A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Right Kitchen Fitters Are you planning to transform your kitchen into a space that better reflects your individual style and enhances functionality? In order to see your vision come to life, you need to choose the perfect kitchen fitters – but how will you know who the right match is for you and your home? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through the essential considerations and steps involved in choosing your kitchen fitters, ensuring that you have a stress-free experience. Learn More About Kitchen Renovations The Importance of Selecti ..read more

How to Build a House Extension: A Starting Guide A successful build isn’t created out of thin air; careful planning, research, and execution are needed to ensure you’re happy with your end result. In this blog, we break down the steps of constructing a house extension and factors to consider when undertaking such a project. The Advantages of a Self-Build Extension Whether you want to open up your living area, boost your kitchen space, or create the ultimate home office, extending your property will add functionality and instant value to your home – but the benefits don’t end there. T ..read more

The Importance of Sustainable Building By nature, the construction industry is a dominant consumer of minerals and natural resources, however, in recent years, concern over its true environmental impact has only grown. With climate change on the rise and legislation evolving by the year, now more than ever, the design and creation of sustainable buildings is a key consideration for self-builders and construction companies alike. Contributing to a greener future and reducing our own ecological footprint won’t only achieve an economically sustainable building for the individuals involved – b ..read more

Self build house cost There is no simple answer to ‘how much does a self build house cost?’ as it depends on many varying factors. Each homeowner will have different requirements and desires to be included when building their dream home, however, the basics are pretty consistent. To help you plan out your budget, our industry experts give an insight into how much you should expect to pay, at each stage, for a standard self build house: What can affect the budget when building a house? Many factors can affect your total self build house cost, and when money is precious we would advise p ..read more

Planning for Building John Scaife of Box Valley Architectural Design Breaks Down The Planning Process, Before you Start your Construction Project. Planning for building works can be complicated, so before starting any building work, it is always best to check if the project will require planning permission and/or building regulations. This is a basic guide to cover residential extensions and conversions. Put simply, Planning Permission relates to the design and appearance of the property. Building Regulations relate to construction and workmanship. Both are necessary to consider when plann ..read more

Extension Exterior Finishes Designing an extension or new home? Here are Pros and Cons of five exterior house finishes. 1. Facing Brickwork Facing Brickwork Pros Looked upon well by planning in most cases Low maintenance Huge amount of style options Flexible in appearance (mortar colour etc.) Simple construction Durable Facing Brickwork Cons Cost can vary from style to style Time-consuming and labour intensive Will discolour and ‘weather’ over time Approximate cost per square metre: £50 2. Render Render Pros Can be painted any colour Uniform finish Quick Can be applied to ..read more

Architectural Design Process Your dream of a new home starts as just that – a dream, an idea. Whether it’s a whole new build or an extension to your property, you know how you want to live, what you want to achieve. So, how do you go about making those dreams come true? The right architectural designer can make those dreams a reality. I work closely with my clients, to help you with your vision, to make the most of the space you have to work with. Good design takes into account a variety of aspects and I draw on many years of experience in order to achieve the best results. Working with si ..read more

Loft Conversions Guide Knowing how to convert a loft can be super helpful! Converting your loft space is one of the most exciting and satisfying of all the home-improvement projects. With up to 30% of your home’s floor space tied up in your loft, the scope for home transformation is huge. Stewart Wells of Daking Designs talks through the benefits and process of undertaking a loft conversion. Maybe create a new bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, an office with a glorious view, or a playroom hideaway for the kids? Whatever you choose to do, not only will a new loft conversion significantly i ..read more

Tendering Process in Construction The tendering process in construction is essential to cost management. If you are taking on a building project there are fundamentally two different approaches to finding a builder. The first is a ‘consultant approach’ where the builder works with you and your architect from an early stage, through the design process providing costings/value advice, up to completion of the build. The second, which will be the focus of this article, is the tender approach. The client (you) sends out the information to multiple companies, compiles the various quotes, and appo ..read more

Ground Conditions for Foundations One of the first stages of an extension project is the groundworks, and the ground condition that you are working with will have a huge impact on this. How prepared and informed you and your builder are will determine whether or not you can be caught out and incur unexpected costs. How prepared and informed you and your builder are will determine whether or not you can be caught out and incur unexpected costs. The main goal and purpose of foundations, as obvious as it may seem, is to find a good and stable stratum (or bearing) to build the new structur ..read more