Complete Renovations
Thinking of completely revamping your house and making it into your dream home? A full renovation unlocks a whole range of benefits.
It is an opportunity to wholly remodel your living space. Whether you are looking to make a better home for your family, or looking to create a beautiful, comfortable and even luxurious new place that matches your needs.
If return of investment is what you are looking for, a renovation can also add value to your property. Especially if you are building add-ons as well, such as an extension, loft conversion, and adding extra bathrooms or bedrooms.
A refurbishing job will also give you the chance to upgrade the energy efficiency of your home, helping you save a lot of costs on the long run.
At AFL Construction, we offer a full package of managing and carrying out the renovation on your behalf. This way, we can save you time and help you avoid the hassle of coordinating a large and complex project. Of course, we will see to make your vision of your perfect home to come true with our expertise, experience, advice and dedication.
Please, check these examples of full refurbishment in our project gallery:
What does a complete renovation involve?
Generally, this would start with a site visit and a full consultation about the feasibility of your project. Producing a scope and a set of drawings, followed by a quote, a written contract and a schedule program of the works.
Once we enter the construction phase, we start by gutting and clearing the property. Returning it nearly or completely to the former shell. After this is complete we start any structural work to the interior. Then it is time to install the elements of the dwelling, such as:
Plumbing electrical and heating systems
Insulation
Floors, doors and windows
Kitchen and bathroom fittings, followed by redecorating and finishing.
During the works, we will be discussing the progress together not less than once a week, and we will be sending you emails with questions for smaller decisions.
Guidance Before you start; the pre-construction phase.
You will need the relevant permissions, regulations and agreements.
Check with your local authority to see if your planned renovation falls under the Permitted Development Scheme. If not, you will need a Planning Permission. Do not forget to budget the time (ca. 8 weeks) and money for this. You will also need to submit the drawings along with your application. You might also need to arrange a meeting with a planning officer to see if your project is likely to be approved. The costs for this are within a few hundred pounds, but the benefits outweigh the costs, and with it your application process will proceed with more certainty.
If you are a leaseholder you may need permission from the freeholder.
If the required work is in close proximity to the shared walls and/or boundaries of you and your neighbors, you may need to sign a Party Wall agreement to proceed with the project.
It is essential to check whether you need to notify Building Control. The Building Control institution are there to help and make both, homeowners and builders, comply with building regulations.
WE CAN ADVISE ON THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS
What to consider before you start
Make yourself clear on what you want to achieve before you start. Reasons to refurbish are plenty, whether it be to increase the value of your property looking for a sale, or to accommodate the changing needs of your family; perhaps just to make your home more functional, comfortable, new. Having a clear objective will allow you to know what to prioritize and to focus in your budget, and will help you save any costs (and time, for us and you) associated with sudden changes to the scope or fittings and finishes part-way through the project.
When allocating your budget, never underestimate contingency costs! When working a house, especially an older property, unexpected issues could emerge. Those issues include:
Old plumbing or antique wiring that urgently needs replacement due to hazardous conditions.
Crumbling lather plaster
Mold from hidden leaks
Dry rot
Issues are a plenty, and with the natural wear-and tear of a house, it happens often that there is at least one issue, however small, that would need fixing.
For this, you should set aside a portion of your budget. Generally around 15% to 20% would allow for a wider flexibility in your project. Also, some time would need to be accommodated as well to deal with such issues.
When considering some of your properties original features, why not consider restoring rather than replacing? At AFL Construction, we will be able to do so. This way, your house will retain the character it's original character but with a new look. Prices vary, but it is not necessarily a cheap option.
When it comes to the electrics and heating, older buildings might need a complete rewiring as well as a new heating system. For more contemporary houses, there is always a good chance to upgrade the home for your current and future needs. Perhaps adding extra lighting and sockets, as well as swapping an older heating system and boiler for a new one with an overall better performance and efficiency (translating to money saved in the long run)
Our team can manage your entire project from start to finish. This will enable you to keep your refurbishment on track, and you will benefit from out experience when it comes to anticipating and handling sudden variables, efficiently managing the different trades involved and advise you on choices. This will save you lots of time and a big amount of money.
How much does a complete renovation cost?
Costs will vary greatly depending on the extent and specification of your renovation; as well as the type of your materials and whether you want to to build an extension to the property and/or replace the kitchen/bathroom. Truth is, homes come in all shapes and sizes, and equally so, each client's visions and dreams for their property are different. For a price quote, do not hesitate to contact us and we will gladly help you find your way to your dream house!
Generally, for a full renovation of a house, the budget goes upwards £900 per square meter (subject to VAT)
FAQs
Can I live in my house while it is being refurbished?
It is possible to stay in your house during a refurbishment, but we very strongly recommend you to move out when possible, and at the very least to do so during the most intensive work parts.
The byproducts of a full refurbishment include a fair deal of noise, dust, interruptions of water and electricity, etc.
Staying in the house is possible, but it will test most client's wills, as the constant exposure to the environment can cause a great deal of stress.
How long does a house refurbishment take?
It varies greatly depending on the extent of the works and the condition of the property. But generally, do allow for somewhere in the range of 3 to 6 months for an apartment and 3 to 9 months for a house.
In terms of progress of the works, preventing problems is far better, faster and cheaper than troubleshooting. We have a dedicated and experience project manager on site that will keep everything on track, manage costs, and handle any unexpected issues during the renovation. The manager will also communication with you, foresee and discuss any possible problems.
We only work with tradesmen we trust and who have proven themselves, on their own and with us, on their reliability to carry a project as reliable professionals. Our team is also covered by a Professional Liability Insurance. You can definitely feel confident to hand over your keys and let us get on with the work.
Finally, for any defects after the hand-over, we have a defects liability period, when we will come back and rectify any issues.
What do I need to do to prepare an estimate?
Get in touch with us to arrange a site visit and consultation.
Please, forward photos and plans of the property.
If you have an idea of your budget, and what you want to achieve with that, along with any plans that you might already have drawn up, that will also be really helpful.