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Blog - Builders, Bishops Stortford
The 3 Stages of Building Work
So you’ve decided that 2021 is the year you want to make major changes to your home! You may already be aware that there are many things to take into account before, during and after the main project has come to and end. Luckily for you, C2 Design & Build have always provided all the building services you could possibly need, which means after you discuss your plans with our team of experts, you can sit back and wait for your dream designs to come into life.
From start to finish, it’s vital for all the necessary components to come into play so that workmanship is completed correctly and in a manner that ensures a prosperous lifespan. Even the smallest of details can make a real difference behind a design that looks bereft of life, and something that oozes class. If you are looking into some modifications around your home, you may benefit from reading on as we take a look at the main stages behind most building work.
Architectural Planning
The first port of call would be the get in touch with an architect and talk through the basic ideas you have for your new-look building. They will then be able to calculate and then draw accurate interpretations to show you how thing should be laid out and the sort of elements which will be required to ensure you get a quality result. This will be your opportunity to really fine-tune the foundations of the project so that you are happy with how your budget is being spent and that you are getting something that matches your specific requirements. Should any issues be identified by your architect, you can work together to find suitable solutions to get around the problem the most effectively.
Implementation
After the plans have been put into place, you will need to call upon the right tradesmen that will be necessary for the sort of work that needs to be completed. That means plumbers for any water-based work, and then carpenters to help get structural frames installed. It’s also worth having labourers around since they can help tradesmen get their respective works completed more quickly and with assistance where necessary. A project manager will be the ones to contact if you have any issues since they will overseeing the work to ensure all the materials are ordered correctly, and that workers are aware of when they are needed.
Aftercare
Final checks needs to be made to the structural integrity of any work so that issues are less likely to come about after tradesmen have completed their aspect of the project. You should also think about cleaning up around areas that have been exposed to intense amounts of dust and other debris so that this isn’t able to damage anything brand new recently installed. Once you have swept away the rubbish and cleansed away the grime, you should be able to gaze upon something that reflects your initial vision.
Conclusion
As a company that is centred around all the planning, designing and building services you could possibly require, we are always ready to take on brand new challenges. To receive a free quote for any work, get in contact with us today on 01279 771 133.
Safety on Building Sites
The number of people and materials called upon to complete building projects makes them a place where major problems could be a huge concern without the right precautions implemented. Whether we are dealing with large-scale home extensions or conducting some small refurbishment work, our team will always aim to bring in safety measures that ensure all tradesmen are protected correctly no matter what type of work they are aiming to get done.
If you are thinking about entering the building trade or want to know how you can keep your building suitably kitted for upcoming work, we believe having even a basic understanding could prove to be a real deal breaker behind preventing unwanted accidents. So, take a look below as we break down some of the most common equipment and procedures used to protect people when they are undertaking any form of construction.
Clothing
Making sure people have their body protected is among the most important things to think about. Since many materials are hard on your hands, and heavy materials could fall from high above, you will need to take a close look at how you can ensure no major damage incurs if the worst were to happen. Some of the most important items would be gloves to help ease the strain on your hands and then hard hats, especially if any roofing work is part of the overall project.
Planning and Preparation
If people are aware of how they are meant to conduct themselves and when, you will find the project should run more smoothly and with a reduced risk of pitfalls ever coming about. There are lots of building firms that have project management in place so that organisation is implemented all the time by someone who is well versed with all aspects of the building trade. Before work begins, you should take a look out for any snags that could escalate, and then look at how they can be rectified immediately. It’s all about thinking ahead and anticipating what could go wrong before any disasters unfold.
Structural Works
Any work such as home extensions will need to take a look at how the structural work will dictate the manner in which the project should be undertaken. With this in mind, be careful with the installation process so that the structural frame is robust and comes with the capacity to withstand the heavy nature of most building structures. We are slowly developing a broad range of structural services so that no matter what we are tasked with, we will find the right frames that help inject an abundance of solidity for a quality finish.
Conclusion
With the right safety measures in place, you should find projects are completed without anything causing issue over the overall timeframe. It’s vital that everyone working at a building site is aware of how important safety is, since just one loose canon could let things fall apart rather quickly. For more information about how we encourage safety with our work, get in contact with us today on 01279 771 133.
A Guide to Home Offices
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.
Common Building Trades
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.