Blog - Builders, Bishops Stortford

Jason Hector Jason Hector

A Guide to Home Offices

 
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Many of us are now working from home and had to dedicate a particular area to get our day-to-day activities completed. Some of us are happy to operate in bedrooms or the kitchen, but you may find having your very own home office could be a great addition as we continue to shield against the effects of Covid-19. Having a bespoke office constructed will give you a sense of order and procedure as you can easily separate leisure time and periods in which you should be cracking on with your working routine.

Since the latter stages of last year, we have delved into the wonderful world of home offices as we want to help people make either the temporary or even permanent transition from working away from home. We will get to know what sort of requirements you need in place and decide upon the best possible layout to hand you optimum functionality no matter what line of work you may be in. So, do you think this is something you might benefit from? Well, we have listed some of the things that need to be carefully thought about to get the best results.

Organisation

You need to pick out a room where you can easily organise any paperwork and equipment used on a daily basis. The key to being successful is often having order and routine at the core, so always consider how this needs to be integrated into the overall design. Maybe have a particular space within the room where you can keep certain things stored neatly, whilst also keeping them within easy reach. It’s also important to place your furniture in suitable positions in order to make navigating your way around the room as simple as possible.

Add Some Comfort

There’s every chance you could be sitting in your home office for a very long period of time, especially if you have a long list of clients to deal with or have the laborious task of filling in things like tax returns. This means adding some extra comfort could make prolonged stints slightly more bearable, which can only be a good thing for overall productivity. One of the best things to consider would be underfloor heating as this can help you feel greater warmth during the winter months. When the summer arrives, maybe look into Velux windows, as they can help you regulate both sunlight and airflow with immense ease.

Tone and Style

Everyone is different and this is often reflected with the design choices people make when improving their homes. You might want something open and expansive or something more restricted. There is no right or wrong answer, so think about how you would like to feel when working and look into colour choices that suit your needs. Both traditional and contemporary layouts have their benefits, which means being thorough during the planning stages, especially since this will be a room used on a daily basis.

Conclusion

Now is the perfect time to consider whether homeworking is now a long-term prospect and think about how getting a brand-new office in place could be a great move. If you want to see how our team may be able to assist, get in contact with us now on 01279 771 133.

 
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Jason Hector Jason Hector

Common Building Trades

 
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Whenever we are handed a brand-new building project, one of the very first things we need to consider would be the types of tradesmen needed to get everything done. Since things like home extensions and general renovation work is a huge undertaking, there are lots of people with very different skills-sets who will be required to bring their expertise into fold in order to complete certain aspects of the work.

As a building firm that endeavours to provide the whole package, we have worked with possibly all the trades you could think of when it comes to most forms of construction. If you have any projects lined up over the course of 2021, then you may need to think about who would be needed to ensure you get the results you desire. So, we have broken down some of the most common tradesmen called upon for building work and the sort of tasks they would be ideal for.

Carpenter

Anything that revolves around structural work and wood is often worked on by carpenters. This highly specialised trade is all about measurement and accuracy, since they are often given the task of laying the foundations for subsequent work such as painting and plastering to take place later down the line. Most carpenters will be able to build wooden frames ready for roofers, and even fit both internal and external doors. So, if you have any bespoke outbuilding or home extension planned, you may want to think about getting hold of an experienced carpenter to lend a hand.

Plumber

Any sinks, toilets and showering units will need to be installed by someone well versed in the world of plumbing. All across your home you are likely to have some form of plumbing in place, so this again would be a tradesman likely to be called upon for a majority of building work. The difficulty behind this trade comes from the need to understand how particular appliances are fitted correctly in order to function effectively whilst in use. Grabbing hold of plumbers who install things with the utmost care will also reduce the likelihood of issues arising after the main project has come to an end.

Labourers

The unsung heroes of building work are possibly the labourers. These fine individuals are often given the less pleasant aspects of the work such as clearing rubbish and digging holes. Without hard-working labourers around, tradesmen would struggle to get on with their part of the project and would almost certainly fall behind any working schedules. Joining a building firm as a labourer can also be a great springboard for people to learn more about construction and develop a broad range of skills that can be applied in residential or even commercial work.

Conclusion

Tradesmen are the bedrock behind any building project and really are the ones that bring any plans to life. Depending on the scale of your work, you may need to bring in every possible tradesman at some point, so learning more about what they provide may give you more clarity about how your project is to be undertaken. If you want to see what sort of people we can provide, you can contact us direct on 01279 771 133.

 
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Jason Hector Jason Hector

How to Plan a Home Extension

 
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If you have decided to improve your home with a brand-new home extension, then there’s a number of things you need to consider before the work can actually commence. From the planning stages all the way to the final phases of construction, this particular branch of building work is among the most complex and time-consuming, so careful preparation is always going to be hugely beneficial.

Our team love helping people get the designs they desire in place so they can enjoy their homes in ways they never thought was possible. There are so many reasons to get home extensions built, whether it be for a home office, new playrooms or additional bedrooms. So, let’s go through the most important things to think about before proceeding with any extension work!

What is the Purpose?

As with most building work, you need to think about the core reason for it to even take place. Some of the most common justifications to get home extensions in place would be to open up more space in order to accommodate new family members or to provide somewhere different for people to chill out and unwind. The purpose of the room may dictate a lot of the structural and design choices, which is important for the architectural stages of the project. This means having a clear and concise idea about what the room is going to be used for will make things a lot easier for anyone aiming to bring your vision to life.

What is the Theme?

This again falls into the bracket of what the room will be used for as the colour choices and general design will be dictated by how you want to feel when you enter. Using bright and vibrant colours would be a great route to take for kitchen spaces, whereas bedrooms may benefit more from dark and cosy vibes. Getting personal with the décor is also a great way to really make your new extension feel part of your home and unique only to you. Perhaps decorate the walls with your favourite artistic works and integrate furniture you fell in love with whilst on your travels.

What is your Timeframe?

Given the often-large scale of home extensions, you may want to consider how this type of work may disrupt your day-to-day living for quite a sizable period of time. Building firms are of course going to strive and get things done as soon as they can, but we all know construction often brings up unwanted surprises along the way and causes slight delays over the timeframe being worked with. That’s why it’s important to be realistic about when the extension should be undertaken in order to avoid causing too much commotion around the home.

Conclusion

Home extensions are perhaps the biggest building projects we undertake, so we are well aware of how beneficial yet long-winded they can be. Our team make sure to work with you all the way to ensure you are handed a smooth and thorough level of service from start to finish. To find out more about our range of services for home extensions, why not get in touch with us now on 01279 771 133.

 
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