Can I build it myself?
Most of it, yes. Here's the line.
Every Pland plan marks each job as yours or a trade's. This is the standard split. Your plan adjusts it to your block and the skills you tell us about.
| Job | Who | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pegging out and string lines | DIY | Tape, pegs and the setout plan |
| Clearing turf and hand digging | DIY | Hard work, low risk. Hire a mini excavator for big areas |
| Paving on a roadbase | DIY | Follow the falls on the levels sheet |
| Garden edging and low garden walls | DIY | Under the height your council allows without engineering |
| Soil, planting and mulch | DIY | The most rewarding part |
| Connecting to stormwater | Trade | A licensed plumber is required |
| Levels where paving meets the slab or fence | Trade | Get this wrong and water runs into the house |
| Engineered retaining walls | Trade | Needs an engineer and often a permit |
| Digging in heavy clay over large areas | Trade | A machine and operator saves weeks |
| Electrical and garden lighting on mains | Trade | A licensed electrician is required |
Hiring the hard parts
Your materials list and plan give a trade exactly what to quote on, so you can compare quotes like for like and only pay for the jobs you can't do.