ᐅ What can a layperson do themselves?

Hello,

we are planning to build and would like to do as much of the work ourselves as possible.

What kind of tasks can be done by oneself in a new build? Within the family circle, we have a roofer, a painter, and possibly a tiler.

Thank you very much for your ideas and suggestions.

Best regards, Torsten

Change orders are always a double-edged sword. I would limit such tasks to those that do not affect later warranty claims against the general contractor. For example, I would never do basement waterproofing, electrical work, heating/plumbing/roofing myself, as this usually leads to disputes over responsibility for potential defects.

For non-professionals, flooring installation (laminate, carpet) and painting or wallpapering walls are still manageable. Landscaping might also be feasible.

Hello!

Well, the previous poster is right. I did as much as possible myself, except for the plumbing work, because if something leaks later on, you’re in trouble. In case of any issues, a professional company would be liable and would have to pay for repairs and redo the work. Otherwise, everything is basically fine.

Best regards

I would also recommend doing as much yourself as possible. It’s best to ask the construction workers on site if there are any tasks that a layperson could handle reasonably well. Construction workers are usually quite helpful when they can offload tasks they don’t enjoy or consider a waste of time. Additionally, there are plenty of practical tips on how to accomplish things you might not have attempted otherwise. Otherwise, I’d suggest coordinating mainly with the construction workers themselves rather than their supervisor, since the supervisor naturally wants everything to be done by their own company. After all, it’s also about money for them.

Speaking from personal experience, I would strongly advise against doing too much yourself. My parents built a new house in their 50s, and my father, being who he is, did a lot of the work himself. At some point, a huge mold spot appeared on a basement wall because something was wrong with the damp-proof membrane (or whatever the correct term is). Well, my father had installed it himself...

The result was a lot of trouble and extra work.

Hello Torsten,

doing your own work is always a difficult matter when it comes to liability later on. You also need to plan your time realistically. How long do you think it takes to wallpaper and paint a 140sqm (1506 sq ft) house? If professionals need two days with three people, you’ll be at it for over a week... If you have to paint stair railings, it quickly becomes very tedious... A staircase alone can easily take one person several days. This is just one example of the countless small tasks.

You also have to buy materials (don’t underestimate your partner’s own ideas! “let’s check out somewhere else again”), have the right equipment, and the necessary experience. If a contractor doesn’t do something properly, you have them redo it. Doing it yourself will cause delays...

You don’t save that much with doing your own work.

In my housing area, even skilled DIYers hardly ever motivate themselves to install the last lamps in the house. Unless you have done the specific task several times yourself or have full professional support (not just a few hours, but also planning), I would advise steering clear of doing it yourself.

Best regards