Notes from site
Journal
What we learn on site: materials, timelines, costs and the decisions that matter.
Finishes: where to save and where it never pays
Not every line item behaves the same way when you cut 20%. Some show, some never do.
The maintenance calendar that prevents the big job
Seven checks with a date on them. None takes a day, and together they push the heavy work back by years.
Building in the Algarve: what the climate demands
Strong sun, salt air and rain concentrated into a few weeks. Three conditions that change design decisions.
Swimming pools: what actually drives the budget
The shell is the predictable part. What moves the price is almost all around it.
Damp: finding the source before painting over it
The stain shows up in one place and the source is almost always somewhere else. How to look, in order.
How long it takes to get a building permit
The real timeline of each stage of the planning process, and what can be done while you wait.
What to ask before signing a construction contract
Seven questions that separate a serious quote from a mid-project surprise.
Rehabilitate or build from scratch?
Five objective criteria to decide, before falling in love with the idea of saving the old house.
What a three-bedroom renovation costs in 2026
The real numbers of a full renovation, line by line, and where budgets usually slip.