Expert advice

design dream

With Cassandra Fenaughty

Cassandra Fenaughty is a landscape architect with more than 20 years’ experience. She is the founder and owner of an innovative renovation design consultancy, creating photo-real renovation concepts for clients looking to visualise their dream renovation before it begins. For more visit cassandrafenaughty.com.

TRADE VS DIY

We are currently deciding how to renovate our bathroom, toilet and laundry. The tiles have been ripped out and the shower is unusable at the moment. Do we try and organise the trades ourselves or is it better to get a renovation specialist to do the work? Keen for some advice.

Thanks

Troy

CASSANDRA SAYS: This is quite a common query and organising trades yourself can be quite an appealing option as the builder/project management margin can be saved – a cost of around 10 per cent of the construction budget.

For simple projects it’s not a bad idea, especially if there are only one or two trades to organise and coordinate. Wet areas like bathrooms and laundries are a little diff erent.

If you are experienced in building, or are in a trade or profession related to the industry, you could try to arrange trades yourself for wet area renovations. However, if you aren’t it is probably safer to hire a registered builder to coordinate and carry out the project.

Bathrooms can be risky and not the type of project you want to manage yourself if you are inexperienced. There are many trades that may be needed such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, water proofers, tilers, plasterers, painters and sometimes even electricians. This is a lot of coordinating and a lot of phone calls. There is also the possibility of dealing with conflict resolution if the trades don’t normally work together.

By working with a registered builder you can feel assured that you will only have to deal with one person if something goes wrong.

There is also the added advantage of a signed contract. Apart from a signed contract

being a legal requirement, it ensures that you have access to the full range of benefits under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme.

Most residential building work done in Queensland valued over $3300 (including labour and materials) must have home warranty insurance.

As part of the building process, the contractor pays an allocated amount to the QBCC to insure the construction. The amount is included as part of your contract, and is paid before work begins.

The reason why this insurance is important is because it covers you if the following scenarios arise: • a licensed contractor does not complete the contracted residential construction work and you have terminated the contract • the contractor fails to rectify defective work • the building suff ers from subsidence or settlement.

If there are faults with the building work that aren’t apparent upon completion of construction, such as faulty waterproofing or structural work, you as the owner can submit a complaint to the QBCC within six years and six months from when the work is completed, and within 12 months of noticing the defect.

This is another important reason it is beneficial to work with a registered builder under a signed contract.

So, at the end of the day, you might save 10 per cent if you oversee a project like this yourself, but it might take twice as long, and end up costing more, if you have to replace fixtures and fittings through faulty work or accidents that aren’t covered.

The stress of the process is also a factor that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Best of luck with the improvements and I hope that whichever way you go it all works out for the best.

ask us

Do you have a burning renovation or landscaping question? Let us know! You can email your questions for Cassandra to enquiries@ cassandrafenaughty. com.

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