Project Managing renovation and extension. Need a Construction Project Plan Template

[Gantt]

I mm project managing the renovation and extension of our 4-bed Victorian house. Builders are starting shortly and I need to produce a construction phase / project plan of some sort - something that shows (a) when each task should start and finish and (b) how work interfaces with other things, i.e. electrical first fix before kitchen installed, etc.

Has anyone project managed something like this and what kind of template did you use?

I'd use ...err.... MS Project, because that's what it's designed for. If I had a big long list of numbers to add up, I'd use Excel. If I wanted to write a letter I'd use Word. Once you have the right tool it's a lot easier..

If you're just listing some activities as a schedule , with specified start and finish dates, as someone else has already done the project planning activity for you ( the architect and contractor?) then just pop the titles and dates in Project, print it out on A1 and tape it to the wall, Job done...

Primavera is total overkill for a 10month house renovation - we use it for £billion infrastructure projects!!! The licence alone would be prohibitive.

Are you planning all the works, or is there a main contractor? Get a programme from all the subcontractors. You’ll need to know what can be done concurrently and what need to follow what (the critical path). Don’t forget to factor in material lead in times.

If you have a main contractor, get them to do the programme and then you can just tick things off. If you don’t have construction experience there is little point in you doing the programme as you won’t know the sequence or tasks.

You can definitely use excel for construction planning though. On a large £1bn+ project we would have the main programme in P6, and then do the 4-weekly in excel to package plan. If you’re good at excel it’s very easy to construct a programme including Gantt chart.

You will also need a sense check for durations. Otherwise the subcontractor could quote you excessive durations. They do this to main contractors, so god knows what they would say to someone they know has now experience in PM.

We have a main contractor who is happy to work with me directly. He's aware I'm not an experienced construction PM.

@Nofilteritwonthelp what is the difference between the project plan and project schedule?

Project plan includes who is responsible for what, risk management strategy, who is doing what when & who has control of the site at each point of the project ect..

Schedule of works is what trades are on site when.

It's a schedule of works that I need to develop

Then you need to employ some one to act as your employers agent - normally the architect/ design side person to ensure the builder / contractor is building to standard and getting the correct building control sign offs.

You also need to ensure that your contractor is undertaking CDM duties (all the bits in the PP that aren't the schedule of works). Until you appoint them in writing and they agree to take on the duty it will remain with you.

A "Stacked Bar Graph" in Excel 'can' do this for you. You make the first series Start Date, and make the bar invisible. The second series is Duration, and make that show...

However!!!

It's very static and the first time something changes, and it will, you have to manually adjust everything.... which is why even for just producing a schedule a proper to0l is best

@Unescorted Our contractor has signed a JCT contract but I don't think undertaking CDM duties was included in that. Is this a separate legal agreement?

I can't say as I am not sighted on the JCT... There are several types. If in doubt ask them if they are taking CDM duties. The link I put earlier gives more details.

and you're asking Mumsnet for advice?

The correct building control sign offs will happen as we have a private BC firm involved who are sending me schedules at every step of what they need and when they will do site visits to sign off.

The 'building to standard' is something our architect will monitor with ad hoc site visits along the way, to check on construction.

For the extension build I definitely feel we need the architect to look over the work. However Building Control will also be checking construction and anything structural.

I don't think any liability rests with private BC firms however - might be different for Local Authority BC.

For the renovation, I've managed one before and know what I'm looking at in terms of workmanship and materials used etc.

We also have full construction and renovation insurance in place, as does our contractor (public liability)

If you are unsure then take independent legal advice. Or take a punt and run with what you have. No one here can advise you in any meaningful way on your project compliance.

A plan is like is the who, what, when, why, risks etc. A schedule is the timeline, the task, dependencies etc. As PP said, there's a reason it's a profession. Also most people who think they project manage actually don't, it's a very overused word. You should engage someone who knows what they're doing. I predict a huge budget blow out if you're on mumsnet and google trying to figure it out, get someone who actually knows what they're doing. Good luck.