Doing a restoration project in a foreign country with totally alien planning laws, building regulations and building methods can be quite a daunting task. Add in a foreign language and customs to an absent home owner and you’ll quickly realize that it can become a very frustrating affair.

Nowadays, everybody seems to have “project management” as part of their long list of services. This activity can be a very complex matter even for the experts so be weary of improvised project managers that may cost you dearly!

At Our Toscana, every customer is distinct and every project is unique. We listen very carefully to your requirements and strive to provide you with outstanding solutions to make your house in Tuscany very special. As well as our technical expertise, we are great believers in communication. This means lots of phone calls, video updates, photos and emails allowing you to monitor and control the progress of your project on a day-by-day basis no matter where you may be.

At Our Toscana, we undertake both large and small restoration projects, new builds, bespoke swimming pools and all your landscaping needs. We have a proven track record with a hundreds of customers. For investors, we have the right business acumen to project manage large multi-million developments throughout Tuscany.

In Italy, all building sites legally require an official clerk of works/site supervisor locally known as Direttore dei Lavori. This person is legally responsible for ensuring that all works on site fully comply with drawings approved for planning. They make certain that the quality of workmanship & materials are in accordance with building standards and specifications and if necessary, carry out any inspections/tests that may be required. They also administer the contract dealing with such tasks as taking off quantities for stage payments. From a practical standpoint, they are frequently on site meeting with building contractors and tradesmen to coordinate their efforts and tackle day-to-day problems.

At the end of site activities, we will establish a snag list with you that captures all minor defects. Final retention payment to contractors and tradesman will be made only upon making good. This generally reassures the customer on full completion and quality.

Email Update

The following weekly email update is typical of that supplied to our customers on progress. The format is quite informal however very to the point highlighting progress but also addressing potential problems. The descriptions are discussed in detail over the phone and are accompanied by videos, photos & spreadsheets.

Sample Update

Here is an update following my site visit of this morning. 

Visit Date

June 23^rd 2015. 

Weather

25°C and sunny (12 noon). 

Plastering

The plastering of the upper floor is scheduled to be complete by the end of the week. 

Sandblasting

The sandblaster is scheduled intervene tomorrow and will do the upper floor only. This will be complete within 4 days. 

Plumbing

– The plumbers will be back in doing the under-floor heating on Wednesday and start with the under-floor heating for upstairs.

– I also got the dimensions for the 3 external heat pump units. We will need to construct a significant housing for these. 

Electrics

Still waiting for Enel to come back with their quotation 

Windows/Openings

The inner arch leading into the mini-apartment is now complete. 

Fireplace

Can you give some feedback on ideas or choices? 

Flooring

We need to home in on a decision for the terracotta flooring and also the thicknesses for the bathroom (1cm ceramic, 3cm cotto, 4mm resin?) 

Garage Door

I met the representative for the automated garage door to define the scope of supply. The door will have horizontal wooden laths much like the other external shutters. A vertical channel will be made in the middle to make it look like a double leaf door. The frame/guide will be quite large and I want to physically show you the dimensions upon your next visit. 

Joinery

I met the joiner again this morning to do one last check on the external doors and windows. This is a summary:

• Joiner will now need feedback/confirmation on:
• Now that the inner arch has been built, we discussed the technicalities of the sliding shutter in front of the mini apartment. The opening width will be about 250cm.
• Window n°29 will also be a single sash and open inwards + tilt with the handle located low down on the RHS.
• Window n°28 will be a single sash and open inwards with the handle located on the RHS.
• Horizontal Tuscan rails will be on all windows and door-windows except for the smaller ones (n° 3, 4, 5 & 21 on the ground floor and n° 24a, 28 & 29 on the upper).
• All windows without external shutters will have internal shutters. The only exceptions to this will be the small windows which are n° 3, 4, 5 & 21 on the ground floor and n° 24a, 28 & 29 on the upper floor.
  • paint samples 
  • glass panes
  • internal shutters (material, design and hinges)
  • door handle for sliding shutter
  • door window fan light
  • customized handles

Metallic Doors

I met the second Fabbro who hopes to have a quotation ready by early next week. 

Septic Tank

I also met the representative for the waste water treatment that will provide a quotation to the builder. 

Repointing

Repointing work on the ground floor is almost complete. Now we need to decide as to how “clean” we want it.

Questions/Things to do

• Feedback on the fireplace surround?
• Do you want the mini apartment window in metal or wood?
• We need to focus on floor finishes throughout and place order
• Joiner will now need feedback/confirmation on:
• internal shutters
• paint samples
• glass panes
• internal shutters (material, design and hinges)
  • • door handle for sliding shutter
    • door window fan light
    • customized handles
    • garage door options
    • sliding shutter options

Next Steps

• review repointed stonework/arches on ground floor
• sand blast all ceilings on upper floor
• lay under floor heating for upper floor
• pour final screed for upper floor
• complete plastering of ground floor
• sand blast all ceilings of ground floor
• lay under floor heating of ground floor
• our final screed for ground floor
• do septic tank

I have posted the video clips & photos in the dropbox. 

Kind Regards

David