Get better at managing construction projects - planning/process/overview

[goatcat]

I have received many invaluable tips on specific work tasks here on the forum, but even if you are skilled in individual tasks, more is needed to successfully complete a construction project. I am looking to learn more about the process around a construction/renovation project.

Example areas:
-How do you plan a construction project? Which parts are time-critical? What do you always tackle first?
-Do you have tips on construction logistics? Should I order everything at once or bit by bit?
-How do you handle material purchases? A list per project part? All in your head? A large excel sheet?
-Should I work on multiple fronts to always have something to do? Work focused, one room at a time?
-How do you handle waste and demolition material disposal? Save everything in a pile? Go to the dump often? Set up a container?
-How do you personally improve? Do you evaluate yourself afterward? Do you write down thoughts and ideas?

Is there more to read about this somewhere?
Do you have tips and wisdom to share?

I understand that much of this is a matter of preference, but I am convinced there is wisdom here on the forum.

 

[Anonymiserad 255302]

I did an extension a year ago in what was likely record time because we couldn't stand living as it was. I basically had 2 weeks to plan everything before the craftsmen arrived. I had then lived in a house for about 1.5 months and had never done anything like that before. It was a lot of ad-hoc but had foreign craftsmen who were attentive and did what I asked, although I had to handle the material part. I probably went to local building supply stores 5-6 times a week during that project. For example, from one evening to the next when the carpenters pried off the old chipboard flooring, they asked if we should install waterborne underfloor heating while we were at it. That decision took about 24 hours, after quick handling from the underfloor heating online store, everything was laid 7-8 days later. There were several such decisions during the 8 weeks we were working.

Now I am planning the renovation of the upper floor and dormer and have a longer time horizon. Therefore, I can now calmly think about the practical aspects, plan the materials in Excel, make a fair material calculation, have the materials in place when the craftsmen arrive, etc. Also buying things like flooring which was on sale. I just started a new thread about soundproofing interior walls so I can plan it. I will go through each step in that way. A tip is to have a container in place from the beginning so everything can be thrown directly into it instead of like the first project, - at the back of the house which later took me three full weekends to get rid of.

 

[mattoys]

I have received many invaluable tips on specific work tasks here on the forum, but even if you are skilled at individual tasks, more is needed to successfully complete a construction project. I am looking to learn more about the process around a construction/renovation project.

Examples of areas:
-How do you plan a construction project? Which parts are time-critical? What do you always tackle first?
-Do you have tips on construction logistics? Should I order everything at once or little by little?
-How do you handle material purchases? A list per project part? Everything in your head? A large Excel sheet?
-Should I work on several fronts to always have something to do? Work focused on one room at a time?
-How do you handle the removal of debris and demolition material? Save everything in a pile? Take trips to the dump often? Set up a container?
-How do you personally improve? Do you evaluate yourself afterward? Do you write down thoughts and ideas?

Is there more to read about this somewhere?
Do you have tips and wisdom to share?

I understand that much of this is a matter of preference, but I am convinced that there is wisdom here on the forum.

Once the foundation is laid, it can "rest" without any danger. That is, it can be good to have some slack in the schedule after the foundation to accommodate any delays there, unless the schedule is tight.

It is critical to get climate protection/weather proofing, i.e., the roof and outer walls. Once the outer shell is up, the weather no longer affects it.

You need somewhere to store materials during the construction, somewhere to store tools, etc.
I would build the garage first and/or invest in a shipping container to store materials.

Is there any advantage to buying more materials than you will use at that particular point in the project? Volume discounts and shipping can come into play as well as delivery time.

If you're doing the job yourself without contractors, use a trailer, you won't generate waste at a rate that makes a container worthwhile. If you hire contractors, they can generate waste so quickly at times that a container is worthwhile.
Sort the material at home when you dispose of it. Wood is usually what creates volume. Gypsum, for example, you don't want to store outdoors as it becomes difficult to handle when it's being disposed of. Likewise, plastic is not fun to handle when it's rained on either.
A tip is to use construction buckets for small waste, small gypsum pieces, small wood scraps, metal. You can easily swing by the recycling center with them when you pass by.

Some things are better done in batches that are project-overlapping, electricity for example. Not necessarily the entire job at once, but avoid single hours.