plumber may not be installing your shower mixer during his or her first fix, he or she will need to know all the specifications of the tapware you will be using in order to place the plumbing correctly in the wall.
Tip: You can help move things along on a project by doing what you can to maximise your trades’ time. We will remove rubbish for them, install insulation ourselves or assist in basic building work. While there are some things that should only be done by a professional, there is still a lot that can be done by us. Working collaboratively with your trades will save time as well as some money off their total invoice.
Before a trade starts onsite, we agree on a price, establish the time they will be onsite and their expectation of how long the project will take, then we ask ‘What do you need from us?’ To ensure they can do the work, it may require additional details or decisions, or for us to supply certain products or material.
For example, while a plumber may not be installing your shower mixer during his or her first fix, he or she will need to know all the specifications of the tapware you will be using in order to place the plumbing correctly in the wall.
Tip: You can help move things along on a project by doing what you can to maximise your trades’ time. We will remove rubbish for them, install insulation ourselves or assist in basic building work. While there are some things that should only be done by a professional, there is still a lot that can be done by us. Working collaboratively with your trades will save time as well as some money off their total invoice.
3. Calculate realistic time periods for how long activities will take
It doesn’t really matter what size the renovation project is, almost all renovators end up saying: ‘This is taking longer than we expected’.
It is very easy to have an expectation such as ‘We will repaint this room in a weekend’, without factoring in the time to choose the colour, prep the room and cover all the carpet. Don’t just consider how long the task itself will take, but how long it will take to prepare for the task, get the correct tools, do your research and pack down afterwards.
It doesn’t really matter what size the renovation project is, almost all renovators end up saying: ‘This is taking longer than we expected’.
It is very easy to have an expectation such as ‘We will repaint this room in a weekend’, without factoring in the time to choose the colour, prep the room and cover all the carpet. Don’t just consider how long the task itself will take, but how long it will take to prepare for the task, get the correct tools, do your research and pack down afterwards.
4. Understand your site restrictions
Take into account the restrictions you will face with your property that will impact on time. Is access limited? Is scaffolding required? Will drying time be difficult with exposure to the elements?
When you are managing your own schedule, ask each trade or supplier what is required for them to complete their part of the project. We will book in heaters if we need plaster to dry quickly, or make sure no one is onsite while wooden floors are being varnished. Avoid further delays by working out what delays you will need to factor in.
7 Renovating Lessons You Don’t Want to Learn the Hard Way
Take into account the restrictions you will face with your property that will impact on time. Is access limited? Is scaffolding required? Will drying time be difficult with exposure to the elements?
When you are managing your own schedule, ask each trade or supplier what is required for them to complete their part of the project. We will book in heaters if we need plaster to dry quickly, or make sure no one is onsite while wooden floors are being varnished. Avoid further delays by working out what delays you will need to factor in.
7 Renovating Lessons You Don’t Want to Learn the Hard Way
5. Don’t be afraid to create some float within your program
A trade calls in sick, you spill paint all over the floor, it starts raining when you are due to be painting outside – there is never a guarantee you will run to schedule and we have found more often than not you will at be running behind at some stage of your renovation.
Give your schedule some room for mistakes, tasks that run overtime, or just factor in a weekend where you escape the madness that is renovating and get some rest and relaxation. This will ensure you have a realistic schedule and will eliminate the stress when your program isn’t running to plan.
A trade calls in sick, you spill paint all over the floor, it starts raining when you are due to be painting outside – there is never a guarantee you will run to schedule and we have found more often than not you will at be running behind at some stage of your renovation.
Give your schedule some room for mistakes, tasks that run overtime, or just factor in a weekend where you escape the madness that is renovating and get some rest and relaxation. This will ensure you have a realistic schedule and will eliminate the stress when your program isn’t running to plan.
In summary, no matter how big or small your renovation – open up an Excel spreadsheet and make a schedule. It will help you work out what is required, provide clear communication with your trades and will minimise details that could otherwise be missed. Planning may be the starting point of a renovation, but scheduling will get you to the end point. And once you start a renovation, the end of the renovation is exactly where you want to be.
Tell us
If you found this story helpful, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Read more renovating stories
Tell us
If you found this story helpful, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Read more renovating stories
Articoli correlati
Lavorare con i Pro
Quale Professionista Chiamare in Base al Lavoro che Devi Fare
10 profili di professionalità legate alla casa e i loro ambiti d'azione visti da vicino
Leggi Tutto
Stili e tendenze
Styling vs Realtà: Ante Senza Maniglie, Sì o No?
Ovunque vediamo frontali senza maniglie che si aprono con un tocco. Ma quali sono le opinioni sull’uso quotidiano?
Leggi Tutto
Bagno
Come Ristrutturare il Bagno da Zero
di Sara Pizzo
Una guida alla ristrutturazione del bagno per capire chi chiamare, quale budget impegnare e che tempi prevedere
Leggi Tutto
Camera da letto
10 Soluzioni da Copiare Se avete una Camera da Letto Piccola
Idee intelligenti da realizzare con l'aiuto di un professionista per avere ciò di cui hai bisogno in pochi metri quadri
Leggi Tutto
Ristrutturare
Quanto Tempo Serve per Ristrutturare La Casa Stanza per Stanza
di Sara Pizzo
Guida ai tempi necessari per la ristrutturazione della casa, divisi stanza per stanza
Leggi Tutto
Parla l'esperto
Le 10 Regole per Progettare la Cucina
Abbiamo chiesto ai professionisti di Houzz le 10 regole fondamentali per realizzare una cucina al meglio
Leggi Tutto
Pareti
Come Scegliere il Giusto Tono di Bianco
di Sara Gravina
Consigli e indicazioni su come scegliere il tono di bianco più adatto alla propria casa
Leggi Tutto
Soggiorno
A Che Altezza Appendere la TV in Soggiorno?
di Sara Pizzo
Ecco a che altezza posizionare lo TV in soggiorno per una visione confortevole. Scopri tutte le misure in base alla TV
Leggi Tutto
Lavorare con i Pro
5 Domande Essenziali per Scegliere un Architetto
Come può aiutarvi un architetto quando si deve ristrutturare casa? Ecco come sceglierlo e come si lavora con lui
Leggi Tutto
Cucina
Che Dimensioni Deve Avere la Cucina per Inserire un'Isola?
di Sara Gravina
Scopri le dimensioni e le misure minime per poter avere comodamente un'isola in cucina
Leggi Tutto