Quote:The advice is welcomed but I'm getting more people telling me how I can't do rather than those telling me I can.
Can anyone actually answer my initial questions?
'What would you say are the costs of materials, softwood and hardwood to make up a similar windows?'
&
'Again, what would you say the costs are for materials to make it myself?' (Kitchen)
&
'What kind of savings can I realistically make?'
General rule of thumbs would be appreciated.
I'm sure some of you qualified and experienced people out there must have a method to calculate estimated costs of a project based on time and materials?
I have sat here and read this thread as it has progressed...
you have stated that you have some experience in project management..!!! did that encompass purchasing of materials... as if it did, then you may (or may not) have realised that the cost of lumber, be it hard or soft wood is volotile , and has been for a while now, just a few months ago i bought some Douglas fir for newel posts, and paid £90 for a 3m length, now its £90 A METRE....
you ask about prices for lumber for windows, and also the kitchen, well the same applies, regardless of what the material is for... it all depends on what you want, hard or soft wood, sheet or stock size, exactly what type of lumber (ash/pine/spruce/meranti etc etc etc) , how much you are buying ( a few sheets or a whole cube...) and more important, what does your nearest supplier actually stock and are able to obtain....
and as for the advise on what you can and can not do, you seriously need to think about what you are planning to carry out your self. as if you are unable to give the BCO the required certrs for windows, etc, the you DO NOT get your habitation cert, and they WILL not allow you to move in!!!!!!
i have been in the building industry for 35 years now, and the amount of red tape from each and every aspect of the industry, seems to be in place to stop the indusrty from being able to carry on, most of it is total crap, and needs revising, but in the mean time you need to ADHERE to it, or face huge troubles down the line...
the advise given to you has been SOUND GENUINE ADVISE, that is extremely relevent to you, imparted by tradesmen with many , many years within the industry, between the few of us who have posted,we can probably boast some 200 plus years collective, so we do know what we are talking about.... we are not trying to be negative, but the pitfalls can and will be expensive
i have been making stairs, windows and furniture for many years, but recently have drifted sideways, away from them, as it is becoming impossible to make a living.....
a stair company i know, has to turn around 70 plus a week to make it financially viable....
WOLF