Being able to live on-site is entirely dependent on the type of project. There are many instances where living in your home through the renovation process is possible. Renovation Works has plenty of experience with families living in their homes even during major renovations. With the correct team management, safety procedures, and timelines in place, there is a good chance you may be able to live in your home.

Renovation Works has experience working with budgets of all sizes. There isn’t a one-cost-fits-all approach to renovations, and the overall cost will be entirely dependent on the exact specifications of your project. For budget-conscious homeowners, Renovation Works can assist with effective cost-cutting steps that won’t compromise the quality of your project’s end result. Our decades of experience in the industry allow us to know exactly what works and what doesn’t, where to spend the most, and what you can pull back on.

It is highly recommended that all renovation budgets have a contingency built into them of approximately 15%. This creates some breathing room for any unforeseen obstacles down the track, allowing projects to carry on moving along efficiently without interruptions.

The time to complete a renovation depends entirely on the size and complexity of the project. The overall time frame also varies considerably based on each homeowner’s individual approach. Some people love spending time in the design and planning stages, examining every fine detail and customising it to their exact specifications, while others make decisions quickly and leave some of the smaller decisions in the capable hands of the Renovation Works team.

A smaller project, such as renovating a bathroom or kitchen, may be completed in a matter of weeks. Larger scale projects such as recladding your house, extensions or internal alterations can be significantly longer, sometimes taking 6-8 months to complete.

Renovation Works decades of experience in the industry can help project accurate time frames when planning a renovation, letting you make all the necessary preparations to ready yourself for your renovation journey.

In most cases, any renovation or building work that affects the structure, weather tightness, or alters the use of a room or building will require council permission. This is issued by way of resource consent or building consent.

Common examples of such products include, but are not limited to:

• Additions or alterations to a home
• Alteration or changes to the buildings piles (re-piling)
• Demolition of a building, which may also require an asbestos survey.
• The removal of load-bearing walls
• Any retaining walls higher than 1.5m
• Recladding your home
• Decks higher than 1.5m or walls and fences higher than 2m
• Swimming pools

There are times that some renovation work is classed as “low risk” and does not require building consent to be carried out. Renovation Works can take care of ensuring that the correct consents are being obtained for your project.

Renovation Works has a large network of subcontractors that we maintain a great working relationship with. This allows us to ensure that all trades are covered. These subcontractors understand how we work, our process, and therefore provide an efficient workflow to the renovation process. This means that you only need to engage with Renovation Works as opposed to multiple companies, allowing a smooth project from start to completion.

We highly recommend having insurance before commencing your renovation. This will protect your asset in the event of any unforeseen or unfortunate circumstances during the renovation process. At a minimum, we recommend you have Public Liability Insurance of $5,000,000 and Professional Indemnity insurance of $1,000,000.

Because Renovation Works can organise all your tradespeople and subcontractors for your project, you can rest assured that we have vetted all of them and are confident in them having all the correct insurance. This is just one of the many quality assurances you get when choosing Renovation Works as your renovation partner.

Builders need to have Contract Work insurance, also known as Builders Risk insurance. This is usually taken out by either the builder or homeowner to cover the renovation. In addition to this, a builder also needs to hold current policies for the following:

• Public liability insurance: provides protection from loss or damage to third party property or injuries to a third party
• Professional Indemnity/Errors & Omissions Indemnity – in the event that a company or employee allegedly causes financial loss as a result of some advice given or action taken, you are covered.
• Statutory Liability insurance  – cover for legal costs and/or fines for any breaches in any statutory law
• Employers Liability insurance – this provides cover for ant liability over an injury or illness to an employee that isn’t covered by ACC
• Commercial Vehicle Insurance – Covers the builder’s vehicles, trailers, etc.
• Tools & Equipment Insurance – Provides cover for tools, equipment, stock, or other assets.

Renovation Works provides project management services to ensure that your project is running on time and to budget. This allows you to be hands-off, stress-free, and relax while you watch your project unfold before your eyes. The project manager will check in with you on all major decisions as well as answering any questions you have in regards to the status of your renovation.

Your project manager is your port of call for your renovation. They are responsible for managing the physical building process, ordering materials, and stock, while also being a liaison between you, the council, and the architect. Therefore, they ensure that all elements of the project are working together, there are no bottlenecks in the process, and the entire renovation project comes together smoothly. They are crucial in maintaining efficiency, flow, and clear and concise communication between all parties required for a successful project.

Renovation Works’ project managers are highly experienced, understanding how crucial your budget and renovation timeline is to you. Because Renovation Works recommends getting us involved as early as possible in the renovation process, our project management will have a clear picture of all the important features of your renovation, and ensure that they are maintained all the way to your project’s completion.