In times of rising interest rates and construction costs, aspiring builders are tempted to reduce construction costs and save money by building a home themselves. Basically there are opportunities to bring your craftsmanship into play at every stage of construction. However, you should realistically evaluate your capabilities and the time available to you to deliver your work. Below you will find the 3 major home construction projects where experience has shown these requirements are most likely to be met.
PERSONAL SERVICE NO. 1: PAINTING AND WALLPAPER WORK
Even with little prior knowledge, builders can paint and wallpaper their own home. Depending on the size of your home, you can save up to €10,000. However, this also involves a time investment of over 100 hours of work, which the builder and his assistants must carry out themselves and have available.
You don’t need many tools for painting and wallpapering. Painting rollers and scraping grids are essential. It is best to use a brush for corners and a tassel for wallpaper glue, as well as masking tape and, if necessary, masking film and that’s it. So, if you have the time, it’s worth painting and wallpapering yourself when building a house.
PERSONAL SERVICE NO. 2: FLOORING
Installing floor coverings yourself takes a little more practice than painting and wallpapering. But even in this case you can save more than €5,000 in artisan wages by installing the laminate and/or carpet yourself.
Dry-laid click laminate is particularly easy to install yourself. Lay out the impact sound insulation, place the first boards along a wall, separated from the wall with wedges between 10 and 14 mm thick, then simply insert the next row of boards into the tongue and groove and, if necessary, secure them with a dowel. The beginning has already been made and the area can be finished. Only cutting the edge elements requires the use of a cutter or laminate saw.
If you are even more confident, you can also lay the tiles yourself. However, it should be underlined that laying them evenly on a smooth surface is not child’s play, especially with large format tiles.
PERSONAL SERVICE N. 3: PLASTERBOARD AND THERMAL INSULATION
Thermal insulation can be installed on the external walls of the basement by the builders themselves during rough construction. In addition, you can install interior walls made of plasterboard walls yourself. In the attic it is also possible to carry out thermal insulation and plasterboard cladding of ceilings and sloped ceilings, including plastering and sanding.
This work does not require special tools and allows you to save up to 100 hours of work or more than €5,000, which you do not have to finance or contribute to the financing of the building as equity. This is because banks recognize personal contributions of up to 15% of the loan amount as equity. This way you can increase your credit rating and get better conditions.
WHAT ELSE IS IMPORTANT
You can use your first 3 personal contributions when building a house to reduce construction costs or replace missing equity. But you should also be aware of the risks that can quickly turn the supposed savings from your work into waste. Above all, do not overestimate your abilities and coordinate the time needed to build a house yourself with the planning of your holidays and free time. Keep in mind that a layman needs much more time to do the same work than an experienced craftsman with the optimal equipment.
When you sign the contract, but at the latest when you discuss the details or make a sample of your home, discuss with your construction manager which services you want to provide yourself. Subsequently, your work with the start and end dates of the work can be integrated into the construction program of your dream house and connections with other trades can be discussed. If you are building with a construction partner, your construction manager will also provide you with the necessary construction details so that you know how connections to existing components must be made in compliance with regulations.
When it comes to your work, remember that your construction partner has no warranty for defects. This also applies to consequential damages that occur due to inadequate personal performance of other services.
As a building owner, you and third parties appointed by you are required to comply with health and safety regulations and to report your work to the professional body for accident insurance. The builder himself and his family members are not insured. You need other accident insurance coverage.
As a result, you can save a lot of money by carefully planning and realistically evaluating your top 3 home construction projects. Moreover, you can be rightfully proud of yourself that your personal dream house was created at least partly by your own hands.
latest posts published
Elegance and versatility for your table
Plant shelf: transform your interior!
creative tips for your stay
Comfort and style at home
mix styles and dishes!
Transform your interiors with elegant pastel colors
Give a unique Boncoeurs gift
Olfactory elegance: reinvent your interiors
Brighten up your windowless space: effective tips
