Are you considering getting builders in for any retrofit work? Or installing low carbon heating? How do you find a contractor to do the work (or part of the work if you want to do it DIY?) Do you need a project manager? This question comes up time and time again and there are no definitive answers. However, the energy group had a discussion about this at their last meeting and we now have an advice page which is a synthesis of our experience.
For example, we compared notes from two large building projects, one with and one without a project manager. From this we know that doing without one is a lot of work! Also, lack of experience can make it difficult to keep on good terms with the contractors especially when late changes to the contract are involved. However, if you do have a project manager it is still a good idea to chat with the contractors regularly - and save up any queries or suggestions for the project meetings.
We also learnt that there is no such thing as a simple plastering job, unless you do the preparatory work (such as removing skirting boards and electric sockets) yourself and fix it up afterwards. So even apparently simple jobs are often best approached through a general builder.
On how to find contractors, it was generally agreed that local people with a good track record are best, if you can find them. If friends cannot help you with direct recommendation, Cambridge Carbon Footprint now have a register of suppliers who have dealt with their Open Eco Homes hosts. It is a long list.
And what about afterwards? We discussed how to check that the project has been successful. For example, one of us getting a home battery installed discussed with the contractor what monitoring they would be doing afterwards and what to expect in terms of battery usage.
Read the complete advice page here.
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