If you’re thinking about renovating your home, you may be wondering how you’re going to navigate the long lead times and constant price increases you keep reading about. Ultimately, it all comes down to planning – which is the 101 of any home renovation, global pandemic or not. Some of the choices you make in relation to materials and design can have a flow-on effect to construction, never mind the supply chain problems we’re already navigating. Here are 10 important decisions to think about if you’re planning to renovate this year.
1. Flooring
Floor finishes can have an impact on your project in several ways. Depending on how specialised they are and where they’re coming from, the lead time for your finishes can be longer than your construction period. Ordering early helps to ensure they arrive on time.
All floor finishes come in different thicknesses, so if they’re sitting adjacent to one another, such as from a carpeted bedroom to a tiled ensuite, you’ll need to make allowances for floor levelling, or accept the step.
Allowances could mean levelling compound to bring it up, or it could mean cutting down the sub-floor. Both of these strategies cost money, and the former requires pre-planning for construction.
Have you ever tried to open a door and have it drag on the carpet? By knowing your floor finishes upfront, your door frames can be installed at the right height to avoid this, otherwise you’ll need to skim the door later.
2. Lighting layouts
Although the exact fittings and locations don’t need to be confirmed early (subject to lead times), their approximate locations should be. This enables the electrician to run cabling in the walls and ceiling cavity to the general location, with a bit of extra slack in case the location shifts more than a few centimetres. Given how in demand all subcontractors are right now, the last thing you want is to mess your sparky around and have them move onto another project. Try have a plan ready for them to work off when they come to the site.
3. Power outlets
Much like the lighting layout, you need to have an idea of where and how many power outlets you’ll require early on, to enable cabling through the wall framing before plasterboard linings are installed. You’ll never wish you had fewer power points, so don’t hold back when completing your layout.
4. Windows
You’ll need to include the size and location of new windows in your documentation, especially if the project requires a building consent. The supplier will also need to be notified of the programme so they can book you into their manufacturing schedule. Otherwise, if you wait until you’re ready for site measures to let them know, they may not be delivered on time. All manufacturers, especially local ones, are under immense pressure to keep up with the building boom, so if you don’t order early, you risk holding up construction on-site, or needing a workaround.
5. Plumbing fittings
Different fittings have different requirements. The location of your shower or bath drain, whether your toilet is plumbed through the wall or floor, and the position of your basin water supply and waste are all determined by their specific fittings. The bonus of making these decisions early is that you might be able to secure a package deal if purchasing everything from one supplier. Be mindful of anything that triggers building consent, such as adding a second toilet, as this will add a few months to your project timeline, not to mention additional cost.
6. Finishing lines
Although standard profiles of skirting and scotia are easy to source, custom profiles aren’t. If your home has a mismatch of trims, you’ll need to decide upfront if you’re going to replace any to match. Depending on the decision, your builder may need to measure up off the plans and place an order before walls are built, particularly if you’re trying to match existing heritage finishing lines that can’t be sourced off-the-shelf.
7. Utilities
For those building new or renovating a house before living in it, you may need to submit applications for water and power accounts so your tradies have services to connect to during construction.
In a subdivision scenario where a new water meter and pillar box for power is required, the lead time can be literally months, and ideally, both will be connected when the build commences so don’t forget.
Similarly, getting your Optical Network Terminal installed so your internet service provider can connect your wifi can be a painfully long process. Book it early – it’s better to need to reschedule than move in without internet. Imagine!
8. Custom anything
The benefit of off-the-shelf is just that; it’s off the shelf. Bespoke items such as custom joinery for the bathroom or kitchen however, can take time to be designed, have materials sourced and made – often by hand. The flipside of this, in this current climate, is that if the off-the-shelf item is out of stock, it may well be quicker to have something bespoke fabricated locally to expedite your schedule.
9. Made-to-measure
As with custom products, anything that requires a site measure (structural steel, kitchen joinery, bifold doors) will need to have the site measure booked in advance to secure the spot, even if the timing is indicative only. If you’re working with a builder, then it’s likely their responsibility to arrange this, but a good DIY project manager would check that they have.
10. Window coverings
Be it blinds, sheers, shutters or curtains, choosing your finish, fabric and style early is a necessity. Much like floor finishes and windows, the lead times for the material, as well as booking the manufacturing, could delay your project so it pays to book ahead of time. Be prepared for the risk of needing to change your fabric selection too, in case of a sourcing issue arising. Have a second choice ready to go.