Didn't know there's special formula for calculating renovation works. Is there?

Many things are worked out based on cost per unit area (sq ft/ sq m) or foot run eg. tiles, ceiling,
For others like concrete works, painting, it's cost of material + labour.
Smaller items, things that are hard to quantify, are based on lump sum.
The main contractor add in a profit (say 10-15%) over their cost or the cost from their sub-contractor.

No, river sand is better and more expensive than mining sand as it has less impurities.
Most contractors use mining sand.
Choice of contractor is most important, normal housebuyers would not know much about contruction.
There are 1001 things the contractors can cut cost on.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 22 2012, 11:22 AM

Depends on what your 'hourly rate' is....it might be cheaper to get contractor to 'pau' all these things.
You time is better spend doing what you do best!

How many people would be so free and have the time to be oversee the renovation fulltime? And not everyone can be a jack-of-all-trades.

The thing about buying your own materials is that you have to monitor and make sure there is no wastage. Workers would not bother to save material for you. If your order is not enough, you have to re-order again - very lecer and have to deal with so many suppliers.
If you order too much, it would be wasted.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 22 2012, 12:42 PM