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Self Build _ Understanding Time Scale

Planning the process and effectively manage your own building site can be tricky, but a manager is not always required by the committence. Our intent below is to give you some tools and let you understand the basics to allow you take take care of this task yourself if your budget does not allow for a construction manager outside the building company or if you could not afford to allow your architect to take care of this task as well.

To manage your project effectively you should be able to dedicate enough time to watch the work closely. If then you are also purchasing materials yourself, you need to have an understanding of when materials should get to site, and what tasks can be done at the same time, without creating delays and mess for having too many people on site and not at the right time.

We strongly suggest to create a couple of Gannt graphs that will help you on all this.

The first one should be agreed and completed together with the construction company that you are going to commission the works to. Remember to allow for this in the contract and have them to update this file weekly or every two weeks latest, as it will take them some time to complete this accurately and they may not be willing to do this together with all other workers involved, which would be crucial. You will need to be aware of each possible delay and stay on top of it, managing effectively all people on site and keeping them busy. Another Gannt diagram similar to the first one, should be kept with more accurate information, regarding when each items need to be ordered, and the timing that it takes to be produced and reach your site. Considering carefully if it can be stored on site before, or if it could be damaged by exposure to bad weather, or too easily stolen and re-used by someone else.

Understanding Gannt Diagram

A Gannt diagram like the one above should be used for timing the construction process and coordinate the various labourers on site. It is important that if there is a delay at early stages you advise all interested workers of the delayed schedule of works so that they can afford to go elsewhere or get other jobs instead of wasting precious time, that they are probably going to charge you for.

This same diagram is very helpful to estimate when you will receive next mortgage payments and when you will have to purchase each material or elements for each tasks.

As soon as design is finalized and works need to start, we suggest to check with each supplier for the items specified by the architect. Agreeing with them not only a price, but also a delivery schedule.

Add then put all those informations in a more detailed Gannt diagram. So that while the first diagram will keep you updated on the working schedule, the second one will help you with each delivery and payment to be made.

Check together with the builder each task that can be taken simultaneously, like for example plumbing and electrical first fix, or assembling the roof while fixing windows and doors, and make sure that there won’t be more workers in a restricted space or this will create delays.

Don’t be too strict with the schedule pushing your team on site, but remember to use the schedule only to keep track, otherwise builders will be reluctant to help you completing it, their time estimate will then become less accurate and their attitude more hostile.