Bishop Ltd – Do It Yourself (DIY) or Employ Builders?

By making the right choices in the beginning you can save money on your building works. However, after saying this you must be realistic! We all have a DIY demon inside us, especially when we are trying to save money, thinking we can do just as well as the professional ourselves. This is not always the case and DIY disasters can lead you to the nearest A&E dept. at your local hospital! Be realistic, can you manage the task at hand or should you employ someone to do the work for you?

Employing a professional could potentially save you thousands if you get it wrong trying to complete the job yourself, and a lot of headaches too. There is no point in trying to attempt a job that is simply outside of your capability, better to leave it to the professionals.

If you have decided that you will be doing some or all of the work yourself then be realistic in terms of time, even a small a building project can take weeks or even months to complete, especially if you also, hold down a full-time job. Consider the time you have available and be honest with yourself about how much time you can dedicate to DIY.

For smaller more manageable DIY jobs, you should do your research before attempting something for the first time; there are lots of videos on the internet for guidance, tap into them. If you do not feel confident after your research then simply do not do it! Same goes for overconfidence; this can be just as disastrous and dangerous, remember the old saying ‘don’t bite off more than you can chew’!

For bigger jobs involving building works, note that you will also need the services of an architect, and yes although architects do have some knowledge about how to build they are not builders. Do not make the mistake of over-relying on your architect to guide you on how to build your project; this is not their specialist subject. Professional builders will tackle your project with ease.

Make a Plan! Before starting any sort of building or renovation work you need to sit down and plan it, not just of how you want the finished project to look but also how the work will affect your everyday life, and prepare for it. When it comes to design, start planning early and put together a file that you can add pictures and articles to and build up a visual representation of what you want to achieve. If you are good with computers, create excel or word file laying out all the rooms you are going to renovate or extend. Then list the jobs you feel confident in doing yourself and the ones that you will be employing professionals to complete. Don't create your lists from memory, go to each room and look carefully at it to see what changes are needed or wanted. This will help you see what work needs to be carried out and where things like furniture will go once the work is completed. For renovations, sometimes it’s a good idea to declutter the space before you start making your lists, creating a blank canvas, so you can see exactly what space you have to work with.

Do you have the right tools for the jobs you intend to carry out? Building tools can be very expensive and a pain to store afterward if you’re not intending to go into the building trade! You can hire tools but not everything and once the work is finished you may find yourself with a much-cluttered garage. Again, make a list of what tools you will need and how much they will cost to buy or hire. You need to add the cost of your tool to your budget.

If DIY is not your forte then here is a short list of points to consider when hiring the services of a professional builder:

1. Always ask for a written quote. You can refer to this and it saves confusion later.

2. Do they seem professional and does their company have structure? Stay away from cowboy builders! Research your builder before employing them, company websites are a good place to start but don’t rely solely on them, ask to see previous works or even speak to past clients.

3. Ask when they can start the work, most good reputable builders are usually very busy so plan. If they say they can start today, be very cautious!

4. Persistently calling and pestering you to gain the work could be a sign of a cowboy builder, best avoided. Ethical and reliable building companies will contact you to discuss your needs but will not pester you once you have spoken, they don’t have the time!

5. Does the builder seem passionate about his work, and not just out to make a quick buck? Builders who take pride in their work will spend time discussing your project with you and make suggestions, like, best materials to use to improve certain design aspects.

6. Do you like this person? Remember your builder will be in your home for a good length of time so it’s important that you feel at ease with him, and (more importantly) that you can work with him.

7. Late for the appointment? If the builder has contacted you about being delayed for your appointment then they should not be penalized for this, building sites are unpredictable and any number of issues could have arisen on the day causing the delay. However, no call / no show would mean alarm bells should be ringing.

8. Are they local? – Local builders are easier to deal with especially if they need to come back to correct any issues later, they also know the area better when it comes to planning advice than out of area companies.

9. Will the builder provide you with a contract to cover the work period? This should be a YES! A contract will protect both parties so it makes sense for a builder to provide you with a contract to protect you and himself.

10. What guarantees/warranties will you be given? Most reputable builders will come back to fix something within a reasonable period, even if it falls outside of the guaranteed period, their good reputation is often based on satisfied customers. Guarantees are usually for around 12 months for general building works.

10. How do they want you to pay? – Ask the builder about their payment terms and how they want to be paid. Cash payments are the least safe mode of payment as there will be no official proof of any payments made; instead, it would better to arrange bank transfers to complete any payment requests. Some companies will allow you to make payments at set stages of your project.

Hope these tips help! Please follow my blogs for future posts. Thank you.

Bishop Ltd – Bespoke Builders and Developers – Covering Kent and Essex

Contact us for all your design and build needs: 0208 926 2010 |

info@bishopltd.com

We are a leading reputable and experienced bespoke construction company covering Essex and Kent. Our services include all aspects of commercial and residential building works. We also offer a completely the managed turnkey construction process for complete hands-off clients, spanning the Pre- Construction, Construction and Post-Construction phases of your project. This includes Architecture and Construction, Project Feasibility, Cost Analysis, and Site Management. Our two offices are located in Loughton Essex and Aylesford Kent and we operate across most of Essex and Kent.

Experienced Local builders in Loughton Essex | Bishop Ltd

Bishop Ltd is a bespoke construction company that offers their clients all building services needed to build the property of their dreams or carry out refurbishments on their existing homes.

Bishop Ltd was developed by working within his family's construction business for over 25 years. Our business manager brings over 25 years. Both are heavily invested in ensuring Bishop Ltd is a successful and trustworthy building company, they are 100% committed to delivering the best possible result for their clients and always aim to complete their projects within the clients' budget and timeframe. 

Bishop Ltd specializes in Commercial and Residential new builds, fit-outs, refurbishments, improvements, and extensions, as well as delivering a complete Project Management service for their clients in Loughton Essex, Aylesford Kent, Dartford Kent, Gravesend Kent, and Chigwell Essex. Contact us for details.

Why Hiring a Design and Build Construction Company is a Better Choice - Bishop Ltd

Design and Build Companies Have All the Experts under One Roof

Often people think choosing to manage their own renovation the project will be a smart financial decision in comparison to employing the services of a design and build contractor (often referred to as a Turnkey Management Service). For major renovation, people can become unstuck very quickly without the much-needed expert help, they come to realize they actually do need. It takes a number of different experts to successfully make a renovation look both professional and (more importantly) legal. For example, generally, renovations require experts such as architects, builders, plumbers, electricians and in some instances also interior designers. A design and build company are able to provide all these services under one roof.

Design Phase Needs an Architect

Possibly the most important aspect of a major renovation in the design process. This is where you and your architect come together in a ‘joining of minds’ to establish your needs, put together a plan of action and draft accurate drawings for your proposed works. This early planning stage is very important to cut down on time, money, and errors once work starts. For this reason, if you are debating on whether to use the services of an architect or do it yourself, I would highly recommend using an architect. Apart from them ensuring the legality of your project, architects can also be very helpful in advising you about the more technical aspects of your project, like advice on suitable materials, provide accurate measurements and drawings for your builder, all cutting down on your time and stress. Most architects will also be happy to liaise with your builder making the whole renovation process all the easier for you.

Knowing What Materials to Use

One of the most daunting problems for any inexperienced renovator is establishing and sourcing the right building materials for their project. This is where the expertise of a reputable experienced building company is essential! They will focus on your requirements, answer any questions you may have, and talk you through what they believe would be the best materials for your job. For a more convenient approach, ask your builder to supply the materials for you! Most builders will be happy to do this as it helps move the project forward without any major delays, they also have the resources in place to meet these demands much more easily than you.

If you do decide to source and supply the materials yourself make sure your research covers both material quality/functionality and supplier’s creditability, you don’t want to place a big materials order with a supplier only to find out the particular materials ordered do not meet your needs, or worse still, the suppliers have gone out of business! Both instances will bring your works to an expensive and instant halt.

You will need to speak to a lot of people to establish whose advice will be of genuine use to you, note that most builders/people do not like to share contact details of their supplier sources.

Licenses and Permits

Another really important reason why people hire design and build contractors are due to their knowledge and expertise in ensuring all works are completed in a manner that meets all legal requirements. To fulfill the legal requirements procedure, a project will need; timely inspections, sometimes involve the need for permits and licenses, and always requires appropriate insurances to cover workers and the general public from harm. Without the help of a design and build contractor the burden of gaining and ensuring all these legal requirements are in place (and carried out) will often be extremely confusing and challenging for you.

Warranties and Guarantees

We should not overlook the huge benefits of warranties and guarantees that come with employing design and build contractors. This will provide you with the peace of mind that if anything were to go wrong at a later date (and within the warranties period) the builder will return to eliminate the issue without further charge to you!

Furthermore, as a design and build contractor is almost always in full control of the work carried out, and all the tradesmen on the site, he cannot argue that the issue was caused by another contractor on site and not him.

A Design and Build Contractor is One Company That Does It All!

One of the main advantages of hiring a design and build contractor is that it minimizes the possibility of confusion and misunderstanding, which can often happen between the architectural (planning) stage and actual construction stage.

Design and build contractors deal with both design and construction of the building or renovation, whilst working under a single company. This means there is just one port of call for you for everything relating to your project, there is less chance of a breakdown in communication, errors occurring, and of time-wasting, which ultimately saves you money. Furthermore, it is more convenient to make payments to a single company, rather than juggling your finances between 2 or more service providers. In comparison to ‘doing it yourself’ or hiring a regular building company, essentially there are more major advantages to employing the services of a design and build company for your project. In short, it minimizes project-related ‘headaches’ and increases finish quality and time efficiency, in turn, saving you money in the long run!

This is just a sample of what design and build contractors can do. If you want to find out more, visit: www.bishopltd.com

Bishop Ltd – Bespoke Builders and Developers – Covering Kent and Essex

Contact us for all your design and build needs: 0208 926 2010 |

info@bishopltd.com

We are a leading reputable and experienced bespoke construction company covering Essex and Kent. Our services include all aspects of commercial and residential building works. We also provide a completely managed turnkey construction process spanning the Pre- Construction, Construction and Post-Construction phases of your project. This includes Architecture and Construction, Project Feasibility, Cost Analysis, and Site Management. Our two offices are located in Loughton Essex and Aylesford Kent and we operate across most of Essex and Kent.

Five Steps to Finding a Good Builder – Bishop Ltd

Are you looking for builders to ‘fix up’ your house? Although some minor repairs or changes around the home can be a DIY project, some things are better left to the professionals. Here are the steps to finding good builders in your area.

Step One: Planning

Decide what changes you want to make and plan your budget. It might be helpful to ask the opinion of an architect or even an interior designer before making major changes. This will help you to gain a clear vision as to what you want to achieve, and how you want to go about getting the finished look.

Step Two: Look for Builders

Technology has made this task a lot easier. You can search online and check out your options for local builders and what kind of services they can offer you. While online, you can make price comparisons and get quotations from your potential choices. Although the process of searching on the internet is easy, the process of choosing is another. With the number of search matches that you may encounter, you can easily get lost in the sea of information in front of you, so stay focused.

Step Three: Choose a Reputable Local Builder

After having searched the internet, it is now time to narrow down your options to 2 or 3 preferred local builders. Firstly, weed out the ones way over your budget, but remember, be very cautious with the ones who offer the lowest prices too. Cheap is not always good when it involves building projects. You also need to dismiss the inexperienced cowboy builders, tempting you with false promises and low prices. There are plenty out there.

Step Four: Research and Investigate

You have to check if the company is actually a legitimate business. Check their credentials and ask for relevant information, such as experience and how long they have been in business. They should be able to provide photographs of recent projects. You can also use the internet to check reviews from genuine customers of local builders; it is good to know what other people are saying about them.

Step Five: Quotation and Contract

It is important when handling business in general, that you do not rely solely on your checks but that all agreements are written in black and white. Be sure to agree on labor and material costs, insurance, project completion dates and so forth.

Having written agreements in place are not just reassuring; they have the added benefit of you being able to refer back to them if something goes wrong, or is not completed. In addition, you can use them as a checklist for your project too!

Once contracts have been signed all that is left to do is move forward with your the fabulous the project, with the knowledge that you have conducted as much due diligence on your chosen local builder as possible and have protected yourself as much as you reasonably can.

Bishop Ltd – Bespoke Builders and Developers – Covering Kent and Essex

Contact us for all your building needs: 0208 926 2010 | info@bishopltd.com

Website: www.bishopltd.com

We are a leading reputable and experienced bespoke construction company covering Essex and Kent. Our services include all aspects of commercial and residential building works, with a completely managed construction process spanning the Pre- Construction, Construction and Post-Construction phases of your project. This includes Architecture and Construction, Project Feasibility, Cost Analysis, and Site Management. We have offices in Loughton Essex and Aylesford Kent and operate across Essex and Kent.

Natural and Synthetic Materials used in Construction – Bishop Ltd

 Construction of buildings involves the use of a variety of building materials. These materials can be classified into two types, ‘natural’ or ‘synthetic’ (man-made) materials.

Natural constructing materials such as clay, mud, and straw are still used today in some warmer climate countries. Here in the UK, natural materials, such as sand and stone, are widely used in a variety of ways within the construction of buildings. For example, houses can be made of cut quarry stone and sand is used in almost everything in the construction process, from an additive when mixing cement to padding under patio slabs.

Synthetic materials are also commonly used. Plastic is a good example of man-made building material. Plastic pipes and fittings have taken over from the older metal versions in recent years; UPVC instead of wood is another great example when it comes to window frames. Below are a few more common natural and synthetic building materials but how many more can you think of?

Bricks

Bricks are one of the oldest types of natural building materials. This is not surprising when considering their advantages; they are weather resistant, fireproof and even pest proof. They are made by grinding down shale, a lightweight rock that splits easily into thin layers, then compacting the residue to form the bricks.

Wood

Wood is another long-standing natural material used in construction. Carpenters have been around for centuries crafting elaborate carvings from wood, which were then used as features and motifs to enhance the beauty of a structure. Wood is almost as common as a brick in the construction of homes, although, these days wood is used more as an internal feature (staircase, skirting, etc…) than externally. With modern buildings, glass and metal appear to have replaced the use of wood.

Concrete

Concrete is a man-made building material, although created by the mixing of natural materials. You could say concrete (like glass) is a bit of a hybrid when categorizing in this way. It is widely used in everyday construction, especially when extra strength and durability is required, for example, concrete frames are used when building car parks or shopping centers. Here the use of steel rods within the cement, in particular, ‘piling’ underneath the structure is common practice.

Rock and Granite

Rock and Granite are quarried from the ground and cut into a usable size. It is used both as an internal (e.g. granite worktops) and external (e.g. patio slabs) building material. It is one of the strongest and most hard-wearing materials to use. However, it is very expensive so its use is more limited than alternative more cost-effective materials. 

Plastic or Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the world’s third most widely produced synthetic plastic. It comes in two basic forms, rigid and flexible; making it the most common type of construction material used for fixtures and fittings, in the form of pipes, guttering, and window frames, etc... Plastic is durable, rustproof and (to a certain degree) heat resistant so an ideal modern alternative to metal fittings. 

Glass

Glass is used as often as bricks in the construction of buildings, some buildings appear more glass than brick these days, the Shard in London is a great example of this. It goes without saying; glass is a very versatile product. It is widely used as a general building material and different forms of glass are used to enhance the appearance of homes and office spaces, both internal and externally. Glass bricks, a more recent invention than regular bricks, are used for just this decorative purpose. Glass, although another of man’s creations is a mix of refined natural products which have been mixed together, heated and then molded (when hot and pliable) to create a clear or opaque material.

Metal

Different types of metals such as iron, aluminum, and steel are used as construction materials. Coated or polished metals are used as decorative additions to buildings.  

Straw

Although commonly used in the past as a roof thatching material it is less common to see these days. This is because it has a shelf life and, unlike slate roof tiles, needs replacing more often over time. An additional benefit of thatching is that it also functions as insulation, therefore, keeping the home warm.

In every instance, it is essential to use good quality materials to ensure strength, safety, and durability of a structure. It is also important to hire the services of a professional builder and engineer to assist you with purchasing the right building materials for your needs, their advice and expertise will be invaluable, and safeguard you against structural issues with your build at a later date. 

Contact Bishop Ltd – Builders and Developers - for all your building needs!

We are a leading bespoke commercial and residential construction company. Our services include a completely managed construction process, spanning the Pre- Construction, Construction and Post-Construction phases of your project. Our main services include Architecture and Construction, Project Feasibility, Cost Analysis, and Project Management. We have offices in Loughton Essex and Aylesford Kent and operate across Essex and Kent. 

Professional Local builders in Dartford Kent | Bishop Ltd

With residential projects it’s normally very complicated for the average person to know where to start, Architects, Planning Permissions, Building Regulations, etc. For this reason, we at Bishop Ltd decided to include an additional service to our list i.e. “Management and Design services”. 

Our Design Consultant service is a stand-alone package that encompasses all the early stages of your project. These early stages relate generally to the design, drawings, and Planning Permission aspect of a project. If you are setting out as a ‘first time builder’ we would strongly advise that you consider using this service. 

The main aim of this service is to help you to achieve not only the best results for your plan but also gain a clear vision of how you would like your property to serve you and your family. All design work for a new home, or extension, has to be thoroughly considered to make sure you get the best possible use out of your new space. Once we are clear on the design part of the build we can then provide you with the support of our architect. They will complete all your plans and drawings in preparation for submission to your local Planning Permissions Authority. Whatever design and planning support you need we at Bishop Ltd is here to help you. Contact us at 02089262010.