Main contractor or Separate Trades??!!

hellsbellssmells

Hi, I really hope some experienced renovators out there can give me some help.

I've just had planning permission and building control through for the renovation/remodelling of my 300 year old house. The work will include:
- Rebuilding Chimney stacks from the attic space upwards
- roof repairs
- Full internal remodel including removal of structural walls and alterations to external openings
- Overhaul the plumbing and move the boiler
- rewiring
- Major external landscaping with new driveway and garage
- plastering, finish joinery and general decorative work

Plus a whole heap of extra jobs that I keep thinking of. I've been told that because it's an old house there will be plenty of unexpected extras, so I would find it difficult to get in accurate quotes from a main contractor. I'm a total novice, but I'm willing to learn and can be onsite at all times. do you think I would save money by employing separate trades? or would it be madness? and where would I start?!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

suziemoon

We are just having and extension on our 200 year old cottage, we've gone for one main contractor as he gets each person in when needed rather than if we had used individual contractors they may not have been available at the time they were needed causing delays. Hope this helps

nickcc

Site management will be your responsibility if you use seperate trades unless you employ your own site manager. I've gone both ways on various extensions on different houses over the years but found it far less hassle to employ one contractor who then supplied the different trades.

phill99

You need to be very confident of running up to 10 or so separate trades: chasing them, making sure all materials are on site, managing their quality, snagging, getting them back to sort problems, paying them etc. If you are experienced at this, go for it, if not, think again.

Doozergirl

It really depends on you, but given that we started by managing our own home developments, I've come from your side of the fence. I have to say that H worked alongside a main contractor when we took on a really major renovation.

You keep learning. It's fair to say that yours is significant for someone who hasn't done it before and it will be a baptism of fire. Not to say that it hasn't been done before or won't again.

Do you know anyone to be able to pull together decent trades? I suspect your biggest problem self managing will be finding the right labour and then pulling them together into some sort of coherence and order.

It will certainly be easier with one contractor. Your budget is going to be affected by plenty of surprises, regardless of which route you take. You've bought a very old house; they provide nothing but surprises. It's down to budget. If you have money, you'll find it easier with proper guidance. So many pitfalls to avoid. I don't think taking it on alone is going to get you the best result. There's so much to know!