Renovation projects can bring renewal into our work and home spaces, but as with any DIY or construction work, that doesn’t mean that they are without their complexities. In this Sephaku Cement blog we put down some of the top building and project management mistakes to avoid.

We look into top tips to ensure that you cement success into your next renovation project.

Don’t set an unrealistic budget: Be as accurate as you can on your costing plan for the project. Add in 15-20% extra to ensure that you are covered for unexpected additional materials or price hikes or wastage. With something as ground level as flooring, plan for sufficient material to enable you to finish the job – then put in another 20% to that order to cover any installation defects or wastage.

Do measure twice so that you cut right once: The importance of measurement accuracy cannot be overstated. In building, being even a millimetre or two out can cause a problem such as needing to buy additional materials due to a bad fit. Taking care at every step in the preparation phase of your project will give your renovation its best chance at turning out just right.

Don’t choose cheap materials and contractors over proven quality: Both your materials and your renovation contractor need to give you the quality that you are looking for – from customer service and response time to the choice of building materials. Building is a serious business to take on. Interrogate which products, from floor cement/concrete to cornices, are being selected for your project.

Here’s a handy checklist to further help you to choose the right contractor:

• Years of experience: A professional with a track record gives you access to troubleshooting help and “safe hands” so that any potential issue can be seen before it may happen.
• Required licenses: Ensure the contractor has the legislated certifications and qualifications specific to their specialisation.
• Relevant insurance: Cover such as liability insurance and workers’ compensation must be in place from your building partner.
• Client references: Have you seen examples of the completed work for yourself and have you spoken to the professional’s clients?
• Schedule of payments: A payment plan is very important to ensure that financial terms are contractually agreed upfront.

Do tackle the renovation in a measured way: Renovations are stressful as they often need to fit into your work and home life, which doesn’t stop just because you are building on a new room for a new baby or Gogo. Try not to take on too much all at once. Phase your total project to give yourself and your team the best chance to focus on every task, as rushing can lead to unnecessary mistakes and do-overs.

What will you build today? For kusasa (tomorrow). Add Sephaku Cement into your renovation project mix. Find out more about Sephaku 32 and Sephaku 42 as they are trusted, cost efficient cement products for any scale of renovation work.