I'm throwing in the towel!

[Derbyboy]

I have spent the past few years renovating. Almost all my free time, evenings, and weekends have been spent going out to the summer house to tear down, lay a new roof, drain, build a patio, and plan for the next step.

It's time to bring in the pros, real craftsmen.

I really only see two problems with this, which are my need for control and my sometimes absurd meticulousness in the work. The problems might be related.

Are there any standards that one can require the builder to follow, for example, in drywalling? Is it as simple as following the manual for drywall, where if the manual states that paper tape should be used for wood houses in the joints, you can assume the builder uses paper tape and not fiberglass tape. When are metal angles needed versus paper angles for exterior corners?

I know that for bathrooms there are industry regulations for tiles, sealing layers, etc., but are there equivalent regulations for putting up, for example, ceilings, or is it again the product's manual that I should refer to in the contract?

How about windows? Are there industry regulations for how sealing should be done, with what material, etc.?

In summary, I'm wondering how I can avoid ending up with a botched job in the end? How can I ensure that the builder uses the right construction techniques at the various stages?

Possibly the wrong forum section, but if so, the moderator can move.

 

[Stefan1972]

Generally speaking, there is probably no hired company that builds as meticulously as oneself, and it is not because they cut corners but because the budget needs to balance. One should probably add several hours if one wants everything to be 100% and by the book.

 

[GoC]

The best and cheapest guarantee is probably that you get help with your need for control and meticulousness
You'll either be ruined by the bills from the craftsmen who are supposed to build according to your intentions or have a mental breakdown as you will definitely consider the "normal" work craftsmen achieve as a botch job.

 

[Derbyboy]

The best and cheapest guarantee is probably to get help with your need for control and over-meticulousness
You're either going to end up broke from the bills from the craftsmen who are supposed to build according to your intentions, or have a mental breakdown because you're definitely going to consider what "normal" craftsmen achieve as a botched job.

Yeah, I know, it's a constant life project to work on those aspects.

I might need to clarify that I'm not obsessively meticulous. When I do it myself, it turns out okay. I might consider myself a half-mediocre DIY handyman, but you can usually make it work reasonably well with persistence and compensating the skill with hours...

I think I might have read too many threads in the theme "is it supposed to look like this" for it to feel really comfortable to bring in external help. There are a lot of such threads, and there should be some tricks to avoid that situation as much as possible.

 

[Nötegårdsgubben]

I think I may have read too many threads on the topic "is it supposed to look like this" to feel really comfortable bringing in external help. There are many such threads, and there should be some tricks to avoid that situation as much as possible.

Choose to avoid the cheapest options and bring in people with good references. I believe that is the safest way to avoid too low quality. However, then you also need to find someone who has the time to do the job...

 

[straffarbete]

I recognize myself a lot in you, but I am also notoriously terrible at getting around to making calls during the day, responding to emails, etc., which makes it almost impossible to hire someone, since you usually need to follow up quite a bit and call repeatedly. It's also hard to manage with a stressful day job. It ends up with all those projects we thought we'd hire someone for being fixed by me instead, because I have no problems with persistence and endurance in building and can work tirelessly until the results are satisfactory.

The best might be to find a local carpenter you trust and can build a relationship with, who in turn can hire or recommend plumbers and electricians?

 

[Derbyboy]

I was recommended a craftsman by a colleague. Really nice guy, the craftsman that is, but he recommended another guy who had the business closer. Sounds completely reasonable to me. So soon it's time for a meeting and a review of what I want done.

Basically, it's important to have a contract and ask for 3-4 references. Check F-tax, ARN, district court, and KFM.

What standards should be referenced in the contract?

 

[snuttjulle]

Alternatively, you can outsource certain larger parts to a local carpenter with whom you build a good relationship. Then you can do some smaller jobs and complete it yourself. In this way, you can use the strip you want but avoid spending days carrying gypsum.

 

[witten]

Virtually everything you are asking for is governed by AMA Hus.

 

[Derbyboy]

Well, I'm thinking of saving the bathroom for last.

If I'm satisfied with the windows, doors, drywall, etc., then they can do the bathroom.

But the question is more about how I know it's done correctly. For bathrooms, there's GVK, BKR, etc....

But what is there for laying parquet floors, drywall, installing windows, nailing up ceilings, painting window frames, plastering fireplaces, etc.?

 

[Derbyboy]

In principle, everything you're asking about is governed by AMA Hus.

Sweaty with 4990 plus VAT

Is AMA usually referred to when private individuals hire a craftsman for a complete renovation?

 

[witten]

Sweaty with 4990 plus VAT

is it usually referred to AMA when private individuals hire a craftsman for a total renovation?

It's probably uncommon (unfortunately!), it's mostly used in professional circles where it essentially has the status of a building standard. Then it varies across different disciplines, if you hire a serious tinsmith, they will follow the AMA regardless of what you say. Whereas a semi-serious carpenter may never have even held it.

 

[KjellTimell]

In AMA, several different executions and various degrees of tolerances/classifications are mentioned many times.
So when referring to AMA, one should also, where applicable, specify which execution and tolerance one wants.

There can be quite generous tolerance levels in AMA, nothing I would claim goes hand in hand with "absurd precision."

 

[witten]

In AMA, multiple different designs and various degrees of tolerances/classifications are often indicated.
So if you refer to AMA, you should also specify which design and tolerance you want, when applicable.

There can be quite generous tolerance levels in AMA, nothing I would claim doesn't go hand in hand with "absurd precision"

Absolutely, you must refer to a specific section in AMA, the pyramid rule also applies. To achieve absurd precision, you probably need to bring in a cabinetmaker and work on an ongoing basis with an unlimited budget.

 

[Derbyboy]

I understand......

My absurd meticulousness is probably often due to the fact that I don't know what is acceptable. If it were okay according to AMA, I think I would accept the execution.

Example:

I want a parquet floor in the living room. I want underfloor heating in front of a window wall. The subfloor is 22mm chipboard. I planned to lay T2 reflec panels where I want the underfloor heating and gypsum board on the remaining area, then parquet over the entire surface.

I tell the craftsman that I want this specific parquet and underfloor heating in front of the window wall.

He does the job and everything is fine until the parquet floor starts to creak.

It then turns out that both the reflec panels and gypsum board can be laid on chipboard, but it's implied that the chipboard must be well screwed into the underlying joist. In this case, it was only poorly nailed.

Who bears the cost of rectification?

Has the craftsman made a mistake by not checking that the chipboard is properly screwed down?

The craftsman will likely claim that I got what I requested and that he is not responsible for whether the chipboard was adequately screwed down.

 

[Derbyboy]

Absolutely, you must refer to a specific section in AMA, the pyramid rule also applies. To achieve absurd precision, you might need to hire a furniture maker and work on an ongoing basis with an unlimited budget.

By "absurd precision," I don't necessarily mean finish. I find out facts, such as how the construction work should be technically performed. I plan the execution and read up (often on this forum) on how something is done in the best possible way, for example by comparing two methods.