Latest News
Loft Conversion in Kingston Upon Thames
|
Mr and Mrs Willis, from Kingston Upon Thames, contacted Marble Construction in May 2009 and asked us to come over and discuss their needs for an additional bedroom in the loft conversion. |
New Vehicle Branding
Aenean lobortis nunc dignissim odio accumsan bibendum? Donec id sollicitudin tellus. Nullam iaculis, tortor sed ullamcorper adipiscing, arcu dui accumsan orci, non condimentum turpis risus vitae metus. Morbi sit amet mi et turpis pellentesque suscipit quis a augue.
Nam ac mauris metus. Donec sed tincidunt massa. Ut id sem et libero posuere hendrerit semper sed neque. Duis porttitor tincidunt dictum. Praesent vel quam erat, sit amet vehicula magna. Praesent at mi neque. Continue reading this article…
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…
Rear Dormer Conversions
A rear dormer extension is the process by which the back slope of the roof is removed and then built up into a box shape from the rear elevation. Rear dormers are usually built off the back wall and up off both the sides.
They are normally finished in either tiles or slates, depending on the style and characteristics of your property.
Loft Conversions
Space. We all need it. Have you ever considered a loft conversion?
Loft conversions are easily built and can have a huge effect on your house. The space that can be achieved by a loft conversion is quite considerable. Perhaps you could do with a new bedroom or guest room in your house? Many of our previous customers who have had loft conversions built said that the reason for it was because of that extra space required, such as an extra bedroom or even a study area.
The possibilities for a loft conversion are endless, and you can decide what you want the space to become. Loft conversions can sometimes become the best looking room in the house. The fitting of several Velux roof windows can transform the room into a light calm area.
At Marble Construction we specialise in Loft Conversions so why not consider one? Call us now for a free quotation on 0844 813 1111 or alternatively call Stuart on 07525 650011
The Permitted Development Laws
Planning permission was, and indeed still is, a slight bother in some of the councils within the London, Hampshire and Surrey areas. Thanks to new permitted development laws that were introduced in October 2008, home-owners can now extend their house in more than one way, without having to obtain planning permission.
Before October 2008 every house had a certain allowance by which it could be extended without needing planning permission. The allowance on a mid terrace was 50 metres cubed whereas for a detached or semi-detached house the allowance was 70 metres cubed. This became an issue for people who already had an extension because the law on planning permission restricted loft conversions in an unfair way to stop people from maximising the amount of space and their investment.
However, as of October 2008, permitted development laws have doubled the amount of space by which home-owners can extend, allowing them to maximise the potential of their property by converting their loft as well as extending their kitchen or lounge area for example to create more space. This means that you can now still have a loft extension without applying for planning permission even if you already have a side or rear extension! If you read the last post on hip-to-gable extensions this law also helps you out.
One thing that should be said though is that this law does not apply to flats or listed buildings as well as some buildings in conservation areas. However, if your property does not fall into any of those three categories you’re in luck.
There are many projects which you can now have done without needing planning permission, such as having alterations to the inside of your house or other extensions built. There are of course strict rules for each individual extension which must be followed.
The rules themselves, however, are quite simple, usually regarding the size of the extension and so forth. For instance, some rules governing side extensions state “Side extensions must not exceed 4 metres in height, have more than one storey or be greater than half the width of the original house”. As you can see the rules are very straightforward and they also give you many options to extend your house without applying for planning permission.
For a free quotation and to check whether or not your particular extension would need planning permission please phone Marble Construction on 0844 813 1111 or alternatively phone Stuart on 07525 650011.
Hip-To-Gable Conversions
What’s it about?
A hip-to-gable loft conversion involves replacing an existing roof hip with a gable end wall. The hip in question is the sloping side of the roof, thus called the “hipped” side. By changing the hip to a gable, it allows you to achieve a considerable amount of extra space in your loft compared to converting your loft with the hip still in place. If you can imagine your roof with three slopes, the hip is the slope which falls to the side of your property. Hip-to-gables are found on most semi-detached properties and many end of terrace properties. The photo below shows a converted hip to gable.
How is it done?
The building process is often found to be the most difficult of all the loft conversion processes. As the conversion requires altering a major part of the roof it is likely that you will have to apply for planning permission to achieve the full hip-to-gable effect. However, in October 2008 the law changed regarding the permissible area by which you are allowed to extend the roof. Please click here for more details.
Although a hip-to-gable conversion is very complex you can rest assured that Marble Construction are complete specialists and will build a hip-to-gable in approximately 6-8 weeks. The time will vary depending on the width of your property and the complexity of the roof structure.
A hip-to-gable can be finished in a few different ways to suit the property. A hip-to-gable can be finished in either facing brickwork, blockwork and render, blockwork and pebble dash, hanging tiles, slates or cedar cladding. You will not have to make this decision until your plans are drawn. Our customer Mrs Davies who has recently had a hip-to-gable conversion said “Marble Construction have done a wonderful job. Everything was very straightforward and before I knew it the conversion was completed within 5 weeks”.
Are there any eco upgrades?
There are many different eco upgrades that you can choose which will benefit your home. One of Marble Construction’s suppliers, Jewsons, offer a wide range of eco products, some of which can be used in hip-to-gable constructions. One of these is called Smartroof®. Smartroof specialise in roofing panels and they are generally quicker to connect, which in turn speeds up the build process.
There are many benefits with using Smartroof panels.
- thermal efficiency – as the panels work very well as heat insulators your left will be kept cool in the summer and warm in the winter
- time – working in partnership with Smartroof, we can build your roof from their factory and convert your loft within a couple of days rather than weeks which is the normal time frame for a loft conversion.
- money – comparing Smartroof with a traditional roofing method there is not a great deal of difference in price
How much will it cost?
A hip-to-gable conversion is often built with a rear dormer attached which maximizes the total space when converting your loft. Hip-to-gable rear dormers would usually cost in the region of around £35,000 to £38,000 but this is subject to the fixtures and final finishes required for every individual customer.
Marble Construction offer a second package which allows customers to get involved with converting their loft. This package offers all of the structual work to be completed as well as the outside work, such as windows, veluxes, tiling, fascias and soffits. In fact everything from the outside will be completed allowing you to finish the inside of your loft at your own speed. Internal finishes that will need to be completed by yourself are the insulation and plasterboard, electrics and plumbing (1st and 2nd fix), plastering and flooring. This package can often save up to 20% – 35% of the full package price. This allows the practically minded homeowner to benefit from converting their loft to a hip-to-gable, whatever their individual budget. We at Marble Construction feel that customer satisfaction is very important and will explain the different loft options available at our free design survey.
For more information on lofts, please see our main page on loft conversions.
If you would like a free quotation please do not hesitate to call us now on 0844 813 1111 or alternatively call Stuart on 07525 650011.
Conservatory in Virginia Water
Here is a large conservatory we recently constructed in Virginia Water, Surrey.
Our customers, Mr and Mrs Sa joe, heard about Marble Construction through a friend who had had a similar type design done by us in the summer of 2006.
The project took 3 weeks to construct and Simon couldn’t believe it was done so quick. He said ” We thought you built our friends’ conservatory fast when it was done in 4 weeks, but to do ours a week faster and still manage to keep the quality so high is fantastic”
Thanks to Simon and Nicky and their kind referrals, we now have the opportunity to construct a smaller conservatory for Simon’s parents who live in Esher, Surrey. They are hoping to start their project in Spring 2008.
If you would like a similar conservatory designed and built by Marble Construction then please contact us as we would only be too happy to come over and discuss your requirements.
Installing Underfloor Heating
When undertaking building works, whether it is a big double storey extension or a simple bathroom conversion, underfloor heating is a great option to consider.
Underfloor heating comes in two different types. There’s a hot water pipe system and an electric system.
Both options can be installed in any room of the house, from a family bathroom, lounge or utility room.
Underfloor heating works by giving a steady radiation heat over the whole floor area whether carpet or floor tiles. The temperature you require can be set by using controls so the whole house has a constant level of comfort to suit your family whilst also freeing up wall space from radiators.
- Marble Construction join the companies at Nimbus, Farnborough. http://t.co/ZjBizN1B #
- How to lay the perfect slate roof... http://t.co/y1VKK56f #
- End of an era :( http://t.co/OWih3JTN #
- An interesting door mat concept going on at the new office... http://t.co/iv2YkKgv #
- Stuart having a creative morning in the new office. http://t.co/8vuDzJg3 #