The Tricks in Construction and Craftsmanship
Documentary & Report on NDR Media Library until 06/03/2021
Worth watching 43 minutes!
Documentary & Report on NDR Media Library until 06/03/2021
Worth watching 43 minutes!
I find the naive approach of many homeowners quite alarming.
We also managed each trade separately and I actually took the time to educate myself on the specifics of each trade. I had our structural engineer explain everything in detail, and I was on the construction site every day, talking to the craftsmen. Whenever something was unclear or I had doubts, I questioned it.
Things don’t always go smoothly, but if you’re not present and don’t keep an eye on the work, you won’t notice problems and will have to deal with the consequences later.
Our plasterer insulated one side of the house, then started on the second side, but ran out of materials.
The insulation that was reordered was 2cm (1 inch) thinner.
He placed Styrofoam underneath so it wouldn’t be noticeable on the wall where the thicker insulation was already installed and neatly covered the surfaces.
In the evening, we looked at the new insulation and realized something was wrong.
Then we went up on the scaffolding and discovered the Styrofoam underneath. At first, everything looked fine.
Construction was stopped immediately.
In the end, the plasterer had to remove everything and redo it.
Of course, he didn’t want to cheat us—after all, insulation is insulation. His workers were furious as well. But I didn’t care.
I firmly believe that if you invest that much money, you have to be involved yourself.
And if you’re not an expert, you need to bring in an independent advisor.
We also managed each trade separately and I actually took the time to educate myself on the specifics of each trade. I had our structural engineer explain everything in detail, and I was on the construction site every day, talking to the craftsmen. Whenever something was unclear or I had doubts, I questioned it.
Things don’t always go smoothly, but if you’re not present and don’t keep an eye on the work, you won’t notice problems and will have to deal with the consequences later.
Our plasterer insulated one side of the house, then started on the second side, but ran out of materials.
The insulation that was reordered was 2cm (1 inch) thinner.
He placed Styrofoam underneath so it wouldn’t be noticeable on the wall where the thicker insulation was already installed and neatly covered the surfaces.
In the evening, we looked at the new insulation and realized something was wrong.
Then we went up on the scaffolding and discovered the Styrofoam underneath. At first, everything looked fine.
Construction was stopped immediately.
In the end, the plasterer had to remove everything and redo it.
Of course, he didn’t want to cheat us—after all, insulation is insulation. His workers were furious as well. But I didn’t care.
I firmly believe that if you invest that much money, you have to be involved yourself.
And if you’re not an expert, you need to bring in an independent advisor.
You can doubt everything. But you can’t live like that. If the workshop invoice states an oil change with 10W40, I believe it. If the screed installer tells me that fiber-reinforced screed was used according to the construction specifications, I believe that too.
The problem is, it starts much earlier. When choosing the general contractor. There, the basic feeling has to be right—not just the base price. K.
The problem is, it starts much earlier. When choosing the general contractor. There, the basic feeling has to be right—not just the base price. K.
You were lucky to find a reliable craftsman; 99% would have refused to tear it down and might have even taken legal action. Good fortune!
Inspection is better than trust, but unfortunately not a complete solution. Luck and misfortune still play a role in housebuilding, but the risk can at least be reduced through personal initiative.
That’s why I strongly recommend not hiring a construction manager, as this creates a large gap in responsibility. Either you take care of everything yourself, or you have to live with the mistakes...
Inspection is better than trust, but unfortunately not a complete solution. Luck and misfortune still play a role in housebuilding, but the risk can at least be reduced through personal initiative.
That’s why I strongly recommend not hiring a construction manager, as this creates a large gap in responsibility. Either you take care of everything yourself, or you have to live with the mistakes...
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