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Renovating a house isn't just about new paint. It's about transforming a space into your dream home. Here are the key stages to make it happen: 1) Planning and Design • Define renovation goals and create a detailed plan. Emphasize why they matter to clarify your vision. • Obtain necessary permits and approvals. Hire professionals like architects and contractors. 2) Demolition • Remove existing structures, walls, or elements that need to be replaced. Clear the space for new construction. 3) Foundation Work • Excavate and prepare the site. Install new foundations or reinforce existing ones. Common types include trench fill, strip foundations, and piled foundations. 4) Framing • Construct the skeleton of the extension or renovated areas. Install floor joists, wall studs, and roof trusses. Frame openings for windows and doors. 5) Roofing • Install roof trusses or rafters. Add roof decking, underlayment, and shingles. 6) Rough-In Mechanical Systems • Install electrical wiring. Place plumbing pipes. Set up HVAC ductwork. 7) Insulation and Drywall • Add insulation to walls, floors, and ceilings. Install drywall or plasterboard. 8) Finishing Work • Install flooring, cabinetry, and trim. Paint walls and ceilings. Add fixtures and final touches. Pro tips: · The devil is in the details. Make sure you double, triple check every item before ordering It can be the difference between a good and a great project. · Add Money. Add Speed. If you are running behind on the structure or carpentry phase. Money will often solve the problem. If you want to discuss your next feel free to DM me.

Did you know Did you know? In building an affordable-standard house, roofing is the most expensive phase of the house. Roofing can indeed be one of the more expensive phases of building a house, depending on various factors such as the materials chosen, the size and complexity of the roof design, and the labor costs in your area. When considering say a house of 105 Sqm as the total area, you will find that of the total cost 18.6% goes to the foundation, 20.8% goes towards roofing and just 10.7% goes to the superstructure/ walling. The other phases like plumbing takes 2.8%,electricals accounts for 7.7% plastering takes 2.8%, flooring takes 12.0%. Other finish works like ceiling takes 4.6% and painting accounts 2.6% for while cabinetry takes 9.6% High-quality materials like slate or high-end metal roofing systems are particularly costly but provide longevity and durability, which can be cost-effective over time. Moreover, if the roof design includes multiple peaks, slopes, or other features like skylights, the complexity can add to the costs significantly. Always ensure to factor in these aspects when budgeting for a roofing project. Thus, when starting your building project, you know the phases that will cost you more, thus you can plan ahead and know what phases to combine. The above is in consideration of a building site that has red soil and a flat topography, otherwise if you're dealing with a sloppy site with cotton soil, more costs will be transfered to the foundation of the house. interblockc@gmail.com

Did you know Did you know? In building an affordable-standard house, roofing is the most expensive phase of the house. Roofing can indeed be one of the more expensive phases of building a house, depending on various factors such as the materials chosen, the size and complexity of the roof design, and the labor costs in your area. When considering say a house of 105 Sqm as the total area, you will find that of the total cost 18.6% goes to the foundation, 20.8% goes towards roofing and just 10.7% goes to the superstructure/ walling. The other phases like plumbing takes 2.8%,electricals accounts for 7.7% plastering takes 2.8%, flooring takes 12.0%. Other finish works like ceiling takes 4.6% and painting accounts 2.6% for while cabinetry takes 9.6% High-quality materials like slate or high-end metal roofing systems are particularly costly but provide longevity and durability, which can be cost-effective over time. Moreover, if the roof design includes multiple peaks, slopes, or other features like skylights, the complexity can add to the costs significantly. Always ensure to factor in these aspects when budgeting for a roofing project. Thus, when starting your building project, you know the phases that will cost you more, thus you can plan ahead and know what phases to combine. The above is in consideration of a building site that has red soil and a flat topography, otherwise if you're dealing with a sloppy site with cotton soil, more costs will be transfered to the foundation of the house. interblockc@gmail.com

How much timber, really? Well, that was an interesting exercise. In an attempt to get another designer’s project currently under construction over the line for a 6 star Homestar rating, I calculated the ratio of timber framing in one elevation. This is a fairly typical, simple two storey / two bedroom terraced housing project. The elevation in question is a featureless flat façade with minimal window openings (it’s the east-facing rear wall). NZS4214, the standard regularly used to determine the thermal resistance of building elements, allows us to assume that a wall is made up of studs and dwangs evenly spaced at the maximum permissible distance. For a 2.4m high wall with studs at 600mm centres and dwangs (or nogs for my North Island friends) at 800mm centres, that’s around 15% of timber. The rest can be filled with insulation. After a BRANZ / Beacon Pathways report found average as-built framing ratios were actually more like 34%, Homestar requires us to assume 30% framing unless proven otherwise. This is because all the extras like lintels, double & trimming studs, internal wall connections etc. etc. add more thermal bridges than you would realise. Alright, I thought – here’s a good chance to use this. And at first glance, the panel elevations looked relatively efficient. I’ve seen a lot worse, that’s for sure. So take a guess at the actual result… . . . . . . . . . . . . The lower level is 27.8% timber, and the upper is 34.5%. That’s 31.15% for the elevation. That means the wall’s constructed thermal resistance (with R2.8 batts) is really R1.91, not the R2.42 the designer could use for their building code compliance calculations. There are lots of ways to address this, but if your designer is targeting code compliance as a benchmark it will most likely be ignored and your project will be performing a lot worse than you think!

Superstructure Construction: The structural framework of the building is erected. This includes columns, beams, floors, and roofs. Precision and adherence to structural drawings are critical. 9. Wall Construction: Walls are built using materials like blocks, bricks, or reinforced concrete. This stage also includes the installation of windows and door frames. 10. Roofing: The roof structure is installed, followed by the roofing materials. This stage ensures the building is weatherproof. Materials used can range from metal sheets to tiles, depending on the design. 11. External Works: This stage involves external finishes such as cladding, rendering, and painting. Landscaping, boundary walls, driveways, and drainage systems are also constructed. 12. Second Fix Services Installation: Final installation of plumbing and electrical fixtures, such as sinks, toilets, light fittings, and switches. This stage ensures all services are operational. 13. Internal Finishes: Internal walls are plastered, ceilings are installed, and floors are finished with tiles, carpets, or other materials. Painting and decorating occur, making the interior aesthetically pleasing. 14. Testing and Commissioning: All systems (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are tested to ensure they function correctly. Any defects are identified and rectified. 15. Final Inspection and Handover: A thorough inspection is conducted to ensure the project meets all specifications and standards. The project is then handed over to the client, complete with all necessary documentation and certifications.

Homestar covers a lot of areas of sustainable design, but it’s interesting to see where it directly impacts designers and encourages them to do better. - Framing percentage/fraction is one area I see that comes up quite often. - Another is accounting for and addressing critical thermal bridging for both heat loss and mould avoidance - And, another is effective ventilation. Hard to know how well these follow through to construction quality on site, but still good steps forward for the industry.

What Does a House Surveyor Look for During an Inspection? During a house inspection, your surveyor will conduct a thorough inspection of the property, both inside and outside, identifying any potential issues or concerns that may affect its value or safety.  In general, inside, they will check the roof, ceilings, walls, partitions, uncovered floors, fireplaces, chimney breasts and flues, staircases, woodwork and bathroom fittings. Outside, they will look at the roof, chimneys, guttering, main walls, windows, doors, joinery and other finishes and features. One of the primary focuses is on the structural integrity of the building which involves assessing the foundations, walls, floors and roof for signs of deterioration. This includes looking for cracks, bulges, or unevenness that could indicate subsidence or other structural problems. 4 of the main things a surveyor looks for when they inspect are: Click on link to find out more... https://lnkd.in/eGwnFj3B

Here are some basic tips for construction: 1. Planning and Design Before starting construction, it is essential to develop a comprehensive plan and a clear design for the project. Step 1: Consult an architect 2. Site preparation Site preparation is an essential step to ensure a strong foundation for construction. Step 2: Clear and level the ground 3. Laying the foundations Foundations are a vital part of supporting the construction. Step 3: Digging the foundations and placing the concrete 4. Building the structure Build the main structure using bricks or concrete. Step 4: Building the walls and columns 5. Installing the ceilings Install the ceilings after completing the construction of the structure. Step 5: Installing the roof 6. Interior finishing This stage includes installing the floors, painting, and electrical works. Step 6: Interior finishing 7. Exterior finishing This stage includes external works such as exterior painting and landscaping. Step 7: Exterior finishing 8. Final review and handover of the project Ensure that everything is working properly and receive the project.

Topic of the day: Roof Framing: 🪚 🔨 🏗️ Roof framing can be one of the most challenging and confusing parts of building a house, but careful planning and basic carpentry techniques are all it takes to frame even the most complicated roofs. To help you through the process we’ve compiled some of our favorite 1 sentence tips from the Fine Homebuilding archives to help you complete a textbook, code-complaint roof every time. (If you would like to learn more then simply google the sentence and the first article should be it) Perfect Roof Rafters Focus your efforts on the pattern rafter, and the rest of the roof falls into place easily. Laying Out a Common Rafter For simple gable or shed roofs, you need to learn this basic building block of roof framing. Framing a Roof Valley Do the math on a calculator so that you can concentrate on what's important: getting the rafters right. Framing Tricky Truss Roofs When building houses with trusses made for hips and valleys, careful planning and job-site organization are key to an efficient installation. Roof-Framing Design How to handle framing a roof that may be "more complicated than it has to be." Hip-Roof Framing Made Easier Measure from the rafter's bottom edge for exact layout. Roof Framing with Engineered LumberTips from a custom framer make the engineered-lumber learning curve easier to negotiate.
 The Rafter You’re After: Using SketchUp to Draw Roof Framing You can use SketchUp to draw roof framing and practice your approach before you're on the job site. A No-Math Approach to Valley Plates Whether you're tying in new gable dormers or adding a chimney cricket during roof framing, giving the valley jacks a place to land is an easy task with these step-by-step instructions. Framing a Dramatic Dormer If doghouse dormers or shed dormers aren't dressy enough, A-dormers can add an exciting design note, and they're easier to seal against the elements. Rolling Roof Trusses Factory-made trusses save time and give you a roof engineered for strength and stability.