So now that you have a building plan that will pass City Hall, and you've interviewed a few builders/contractors and decided to keep the cost down by being your own contractor, how do you proceed?
The first thing would be to identify the subcontractors you'll need to complete your project. Here's a list:
1- earthwork
2- underground plumbing hookups
3 underground electrical hookups
4- foundation
5- foundation waterproofing
6- framing
7- roofing
8- siding
9- HVAC
10- plumbing
11- electrical
12- insulation
13- drywall
14- flooring
15- interior trim and doors
16- painting
17- finish hardware trim-out
18- landscape
19- flat concrete work
This looks like a long list, but in the spirit of DIY let's start off by eliminating those subs for the items I can do myself. These are:
Insulation
Drywall
Flooring
Interior trim and doors
Painting
Finish hardware and trim-out
Landscape
I don't think I'll need any flat concrete work so I've eliminated the need for items 12 through 19. But I still need a large number of subs.
Let's take a closure look at the subs I need, meaning those described in the list 1 through 11.
Do I need earthwork for my ADU?
No, I have a flat lot and there shouldn't be any need to move a ton of dirt.
Underground plumbing hooking up?
Yes
Underground electrical hookup?
No, I'll need to upgrade my home's electrical panel to 200 AMPS but there's already an underground hookup available via the current garage which is slated to be torn down.
Foundation?
Yes
Foundation waterproofing?
Yes
Framing?
Yes
Roofing?
Yes
Siding?
Maybe, maybe not
HVAC/
Not sure since the ADU needs to be powered by electricity. Gas isn't allowed so HVAC may fall under electrical.
Plumbing?
Yes
Electrical?
No, since I have a cousin who could be an electrical contractor.
So I'll definitely need 6 subs, maybe 8 depending on if I want to do the siding or not and if I need an HVAC guy.
They are:
Underground plumbing hooking up
Foundation
Foundation waterproofing
Framing
Roofing
Plumbing
I wonder about the foundation waterproofing. Does the foundation waterproofing fall under the foundation sub and if not could I do it myself?
Something to think about!
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