Steps to Renovating

Steps to Renovating :
1.

Plan your renovation : Before you do anything prepare a plan of the project to point you in the right direction
2.

Decide what is possible : Whether you plan to do the job yourself, or get other people to assist you throughout the project, having a clear design plan will assist you with all the subsequent steps
3.

Consider your budget : Can you really afford to renovate?
4.

Materials you will need : Before you can determine accurately the overall cost of the project you will need to decide on the building materials that will be used throughout the project.
5.

Select your partners : Choosing the right contractors, what to do yourself?
6.

Get it in writing : Always get a written contract, describing the work to be done, what it will cost and how payments will be made. Never agree to anything before you have it in writing.
7.

Forget the mess : It's no fun living on a construction site. In fact, if the renovations are major, you may want to consider moving out for a while.
8.

Inspect as you go :
9.

Give the final thumbs up! : The building work is finished, but there are some final things to consider:

Plan your renovation

Before you do anything prepare a plan of the project to point you in the right direction. Consider the reasons why you are renovating, the budget you have to spend, how much you want to do yourself and how much you will need help with.

Consider developing a master plan for your home before settling on the first room project, this way you will make decisions that fit with a holistic approach rather than a piecemeal process which may deliver a less than satisfactory result. All experts agree that the best way to renovate is to make a master plan that takes account of the whole house, not just the rooms that immediately need work

Consider these decisions when renovating.

Improve the interior layout and flow:

In some older buildings it's relatively simple to improve the flow between the kitchen, dining room and lounge by removing the wall separating the kitchen from the other areas. You will need to check with a building professional (builder, engineer, architect) that the wall is not load-bearing.

Other areas of your home can be "opened up" in a similar way by removing all or part of a wall between adjoining rooms. Once again check whether the wall is load-bearing before proceeding.

Revamping kitchens and bathrooms:

These are the rooms that are most often renovated. Consider how to manage moisture as bathrooms and kitchens are potentially subject to steam and moisture damage, persistent mould, moisture problems and sometimes rot in the framing. Resist the temptation just to simply repaint. The problems that were there to start with will come back to haunt you.

Adding an ensuite

An ensuite is considered a key selling point for any home and in now a standard feature in most new homes. Depending on the layout of your home and proximity of the master bedroom to plumbing etc, it may be possible to add an ensuite. Remember to consider the management of moisture and steam as with renovating any bathroom.

Developing indoor-outdoor flow:

Having your main living area open out onto a deck or garden can dramatically transform an older home and increase living and entertaining space. How practical this is will depend on the layout of your home. Sometimes it is as simple as replacing a large window with doors, other situation will require more building work.

Building on a new room:

The addition of a new room can offer advantages across a number of areas, extending your living area, adding a new bedroom, creating a study, allowing space for a second bathroom. The opportunity to extend will depend on factors such as local council regulations, position of boundaries, and the size of your existing home relative to the land area. What ever the plan a new room extension will require a building consent.

Extending up or down:

This opportunity may be accomplished in your existing space by converting a basement area into a "granny flat" or rumpus room, or converting the attic area into a bedroom or study. It may also be possible to add an additional level onto your existing home. It is likely that in most of these situations you will be required to conform with local council and building regulations, so a detailed plan, including engineering calculations, will be required along with a building consent.

Step 2 Decide what is possible