ᐅ Who had everything go smoothly?

Created on: 2 Nov 2019 11:17
M
Müllerin
Inspired by this thread:

where did things go wrong for you

and the following quote:
MadameP schrieb:
That was the short version; I think everyone who is currently building can relate to it.

here’s my question: who has had everything go smoothly?

I don’t want to use the mentioned thread. Surely, nobody experiencing problems enjoys reading that everything is going perfectly for others.

Of course, we also had minor issues, but all were resolved immediately. For example, two window openings were built too large, the interior plaster was missing on the crawl space wall, the construction staircase was in the wrong place, and there was poor workmanship from the stair builder, which the flooring installer then corrected.
But overall, everything went great, which I mainly attribute to the overall setup:
Building in a rural area with individual contracts and a construction manager who has been doing this for a long time, knows all the companies personally, and when he says something, it gets done/made possible. Overall, only good companies with skilled workers who do proper work and don’t cut corners.

In addition, we thoroughly informed ourselves about each trade beforehand, knew exactly what we wanted and what could possibly go wrong. Depending on the phase, I was onsite daily or at least every three days and on call, which was fully utilized.

So with this arrangement, I would almost be ready to build again anytime.
G
guckuck2
2 Nov 2019 23:17
Nordlys schrieb:

PS Mold was never mentioned as normal.

Your wording was somewhat dismissive and downplayed the issue.
Nordlys schrieb:

is as nice as a female's warm fur.

Have a nice evening.
N
Nordlys
2 Nov 2019 23:23
Take a look at the context... I was joking with haydee. Everything really went smoothly, the house is practically free of defects, even the silicone seals are still intact after more than two years. Only one settlement crack in the bedroom.
H
haydee
3 Nov 2019 03:52
The people on the island are a nation, or rather nations (never lump Scots and Welsh together with the English). They are not skilled builders, no matter how you look at it. But they do know how to create and love gardens.

Pragmatism in construction, whether in above-ground or underground building, can be seen in the far north. The main thing is that it works, no matter how, using the resources available. I’m referring to areas around the Arctic Circle outside of Europe.
Z
Zaba12
3 Nov 2019 08:16
I believe the more interesting question, and the one that provides added value for future homeowners, is: which factors contribute to a smooth construction process?

Here’s my guess:

- thorough pre-planning, including familiarizing yourself with the subject
- having a good intuition when choosing the architect or general contractor
- solid financing with enough buffer
- and yes, I still stand by this: daily site inspections by the homeowner and regular communication with the workers
- for those who like home savings contracts, a sufficient level of monitoring is essential
- speaking up whenever something seems off or unusual, even if you might be mistaken
- minimizing architectural fancy features also helps, as it reduces the potential for errors

What do the rest of you think? Are there any other factors?

And yes, for me everything went smoothly except for the installation of the sliding door between the hallway and living room.
N
Nordlys
3 Nov 2019 09:17
Your points are valid.

You can be more specific when choosing the builder. It’s not purely a matter of luck. The company has to match your housing preferences. With my trouble-free builder, a passive house might have been a problem because he doesn’t build it otherwise, doesn’t want to, or doesn’t like it. If I had wanted brick instead of Ytong, I would have had to choose a different one as well. The same applies to external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), which he rejects. K.
H
hampshire
3 Nov 2019 10:22
Good list @Zaba12
I would add:
- Friendly and approachable manner
- Ability to trust
- Ability to distinguish between trust and naivety
- Confident decision-making skills