5 checks to carry out before you renovate
Beginning a project to renovate your home or garden is very exciting. Planning the details like layout, design and colours to give your house a fresh look is a thrilling process. Whilst knee-deep in colour swatches, tile samples and seedlings it's important to plan for the not-so-interesting bits like moving the plumbing and wiring new electrical appliances. Many renovation experts advise putting aside around 20% of your renovation budget for unexpected expenses and the dreaded reno disaster.
Reno surprises happen even to the ultra-cautious, especially if you have an older house or a property which was previously rented. You can minimise costly shocks by being prepared and carrying out the necessary checks beforehand.
What Lurks Beneath? - Find out with a Plumbing Inspection
Get a detailed plumbing inspection before any work begins in your home or garden. Damaged pipes, improperly aligned drains and cracked pipes running through a concrete slab or established gardens can really delay the project and blow out costs.
A CCTV camera can pick up the smallest of defects within your home's drain system giving you a heads-up before the kitchen sink is ripped out. There's really no point plumbing in a shiny new vanity if the drains under the bathroom are leaking into the floor. Schedule the drain repairs or pipe relining so to avoid messing your renovation plan around.
Be a bright spark - electrical checks
First (and one of the most important) point, never do DIY electrical work. If it's more advanced than changing a light bulb, get a licenced electrician to carry out the job. This goes for the pre-renovation electrical check as well. You really need a professional opinion on any rewiring needed for the reno, extra work involved in new wiring for light fittings, new appliances and power points. Knowing where all the electrical wiring runs through your home, both internal and external can prevent potentially deadly accidents when remodelling.
Tread carefully - asbestos and lead
Homes built prior to 1990 may have asbestos-containing components. Building materials such as roofing, wall linings, eaves, popcorn ceilings, fibro sheeting, pipe insulation and the padding of vinyl flooring can all contain asbestos. If found, you'll need to enlist the services of a licenced asbestos removal company to safely take the asbestos away.
Before 1970 Australian homeowners happily slapped about lead-based paint, unaware of the dangers it posed to themselves and their families. Fortunately, we now know better. If the walls were once 'Latin Lime' or 'Smoky Saffron' you should check for lead paint. Ensure you use the correct removal or repainting techniques to make sure it does not pose a health risk to those living or working in your house.
The devil you know - pest inspections
Television renovation shows make smashing a sledgehammer through a wall look like so much fun. However, if that satisfying blow unveils a wall riddled with termite damage in your reno, the fun quickly ends. Get the pest control experts in, before you wind up the sledgehammer, to inspect for termites or rot in the timber.
Most homes have some timber components. Even brick and tile properties can have timber structures such as roof supports and wall framing.
Preparation is key
Thoroughly preparing for a home renovation can be the difference between a long, delayed, budget blowout disaster and a smooth-running, on-budget success. Plan ahead and know what you're in for from the beginning.
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