This may look like any other new development, but for us it was a step in a different direction.  We were approached through  recommendation by a private client wanting to build his own house,  he not only wanted bricklayers to build his house to his own design and to call on our experience in any minor construction changes, he also wanted us to project manage from foundation up to plate and supply all materials for this purpose. This, after a little thought we did.

We based our cost for the management and the materials on  a flat mark-up of 10%. The client was happy because he got his materials Net of the vat, so saving 7.5% and we received 10% on materials for our administration. This job is a work in-progress so no finished pictures yet. Built traditionally with a single plinth around the perimeter and finished with a ‘light raked-out chariot’ joint.

The rear of the house you see is in fact an extension, however very little of the original house remains. Once again we were able to be  left on our own to manage ourselves, keep up to date with materials and overcome any small problems that inevitably arise. This was all done within our agreed day-work rates or initial price. The bricks are a ‘Tumbled stock’ laid stretcher half bond with a flush joint.

These apartments were built in Pulborough, West Sussex. A little further afield than we would normally go. As a company we generally go wherever the work is, in a nut shell, if we can staff the work and supervise it correctly, then we will take the job on for you.

The apartments are timber framed encased with a 100mm thermalite block skin around the shell and a 600mm brick band detail at DPC. Internally a lift shaft started at below ground floor with a lift pit and up with and over-run in the loft space. The labour for this job on average was a 3 & 1 and it  took 3 – 4 weeks.

This job was the first for this developer, a medium sized firm from Alton. There were four parts to this project; A new steel framed extension to the rear, built traditionally; a first floor timber framed extension to the left hand side; another traditional ground and first floor extension to the right hand side (with the drive through to the car park) and finally for this project there were major structural alterations internally incorporating engineered ‘Acro’ supports. Although this part of the work was not in our original contract, we took the work on as this was the most efficient way to move forward and also the most economical, for the contractor. This extra internal work tended to evolve so we had to be flexible with our workforce. Some days needing several extra people some days none at all, leaving the site for several days or even weeks. This was done with no additional cost to the contractor for ‘Non-Continuation of work’. We knew we had to be flexible and do what was needed to keep the job moving and within program.

Below you can see some internal images of building, to show some of the alterations that we embarked on.