Design and Architectural Services, making it all that much easier…

The average person may have some difficulty in knowing where to start with their residential building project. It can be a mine field of bodies and red tape, Architects, Builders, Planning Permissions, Building Regulations etc. People usually start with an idea in their mind about what they want to build / extend but don’t really know how to fully go about it.

Our company, Bishop Ltd, started as local builders in Aylesford Kent but have recently expanded the company to also cater for the south Essex area, Chigwell in Essex and Loughton in Essex being the main hubs of our activity. In all areas, we found that clients were too busy to spend time going out looking for ideas but had an image in mind as to what they wanted as an end result for their homes. For this reason, we at Bishop Ltd decided to include a further service to our list to help support our clients a little more than the average builder, Design Consultants. Our Design Consultant service is a stand-alone package that encompasses all the early stages of a project. These early stages relate mainly to the design, drawings and Planning Permission aspect of a project. If you are setting out as a ‘first time builder’ we would strongly advice that you consider using this service.

The aim is to help you achieve not only the best results for your project, but to also gain a clear vision of how you would like your property to serve you, and your family. For example, it may be that you work from home so need to divide the internal space in such a way as to include a study, or would it be best to add that new office with a garage conversion. All design work for a new home, or extension, must be thoroughly considered to make sure you get the optimum use out of your new space.

With our design service, after confirming your likes and dislikes, we will start by helping you to focus on an actual design layout that works for your new property, or new space in the case of extensions. This could include helping you to decide what style or look you want to achieve, both internally and externally, what you will be using the new space(s) for, or it could be help with choosing the right doors, windows, kitchens or bathrooms.

Once we are clear on the design part of the build we can then provide you with the support of our architect. He will complete all your plans and drawings in preparation for submission to your local Planning Permissions Authority. For a small fee, we can make the submission for planning permission for you.

Whatever design and planning support you need we at Bishop Ltd are here to help you. Why not give us a call and put us to the test!

Website - Local builders in Aylesford Kent

Few Basic Points to Consider When Building Your New Home

Before jumping in to the exciting prospect of building your new home you should think long and hard if this is really the path you want to take, or would it be more suitable and cost effective to simply buy a new property. Don’t get me wrong, if you do decide to build your home, and if you use the services of a reputable building company, the joy will definitely outweigh the headaches but you must approach your project with your eyes wide open.

I failed to do this on my first project in Chigwell Essex. I did get advice from a friend, who was also a local builders in Gravesend Kent, and although his advice on the build was invaluable he was not accustom to the Chigwell area (I obviously should have contacted a local builder in Chigwell Essex instead!). Therefore, I did not fully comprehend the pitfalls I could face when building my own home. If I was to give one piece of advice on this subject it would be this… it is essential you gather as much knowledge and advice about the property and its location from as many people in the local area as possible before making your final decision to proceed with a new build house!

Before instructing an architect to draft pre-application plans to your local council, speak to the council about your intentions and other projects in the area to get an indication as to what you will or will not be allowed to build in that location. I did not do this! Once you have this information it will be much easier to decide if what you want to proceed with the new build home or not, and for your architect to draft plans that are more likely to be accepted. Also, do not be scared to speak to a couple of ‘local’ builders and your architect for guidance on points you are unsure about before speaking to the council. They are pretty knowledgeable when it comes to local councils and their requirements. If your builder is providing you with an estimated quote make sure you make notes of everything they are including in the quote, and make sure they provide you with a detailed quote in writing before they start work!

Cost is always going to be the cornerstone of your decision to proceed so you should look at costs not only pertaining to the build but also to things like; storage of furniture, regular ongoing bills like council tax and water rates, rental property or hotel bills, these all need to be factored into your budget. Additional things to consider would include; the time it will take to complete the works, the impact it will have on your family (pets) and your lives - for example the school run could be a lot further everyday if you rented a house in a different area. Make sure you have a clear vision of all the ups and downs before moving forward to the next step.

So, if you have a realistic budget, are clued up about your local building requirements, and employ a reputable building company and architect to do the work you have more chance of a healthy and exciting building experience.

Happy New Home Building! @ Local builders in Gravesend Kent

Find the Best Local Builders to construct your Dream House

We all have totally different expectations from our dream house. Some dream of getting a casual rumpus room within the basement whilst others al desire is to have a sun nook where they can relax. In my opinion, a dream house is a home that satisfies and justifies the needs of each member living in the property.

Nowadays with the abundant information available on the internet it makes it far easier to search out a local builders in Dartford Kent than ever before, however, it’s still valuable to state some basic rules which can enable you to employ the right builder for you whilst avoiding some of the hassles or issues. For example, use a trustworthy website. Like everything else on the net, the square measure of a company’s website must be trustworthy or you could be entering dangerous grounds for you and your computer, scam artists often portray themselves as different people to get to your stored financial details on your computer, be careful when using these untrustworthy sites. Finding, and steering toward, a reliable and counselled web site with better load times can also help make transactions easier and bother free.

When your square measure is to shop for a brand new property it's necessary to think about any work that needs to be undertaken on the property before you consider it to be a contender as a new family home. Only a few people are lucky enough to move into a new property and make only a minimum of changes, like just aesthetic changes, however, the majority prefer to make their own mark on the house with major works, like extensions.

Another person’s square measure of a property could be focused on the garden. If they are retired or have loads of free time, then growing plants, flowers and vegetables may be on their agenda, and space for a large greenhouse in your garden may be at the top of their list of priorities. Some individuals’ square measure may be linked to requiring space to work from home, the need to add a sensible and user-friendly home office would be their major requirement.

Home restoration or improvement has always been very popular with both old and new home owners, within any economic climate, to maximise the use of all the space in a home. All new home owners want to keep the purchase price of the property to a minimum so will buy a house now with the intention to create the space they need later. So keep your fenestra cochleae open and listen to good advice from web sites you have the square measure of before moving forward with your plans for that dream house!

www.bishopltd.com | info@bishopltd.com | 0208 926 2010

WELCOME TO BISHOP LTD

Bishop Ltd is a bespoke construction company that offers their clients the opportunity to build the property of their dreams or carry out refurbishments on their current homes.

Working alongside a team of highly skilled tradesmen we are able to deliver a fast and reliable service to our clients.

Our Founder

Our founder's inspiration for Bishop Ltd came from working in his own family business for over 25 years. From the age of 21 he was fortunate enough to work at management level in high end projects as a sub-contractor. Whilst working in the family business he came to realise his passion lay in developments, building projects and project management, which fuelled him to create a company that focused purely on such projects and specialities.

Our Business Manager

Our business manager brings over 25 years of business management experience to the company and is heavily invested in Bishop Ltd. She has successfully formed and developed a variety of different companies from the ground up and is using the same expertise to make Bishop Ltd a leading company in the construction industry.

Our Values

Loyalty, trust and maintaining an open communication system with all clients is very important to us. These core values have helped us grow into the company we are today. Bishop Ltd is 100% committed to delivering the best possible outcome for the client, we always aim to complete the project within the clients' budget and on time. A satisfied client is what we rate our success on.

Services

Bishop Ltd specialises in Commercial and Residential new builds, fit-outs, refurbishments, improvements and extensions, as well as delivering a complete Project Management service for their clients. The Bishop Ltd team have over 25 years of experience and extensive knowledge of the construction industry, both in the UK and abroad. You will receive great ideas, endless support and an exceptional service. As Sub-Contractor’s we have worked with Main Contractors to fit-out select areas of their project, for example, the fit-out of just the kitchens and/or bathrooms of a Main Contractors project.

Other

Please note, due to building regulations in certain areas, we may require planning permission to carry out refurbishments, home improvements, extensions, and to construct new builds. Once the planning permission has been approved, Bishop Ltd and the design consultants will be able to start designing and building your dream home.

Contact Us:- Local builder in Loughton Essex | 0208 926 2010, 0737 885 1000 | info@bishopltd.com

Modern New Build or Traditional Older Property?

A modern style home is all too familiar these days but before we talk more about these, I would like to acknowledge the beauty of the older more traditional properties. There’s a lot to be said for the pre-1950’s built homes. You may have heard your parents talk about how the older properties were “solid and built to last”, unlike the hordes of quick builds spewed out today to create the sprawling new housing estates. If you look carefully you will notice tons of original features in older properties whereas the new builds tend to have sharp clean lines and little of anything else. It does come down to personal preference but for me the traditional features of old can’t be beaten and I am often found rummaging around salvage yards looking for exciting new finds to use on my next project. For example, I had a local builder in Chigwell Essex stunned with how much amazing ‘stuff’ I came back with, after one of my ‘shopping sprees’. Amongst other bits, I found an amazing cast iron fireplace and a near perfect ceiling rose to adorn the hallway, sadly most of the traditional features had been ripped out of the property by the previous owners.

The modern new build properties also have their place on my scale but only those where the new home builder has used traditional standards to work to, that is, the house is “solid and built to last”! To reach the upper part of my scale, the walls would need to be solid and better insulated than the average new build property, in turn, providing greater sound proofing, and there would need to be some internal design features even if they bare a modern twist, for example, modern style coving around the tops of the walls rather than leaving it bare (to my mind this is unfinished). Essentially, the new build house would need to be a mix of the two, modern with a dash of traditional, the property must have some personal touches to create character.

So, which type of house would you go for? If we set aside the general upheaval involved in building a new home, it would seem we can have the best of both worlds if we build our new home. The overall look of the new property can be built in a way to reflect a contemporary modern style and by adding character enhancing details throughout the house it won’t appear clinical and unhomely. In addition, by using traditional standards of house building we can ensure the walls and foundations are solid structures. The other positive about building your own home is that you can divide and layout the internal rooms to your liking. If you have the resources and the patience to build your own home then I would advise you to go for it!


Contact Bishop Ltd - for professional and stress free building services!

www.bishopltd.com | 0208 926 2010 | info@bishopltd.com