Table of Contents
Introduction ix
A homebuilding and renovating management book for the uninitiated ix
Ten golden rules before starting your project xiv
About the author xvii
1 Getting Started 1
Setting out your objectives 1
Setting out your budget 1
Setting out the technical aspects 2
Minimising the initial cost 4
Drawing up a timetable 5
Progress reports 6
Insurance 7
Professional fees 7
Planning permission and scheme design 8
Building regulations 11
Works requiring planning permission/consent 15
Trees 20
Mechanical and electrical 22
Legal requirements 23
Condition schedule 24
Party wall awards 26
Issuing a notice 32
2 Know your Requirements 35
Drawing up a Specification 35
Security on site 44
Health and safety on site 44
3 Contacting Contractors 54
Contractors and the size of the project 54
Directories 55
Local papers 55
Recommendation 55
Advertising boards 57
The Internet 57
The response to your enquiry 58
4 Establishing Credibility 61
Reference checks 61
Portfolios of work completed 62
Inspecting the company set-up 63
Establishing insurance cover 64
Inspection of equipment 66
5 Obtaining and Agreeing Quotes 67
'Like for like' quotes 67
Breakdown of quote 68
Cost-saving exercises 70
Timescale programme of works 74
Extras and variations 76
6 Starting the Work 82
Contract of agreement 82
Method statement 85
Inspection procedure 89
Site set-up 92
7 Financial Arrangements 96
Valuation of work completed 96
Contingency plans 97
Making payments 98
Bonus/incentive schemes 100
8 Operation and Maintenance Manuals 102
Operation manuals 102
Maintenance manuals 103
Test certificates 104
Guarantees 104
9 Good Working Relations 109
First meeting with main contractor 109
Site set-up 109
Visitors 111
Site instructions 112
Inspections/quality control 115
Environmental issues 115
Welfare facilities 116
Health and safety issues 117
Site meetings 118
Correspondence 122
Avoiding conflict 122
Site tidiness 123
Photographic records 124
10 Record-keeping 126
Issuing drawings 126
Project file 129
Diary 130
Telephone numbers 131
11 Professional and Site Teams 134
The construction team 134
Responsibilities of site management 135
The design team 142
What if things go wrong? 147
Index 151
