Latest News
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.
Marble planning to attend the Ideal Home Show 2010
Another year has passed and with the snow falling and the weather terrible for builders at the moment, Marble Construction are planning to shake off the winter blues and look forward to attending the Ideal Home Show 2010.
This event is held between the 20th of March and the 5th of April 2010.
Our 4×4 trucks are hard at work today.
The Mitsubishi L200, WhatVan’s Best Pick-up 2008, is our Van of the Year 2010!
This truck is a machine and handles brilliantly in the snow. Today the snow is so deep that our other vans, such as the VW Caddies and the Ford Transits, just cannot cope.
Where every other builder could potentially be calling off work because they’re snowed in, Marble Construction will continue to work. With precious deadlines to meet, it is vital that we do not lose a few days due to these unforeseen circumstances.
Even the snow doesn't stop Marble Construction.
Terrible weather conditions today have brought the country to a grinding halt. Millions of people have cancelled going to work, many airports, train stations, bus routes and hundreds of schools have closed due to the heavy snow fall, but Marble construction continue to work…
The full team, including most of our apprentices, have all made their way through the snow to work this morning and are continuing to build on our local projects.
Cut the VAT!
VAT on building work, such as lofts and extensions, is far too expensive and needs to be cut.
By doing this, the Government will ensure that millions of home owners will be able to stay where they are and extend their property rather than having to keep moving.
The FMB (Federation of Master Builders) are focused on lowering the new 17.5% VAT rate that takes effect today (January 1st 2010) and are campaigning to have it reduced to just 5% in early 2011. This all sounds good on the surface, but with raw materials like timber, steel and gyprock products going up and up with inflation, something needs to happen in the building industry.
If you feel the same, get behind the Petition and go to cutthevat.co.uk for more details.
Is my loft high enough?
One of the most common questions people ask themselves when thinking about a loft conversion is “Is my loft high enough?”
Some lofts are easily past the minimum height whilst others are only just over and some are under the height.
When it comes to loft conversions some lofts are generally easier to convert than other lofts due to important factors such as the size, the shape and the type of construction available. The main factor out of these 3 is the height of the loft. Continue reading this article…
- 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 #