Latest News
Marble Construction become an FMB Masterbond Member
It’s now official, Marble Construction have now become an FMB Masterbond member.
As a business, Marble Construction could not apply for the Masterbond membership with the FMB until the third year of trading. The Masterbond Membership certifies that Marble Construction has met the required level of quality that the FMB registration board has set and can now offer an insurance backed guarantee against our quality of work.
Continue reading this article…
Hot water underfloor heating
When extending a property with an extension or loft conversion, underfloor heating is one of the most popular extras that people ask us about.
21st century living has proven that most of our time at home is spent in the kitchen/living area, and with radiators being a thing of the past, Hot water underfloor heating is the definitely the future.
When considering to install underfloor heating, there are two different types of flooring system. For bathrooms with a floor space of up to 8 squared meters, the most common option would be an electric under floor heating system. If the bathroom floor finish is a ceramic tile or stone, a wire matting system would be recommended where as if the floor finish is going to be a solid wood floor finish, an electric foil system would be recommended.
If you are considering a kitchen extension, and the floor space is going to be under 20 squared meters, an electric wire or foil system would also be the recommended system to use however, if you are thinking about installing underfloor heating throughout the whole property or the kitchen/living area is greater than 20 squared meters, then hot water underfloor heating is the right way to go.
Hot water underfloor heating is generally a greater outlay when it comes to the initial installation but the long term running costs will be less than running electric underfloor heating on big floor spaces.
The benefit of hot water underfloor heating is that it runs on a closed circuit travelling to and from the boiler or pressurised heating cylinder via a manifold that pumps the water round the circuit. The cost savings happen compared to electric underfloor heating as we always keep or produce hot water for washing facilities within the home, where as electric underfloor heating has to continually use electricity to heat the matt when its turned on.
Hot water underfloor heating costs approximately £2,500 to £3,500 including VAT for a kitchen area around 20 to 30 squared meters.
Below are a few photos demonstrating a typical hot water installation:-
If you would like a free design consultation to discuss your requirements for some underfloor heating, please call Marble Construction now on 0844 813 1111
The 17 Day Extension Experience…
When Marble Construction programme a loft conversion or extension into start, the build duration is one of the most thought about concepts out of the whole process. There is nothing on this planet that is more stressful (apart from moving house) than having an extension take place in the back garden. When Marble Construction commit to a start date, we have already booked in the vital contractors to come in at the most convenient time to make sure your building experience is as stressless as possible.
This diary below is a real life building log from an extension we started in February 2010. This extension took 5 weeks to build (17 working days, start to finish) and was located in Chelmsford, Essex. Being based in Farnborough, Hampshire this two and a half journey to and from the site was only going to make this build more complex
Week 1 (Monday – Thursday)
It’s day one and the skip has arrived, the digger has arrived and our ground work team have started to clear the site, the team leader has introduced himself to the customer and has briefed the guys of what is about to happen over the new 4 days.
Within the first day the site was cleared and digging had commenced, once the ground condition was reviled, the concrete was booked in to deliver the next working day. By the end of the second day the foundations were completely dug (down to 2 meters), the soil was excavated and removed from site and the site was tidied. The building inspector visited that afternoon and the concrete was poured before dark. On day third day, our team began to bring the extension out of the ground and up to DPC level and left to set overnight. The insulation, the steel reinforcing and sharp sand was ordered and delivered in the same day. On the forth day of the week, the insulation was laid, the reinforcing bars were in and the building inspector visited the site for the second time to check the over-site layout before the over-site pour. By 3pm that afternoon, concrete lorry arrived and the over-site was poured. By 6pm that day the team cleaned the site for the weekend break and began to set off home.
Week 2 (Monday – Wednesday)
Our bricklaying team arrived with the materials already delivered to site. The brick match was made over the weekend and a brick sample was brought back at the end of the first week. The bricklaying team completed the extension, a long with four window/door openings and two gable ends within three days and the job was ready for the roof to be pitched next week.
Week 3 (Monday – Thursday)
Our roofing team, along with Marble Plumbing Ltd and Marble Electrical Ltd went to site and began the roof and 1st fix plumbing and electrical. The Velux roof windows were installed and and tiles were ordered for next working day. The plumber and electrician had a meeting with the customer to discuss the final electrical points and radiator locations. The existing window and doors were re-used and installed into the new window and door openings. On the last day of this week, the site was cleaned and and guys left site.
Week 4 (Monday – Wednesday)
The plasterers arrived on Monday and plastered the new extension. The screed was laid and left to set over the long weekend.
Week 5 (Monday – Wednesday)
The 2nd fix carpentry team started early and got straight onto the 2nd fix work such as swinging doors, fitting the skirting and architraves, being closely followed by are decorating team. Marble Plumbing and Marble Electrical came on the last day once everything was completed to hang the radiators and install all the spotlight fittings and power points.
This 17 day extension was a real test of our project management and internal systems that we have been working on over the last few months.
If you would like to talk to this customer about their extension experience with Marble Construction please call us on 0203 411 7025 and we will be happy to arrange this.
The new AirFlow System now available…
A revolutionary new air flow system is a fantastic way of building modern loft conversions. When the decision aries about what company to instruct to build your loft conversion, take into consideration the construction materials used to build your loft.
When it comes to understanding the construction process of how a loft conversion is built, no one expects the general public to be aware of what options are available to make your loft more eco friendly.
There are new, exciting designs and modern products on the market that were not available, only a few years ago.
Kingston bungalow refurbishment coming to the end!
This 18 week bungalow refurbishment has approached its final few weeks before the completion date.
With the bi-folding doors now installed and the renderers booked in to finish the outside it wont be long before David and Rachel Harvey will be able to move back in.
Continue reading this article…
Kingston’s perfect loft conversion!
The latest loft completed was for Mr and Mrs Heaton from Kingston upon Thames. They wanted to achieve a two equally sized bedrooms for their two children and a separate shower room for them both to use.
Marble Construction started this project in October 2009 and completed the contractual part just before the New Year. Anneke Heaton kindly asked us to complete several extras on her property such as our tiling service for the loft shower room, built-in wardrobes for both the loft bedrooms, our carpet service and our professional decoration service for both the loft bedrooms, the shower room and down the stair well to the front door.
Continue reading this article…
Marble Construction start biggest refurbishment to date…!
At the beginning of March 2010, Marble Construction started the their biggest refurbish project to date. This £250,000 project will really put Marble Construction on the map.
On the 1st of March 2010, Marble Construction started a their latest building project in Clapham, London. This project has been programmed to be built in just 20 weeks.
The house refurbishment is going to include a new basement, loft conversion and a new kitchen extension. It will house 5 double bedrooms, 2 with en-suite shower rooms, 2 family bathrooms, a huge kitchen dinner with a separate family area, a separate reception room and a utility room that will be located in the basement.
- Guildford tomorrow night with Neil Bradley, Anup Rathod & Adam Howarth... should be a good night! #
- Any idea of what you are doing with the £1,000 giveaway?Have a look at our guide to a successful project! http://t.co/kV2vHhan #hants #
- @socialbizzle! Keep going! And thank you for your tips! ;) http://t.co/X8qLZuFE #Farnborough #Hants @gethampshire #
- Good morning #Farnborough! Bored of your creacky front door?Forget it winning £1,000 worth of Home Improvements! http://t.co/B1zh3qbd #
- Dreaming with a full refurbished house before going to sleep?Win £1,000 to spend on home improvements!http://ow.ly/8OoVK #Hants #Hampshire #