- The experienced or semi-pro layperson: is well connected with sub-trades, building code, lives close to the building site, and has time to manage all the people and details of a 1-2 year project. This type of person might be a semi-retired tradesperson, engineer, building inspector, etc. This person knows they can save some money, and has some seasoned understanding of the time & energy required to make this happen.
- The in-experienced layperson: lives far away from the building site, doesn't have good contacts in the building trades, doesn't know the expectations of the local municipality, and doesn't know very much about the building code or construction. This person is usually looking to save money on the over-all cost, and has decided to do it on their own, and learn as they go. If you are reading this article, this 2nd type may partially describe you.
My concern is for the 2nd type; the in-experienced layperson. I meet people managing their own projects on a regular basis, and have heard every manner of story about the problems they experience. The biggest problem is that the project takes much longer than they anticipated. Sometimes a year longer. This can be for a variety of reasons, but often they just didn't have any way of knowing how long the building process will take, and didn't plan for it. Sometimes they have sold a house, and have no place to move to. They planned to enjoy the summer, living on-site in a trailer, or camping, and didn't expect to spend a winter in a mobile home or hotel. Other times, they are held up by bad weather, family emergencies, a slow subtrade, difficulties with permits, changes to their design.... all of these things add up to extra time, extra money, and extra aggravation.
The next major problem is finding good help. I work for an excellent company that serves as an insulation sub-trade for many home-owners and contractors throughout Ontario. Insulation is a very small percentage of the cost of building your house/cottage, but it is nice to have it done right, properly insured, and under warranty. All of the work on your project needs to be done well enough to pass inspections, and this means finding electicians, plumbers, roofers, framers, foundation contractors, HVAC contractors, etc. Each will have recommendations for you, and will have pricing that they may or may not stick to. Make sure to check their WSIB, liability insurance, and references. When you are not using a Tarion approved builder, you need to rely on your sub-trades workmanship and insurance when problems arise.\
If you are planning to build in Ontario, give me(Dave) a call at 705-783-2588, or email with any questions you may have.
