Essex Builders

Essex builders cover all aspects of building

Looking for builders in Essex might seem like an never-ending task as there are quite a few builders to choose from, let alone getting the quotes and starting the work.

But Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction we like to pride ourselves on our reliability, consideration, attention to detail and professionalism, so choosing a builder in Essex for your project or build becomes an easy task.

We a rather big list of satisfied customers who would be more than happy to supply us with a reference for the quality of workmanship supplied to them in their project, as far as we are concerned this is by far the best way of advertising and supplying our Essex builders with work.

We are a close net team of builders, carpenters and trades men who have worked together for many years so the atmosphere on site is one of a friendly relaxed well oiled team.

All our builders, carpenters and trades men are fully qualified and registered with their appropriate governing bodies with full insurance so you have complete peace of mind

Here is a list of the works Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction covers.

• · Planning and design service
• · New Builds
• · Refurbishments
• · House Extensions
• · Garage Conversions / Loft conversions
• · Garden Walls
• . Conservatories
• · Carpentry / Plumbing / Electrics  (GAS SAFE) (Part P)
• · Roofing / Joisting
• . Landscaping
• · Fitted kitchens & Bedrooms
• · Flooring
• · Plastering / Rendering
• · Painting & Decorating
• .Timber/UPVC windows & doors (Fensa reg:27253)

To get a better look at some of our work visit the main Essex builders site below.

(Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction)

]]> http://essex-builders.com/builders-in-essex-cutting-edge-carpentry-construction//feed 0 http://essex-builders.com/essex-builders-builders-in-essex-house-extensions-in-essex/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://essex-builders.com/essex-builders-builders-in-essex-house-extensions-in-essex/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:27:09 +0000 Essex Builders http://essex-builders.com/?p=58

Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction explain what to look out for when having an house extension.

It’s quite common for people to outgrow the house that they live in. As the family gets older we collect or ‘horde’ more and more things that take up room and as children get older, more space is needed to live in.

With current house prices at a low it doesn’t quite make sense to sell up and move house because the likelihood is that the value of your house will have gone down slightly.

One of the best options is to increase the habitable living area by building an extension. House extensions in Essex and house are fast becoming the best way to beat the property slump according to local building specialists.

Essex builders (C.E.C.C.) Believe that the major advantages of house extensions is that not only does it create extra living space for you and your family right now, it also adds value to your house so when the market is right and you do come to sell your property you will profit from your investment.

House extensions come in all shapes and sizes and will differ drastically to your requirements, budget and footprint of your land.

As a general price guide a house extension can cost approximately £1100 square metre so if you create a new room that is 4 metres by 4 metres this could cost around the £17,600 mark plus all associated fees such as planning permission, architects, surveyors etc however that investment could easily be recouped when you come to sell your house as you have created an extra room that serves more habitable living space.

Although it can be exciting to think that a single room can increase the value of your house, it’s important to plan properly as a well planned project will result in fewer problems during and after the project, with Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction this will never be an issue.

The general process and most important things to think about when planning a house extension are:

Think about and sketch some basic layouts and plans yourself.
Approach an architect with your rough sketches who will be able to translate and mould your plan into a cost effective and feasible blueprint.
Get planning permission using you plans from your architects.
Using the finished plans from your architects you can then shop around and get some quotes from builders.

When agreeing the contract with the builder it can be useful to agree a breakdown of the payment at different stages of the project as this will incentivise your builder to work as closely to the project deadlines as possible.

Contact Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction for a Free quote on your house extension or even if you just have a question.

Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction talk about the benifitsof a garage conversion to add value to your home.

With the economy dwindling and the real estate market making it almost impossible for homeowners to get into a bigger, more comfortable home, so letting Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction convert your garage into another room may be the answer that best fits your needs. You can create a whole new bedroom, den, gameroom, or family room. The possibilities are endless. For less money than moving to a roomier house or adding an attachment to your present living environment, you can get the best out of your garage conversion by creating a whole new room that will make your house feel like it is brand new. Converting your garage to accommodate your ever growing household needs just makes sense with the state of the economy. It’s more cost efficient than moving, can make your home more energy efficient, and raises the value of your home.

Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction know how to get the best out of your garage conversion, you should make a garage conversion plan. Know what your needs are and what you need to do to accomplish your task. Will your new room need plumbing? Will the present electrical setup be sufficient, or will you have to reconfigure it? These are questions that you should answer before you begin converting your garage. Without the proper plan, garage conversion could become an endless nightmare. Start the project right by understanding the modifications that need to be made. Then, once you know what changes need to be made, you can begin your project, We can help you with this.

By letting Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction convert your garage to a new room, you could be adding value to your home. To get the best out of your garage conversion, you should hire a general contractor to overlook at least some of the work. Building it yourself is an excellent way to save money, but unless you are knowledgeable with the present building codes, a contractor can be useful to help you get the best out of your garage conversion while adding value to your home. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction can help you with this.

Instead of using your garage to store the junk that you keep but never seem to use, why not create it into a wonderful new room. The benefits are great. As your family grows, or maybe just your urge to have a larger living environment grows, converting your garage into a brand new room will give your house that feeling of change that will make your house seem fresh and exciting. Converting it into a new room can also make your home more energy efficient, saving you hundreds of dollars each year. It is also incredibly cheaper than building an additional structure to your home as the walls and roof are already in place. Knowing how to make simple changes to the insulation and structure can help you get the best out of your garage conversion.

With so many families living in Essex being upside down on their home mortgages, it only makes sense to convert your garage into a new and fascinating living environment. In just a few short months, you could easily be relaxing in a brand new gameroom or add that extra bedroom that your growing family needs. Garage conversion is simple and cost effective.

Visit our main site to look at more examples of work Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction.

Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction exsplain the rules behind permitted development.

In the excitement of a loft project and planning the new interior, it is often forgotten to plan just how the outside of the property will look after the loft is converted. Yet, external loft conversion designs are hugely important.

Even though most styles and sizes are now OK because of the new permitted development laws a tasteful exterior that blends with the surrounding environment will not only look good but it will easily increase the value of the property.

One style that won?t be permitted, and we should all be thankful for it, is the huge, squat and ugly dormers that were flung up during the1980s. These blots on the landscape are truly awful and no way will a householder be allowed to build one today.

Permitted Development

In October 2008 new permitted development regulations were adopted by the government which allowed homeowners greater freedom in designing and building extensions including loft conversions.

Basically, the new regulations mean that a loft conversion is a permitted development and does not require planning permission as long as certain criteria are fulfilled. This makes it very much easier for the homeowner when considering external loft conversion designs as most projects, even those involving the building of a new gable end, do not have to go through the planning process.

One caveat here though; remember that all loft conversions need to meet the building regulations. The building regulations shouldn’t be confused with planning permission; the building regulations are there to ensure a that all work is done to an acceptable standard. Read the difference between building regulations and planning permission for more details.

Essex builders on The Permitted Development Regulations

There is no need for the homeowner to apply for planning permission for his project if:

*50 cubic meters can be added to the roof space of a detached or semi-detached house falling to 40 cubic meters on terraced properties.

* Dormers will not be permitted to the elevation of any roof that fronts on to a highway.

* Any extension should be no higher than the ridge line of the existing property

* Dormers should be set back from the eaves by a minimum of 20 cm.

* Verandas, balconies or raised platforms will not be permitted.

And that is just about it. As long as your project takes those five factors into account than the loft conversion will be considered a permitted development that does not require consent.

Those projects that do contravene those guidelines will not necessarily be refused planning permission but a full planning application will need to be made by the homeowner.

Exterior Loft Conversion Designs

Unlike inside the roof space the options for external design is quite narrow. One option is that flush fitting skylights can be installed if there are no issues with headroom.

Installing skylights is very straight forward and they won’t add much to the bottom line of the budget; your design considerations will probably be limited to deciding how many skylights to have, their size and how to position them so that the new loft room benefits from the maximum amount of natural light.

If, however, the internal space is not very large than some sort of dormer on the reverse side of the roof will be the answer. Again, the only real considerations will be the size and how to blend the dormer into the existing building.

Once you have decided on the external loft conversion designs than the fun in actually designing the new loft rooms themselves can begin.

Contact Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction if you have any questions on this subject.

Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction talk about the main things to consider when planing for your landscaping project.

Whether you plan on “borrowing ideas” or plan on creating your own landscaping design, you should have at the very least a basic understanding of the principles of landscape design.

This doesn’t mean that you have to apply every principle to every part of your plan. But just having an understanding of these principles will help you generate ideas and increase your creativity.

Great landscaping lies in the eyes of the its creator. So, while the principles of landscape design are great guidelines to follow, don’t feel like they’re the “have to rules” of landscaping. Abstract and creativity are allowed.

Essex builders belives that Unity should be one of your main goals in your design. It may be better understood and applied as consistency and repetition. Repetition creates unity  by repeating alike elements like plants, plant groups, or decor throughout the landscape. Consistency creates unity in the sense that some or all of the different elements of the landscape fit together to create a whole.

Unity can be achieved by the consistency of character of elements in the design. By character, I mean the height, size, texture, color schemes, etc. of different elements.

A good example would be in the use of accent boulders. If you’ve ever seen a landscape design that had one large white round boulder here and another large red square granite boulder there and so on, then you’ve seen that unity wasn’t created by this specific element.

This is just one example but the principle applies to all other elements such as groups of plants and materials.

A simple way to create unity in your landscape is by creating themes. And one of the simplest ways to create themes is by using a little garden decor or garden statues. Creating a theme garden is easier when it’s related to something you’re interested in or have a passion for.

If you’re into butterflies for instance, you could create a theme using plants that attract butterflies as well as using statues, ornaments, and other decor that are related to butterflies.

Unity should be expressed through at least one element in your landscape and preferably more. Using elements to express a main idea through consistent style and a specific theme is what creates harmony.

Essex builders also belive that Simplicity is actually one of the principles in design and art. It’s one of the best guidelines you can follow as a beginner or do it yourselfer. Just keep things simple to begin with. You can do more later.

Simplicity in planting, for instance, would be to pick two or three colors and repeat them throughout the garden or landscape. Keeping decor to a minimum and within a specific theme as well as keeping hardscapes such as boulders consistent is also practicing simplicity.

Balance in design is just as the word implies. Equality. There are basically two types of balance in landscape design. Symmetrical and Asymmetrical.

Symmetrical balance is where there are more or less equally spaced matching elements of the garden design. With a garden equally divided, both sides could share the same shape, form, plant height, plant groupings, colors, bed shapes, theme, etc.

You may remember creating something like this when you were a kid in art class at school. Where you take a piece of paper, splash paint on it, fold it in half, unfold it, and then it magically creates an interesting symmetrical design. So symmetrical balance or design is somewhat of a mirror image or reflection.

Asymmetrical balance on the other hand is one of the principles of landscape design that’s a little more complex. While textures, forms, colors, etc. may remain constant to create some unity, shapes and hardscapes may be more random. This form of balance often has separate or different themes with each having an equal but different type of attraction.

A good example of this would be where bed shapes or paths differ on both sides of the dividing line. One side could be curvy with a sense of flow while the other side is straight, direct, and hard.

This can also create a neat contrast. Flowing lines are pleasing to the eye but the bold contrast of a curve with a straight line can be very interesting.

Asymmetrical balance isn’t necessarily limited to just the shape of your garden.

An example might be where one side of the garden is mostly large shade trees while the other side is predominately a lower growing flower garden or even a mix of both examples. This is only limited to your imagination.

Contrast and harmony can also be achieved using plants. Fine foliage verses coarser foliage, round leaves verses spiked leaves as well as color compliments and contrasts.

Plant height, color, and texture may be varied from one area to the next but each area should stay consistent within its own theme.

You’ll hear me talk about “themes” a lot. Many successful do it yourself designs follow a basic theme to achieve most of the principles of landscape design described on this page. The proper use of plants and garden decor or a mix of both is a simple way to achieve themes.

Color adds the dimension of real life and interest to the landscape. Bright colors like reds, yellows and oranges seem to advance toward you and can actually make an object seem closer to you. Cool colors like greens, blues, and pastels seem to move away from you and can make an object seem farther from you.

Grays, blacks, and whites are considered neutral colors and are best used in the background with bright colors in the foreground. However, to increase depth in a landscape, you can use dark and coarse textured plants in the foreground and use fine textured and light colored plants in the background.

Colors can also be used to direct your attention to a specific area of the garden. A bright display among cooler colors would naturally catch the eye.

Natural transition can be applied to avoid radical or abrupt changes in your landscape design. Transition is basically gradual change. It can best be illustrated in terms of plant height or color but can also be applied to all elements in the landscape including but not limited to textures, foliage shape or size, and the size and shape of different elements.

In other words transition can be achieved by the gradual, ascending or descending, arrangement of different elements with varying textures, forms, colors, or sizes.

An example of a good transition would be a stair step effect from large trees to medium trees to shrubs to bedding plants. This example is where a little knowledge of proper plant selection would come in handy.

Transition is one of the principles of landscape design that can be used to “create illusions” in the landscape. For example a transition from taller to shorter plants can give a sense of depth and distance (like in a painting), making the garden seem larger than it really is. A transition from shorter to taller plants could be used to frame a focal point to make it stand out and seem closer than it really is.

Line is of the more structural principles of landscape design. It can mostly be related to the way beds, walkways, and entryways move and flow.

Straight lines are forceful and direct while curvy lines have a more natural, gentle, flowing effect.

Proportion simply refers to the size of elements in relation to each other. Of all the principles of landscape design, this one is quite obvious but still requires a little thought and planning. Most of the elements in landscape design can be intentionally planned to meet the proper proportions.

For instance if you are creating a small courtyard garden, an enormous seven foot garden statue placed in the center would be way out of proportion and a little tacky to say the least. Or a small four foot waterfall and pond placed in the center of a large open yard would get lost in the expanse.

Don’t misunderstand this to mean that if you have a large yard you can’t have smaller features or garden decor. Proportion is relative and elements can be scaled to fit by creating different rooms in the garden. The goal is to create a pleasing relationship among the three dimensions of length, breadth, and depth or height.

A small water feature can be proportionate if placed in a corner or on the edge of a large area and becomes a focal point of the larger area while creating its own distinct atmosphere. An entire room, sitting area, or theme can be created around it. Other rooms and themes can be created as well. See small gardens for ideas on creating rooms and creating illusions.

Also, special consideration and study should be given to proper plant selection to avoid using plants that are out of proportion.

Repetition is directly related to unity. Its good to have a variety of elements and forms in the garden but repeating these elements gives variety expression.

Unity is achieved by repeating objects or elements that are alike. Too many unrelated objects can make the garden look cluttered and unplanned.

There’s a fine line here. It’s possible that too much of one element can make a garden or landscape feel uninteresting, boring and monotonous.

However, unity can still be created by using several different elements repeatedly. This in turn keeps the garden interesting.

Contact Essex builders Cutting Edge Carpentry & Construction for your landscaping needs.