You are in love with your home, but would you like a bit more space?
An extension is an ideal alternative to the pressures of moving into a brand new residence.
It allows you to have more room for entertaining and changing the decor which can add worth to your property.
You’ve found the perfect architect. He designed stunning design plans, and has even received permission for planning.
However, building a stunning house extension requires a lot of work , even before you lay one brick!
To begin it’s necessary to locate the most suitable construction firm.
A skilled builder is essential for a successful extension.
A Specialist Construction Company
Construction is a vast subject that it covers everything from renovations to homes and extensions to new constructions, and so on. A specialist construction firm has a experience in a specific area or design, which means you will get a more smooth construction. For instance, if your family home is listed structure, then expanding it will require different expertise than when creating a flat block. An experienced extension builder will be able to comprehend the requirements of this job since they’ve completed similar projects similar to what you’ve thought of.
With a Proven Track Record
A reputable construction firm has been successful in completing similar kinds of building extension work before. It is not always recommended from a business or friend acquaintance. However, good builders have a sense of pride in their work and are willing to allow customers to talk to past clients.
They’ll be able to assure you not just seeing the completed work, but also you’ll want to know how the company dealt with all the construction processes, starting with planning, attending as well as any unexpected issues and finishing within budget and dealing with neighbors with respect to the noise and the mess.
Excellent Communication
Extensions don’t happen over night. The whole process can take months to get just right. It is essential to establish an excellent partnership with your building contractor to be open and honest , and never be afraid to speak freely about any issues.
A professional builder will be courteous when they call, show up to meetings on time They will also be professional and will ask lots of specific questions about the project. You’ll feel comfortable speaking with them.
Accreditations and qualifications
A membership in a trade association is generally a sign that a construction firm is competent and adheres to certain standards. However, there are plenty of skilled tradespeople who aren’t affiliated with these associations. Membership in an organization can give a builder a degree of trust since it typically involves inspections of quality and checks on credit.
While you’ll need to use your judgment to judge the experience of a builder An accredited tradesperson has put in the effort to obtain that extra stamp of approval. Builders working on extensions could be members of a variety of professional associations or accreditation programs. The most common are as follows:
Being one of UK’s longest established trade associations, the National Federation of Builders (NFB) was founded to provide assistance and instruction to its members to help them adhere to industry standards and be at the top of their game in their delivery.
The largest trade association in the UK that deals with the building industry is The Federation of Master Builders (FMB). With more than 1,200 members they are in charge of creating and maintaining high-quality standards for the industry, which is affecting thousands of people each year.
The Considerate Constructors Scheme allows builders and businesses to sign up voluntarily and sign a commitment to follow the best practices code that goes beyond the standard and statutory standards.
licensed and insured
A reliable construction company is licensed and insured. This means that construction employees and subcontractors are able to be safe on your property. If anything goes wrong, such as an incident, insurance will be in place to protect you up.
Provide an Accurate, Written Quotation
Before even presenting a quote A professional tradesperson will request plans as well as scaled construction drawings, and the complete specification (all components, fixtures and fixtures). They will then supply you with a precise estimate, which includes the cost of work and materials, subcontracting fees, VAT and any additional costs.
For large-scale projects such as building an extension, problems will arise and delays are inevitable. A reliable builder will not over-promise or be untrue and transparent about the prices and the timeframe for completion.
Project Management
A reputable construction company must be able to oversee your building project. They will ensure that the tradesmen who are required complete their work punctually, communicate with the architects and tradespeople to ensure the building materials arrive at the time they are required, and also organize work and coordinating building inspectors. In addition, they will keep you informed of the construction the progress!
Payment Plan
If there is a formal estimate that is in place, a good builder should not request the total price of an extended project to be paid in advance. A small deposit is often required by smaller companies involved in a larger project that require materials.
The most popular method of payment is through instalments, where you pay a percent of the total amount following each stage of the construction is completed. For instance, after the foundations are completed, or after the walls have been constructed, or the roof is covered with tiles.
When building larger projects, certain tradesmen prefer paying on on a monthly or weekly basis to cover their costs for materials as well as to pay employees.
A reliable tradesman will permit you to keep a retainer payment (usually between 2% and 5percent of the total construction cost) and will hold it until you get the final approval through Building Control. This will ensure that the builder completes the project to a high quality and can handle any issues.
Construction Regulations, Planning Permissions and Building Regulations
If you’re planning to make modifications to your home, you could require approval from your local authority who will issue a formal certificate permitting the development of a property. While many home improvements like extensions or loft conversions, can be carried out without the need for planning consent as well as building regulation approvals, you have to ensure. If you construct an extension and do not obtain the necessary permissions, the local authority could serve an enforcement notice that implies that you have to reverse all changes made. This could even be a matter of demolishing your home.
Expert builders are aware of the latest requirements of building regulations to build your extension. They can also help you determine the need for planning permission and how to get it by coordinating with the local authority on your behalf.
Aftercare is included
Extensions are usually large projects, which is why it’s usually inevitable that complications will occur. However, these issues may not be apparent until after the construction work is complete. The builder is likely to have taken on different projects. However, a professional builder will never forget to ensure that they have completed their work to a high quality.
Some might have an informal agreement that allows them to visit within one to six weeks to verify their status. Some might include it in their contract.
It’s difficult to evaluate the many benefits of having an experienced construction firm. If you’ve done all the necessary assessments and have a positive impression of a construction company you can choose to go with it.
Sheffield Builders
020 8004 0209
sheffield-builders.com