OUR PROCESS AS REFURBISHMENT COMPANY & LONDON BASEMENT COMPANY

One of a main requirement to achieve success with a building project is to have an efficient project management in place. We divide our project management into several categories. To achieve efficiency, for each of these categories we developed a separate rules and processes. These processes are: Customer Management, Site Management, Employee Management, Specialised Subcontractor Management and Supply Management.

Firstly, it is important to mention that our management processes are well established and well thought through for all projects including Refurbishments, Kitchen Extensions London. As leading Refurbishment Company London, we have been revising them after completing each project and we have been updating our processes in case something does not perform correctly. Moreover, we understand that there are some variables and unforeseen events for each project, including Kitchen Extensions and Side Return Extensions but with each completed project we minimise the number of these unknown factors. On this page we would like to present to you our baseline Client Management process.

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OUR METHODOLOGY

Our aim is to provide fairly priced but reliable and professional service to all our customers. To achieve this we follow our general rules:
Quotations and variations are priced with constant, competitive margin;
We pay huge attention to management: all projects are overseen by a Project Manager and run on site by a Foreman or a Site Manager;
We deliver most of services in house, subcontracting only very specialised elements;
If we subcontract, all subcontractors are well known or thoroughly checked by us;
We put great effort to employ right people starting from Site Manager through Decorators and finishing on Labour workers;
We provide up to 10 years guarantee for our works;
We care about your property after completion with dedicated team of handymen.

Our business is divided into two operational units: Planning & Design and Build Team. We offer two individual packages:
Design & Build London, taking over a project from initial stage to completion
Build only: the drawings are prepared by an architect chosen by the Client

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OUR PROCESS

Below, please find more detailed graphical presentation of our process. This general method can be used in full for Design & Build London project when, as an example, we work as London Basement Company or Office Refurbishment Contractors. Equally, starting from Pre-Construction stage, below process can also be applied to projects where we work on build only basis for: Kitchen Extensions London, Side Return Extension London or London House Refurbishment.

​ESTIMATE & QUOTATION ​

• 1

  Initial Meeting

  We arrange a meeting with you and our estimator during which we gather general information about:
  - The premises and the building
  - Your ideas about the project
  - The type of service you are looking for
  - Your budget for the project

• 2

  Planning Drawings Quote & Construction Stage Estimate

  On the basis of the initial meeting we prepare for you two valuations:
  - An itemized Quotation for Planning and Design Process
  - An estimate for the construction phase of the project
  The aim is to give you a sufficient knowledge of predicted costs for budgetary purposes.

• 3

  Your Decision

  We hope that at this stage you should have enough information to access viability of the project and to decide weather you would like to use our service. By approving our Quotation for Planning and Design Process only you are not contracting to us building works without knowing accurate costs. We give you freedom to decide after we present more accurate quotation on later stage.

PLANNING CONSENT & CONTRACT

• 4

  Design Meeting(s)

  This is the time to meet with an architect to discuss the project. The main aim of this process is to gather enough information to prepare planning drawings. Along with planning drawings the architect may collect additional, more detailed information for concept construction drawings.

• 5

  Planning Drawings & Planning Application

  On the basis of the design meeting and following consultations the architect prepares a set of drawings and documents to fulfill the needs of planning application. The set of drawings and documentation may significantly vary from one project to another and from one local authority to another.

• 6

  Planning Consent & Discharging Conditions

  Planning approval is significant step forward but from time to time Local Authority Officer gives consent with additional conditions to meet. Some of them are indicative rules to follow during building stage but some conditions need to be discharged before building works can start.

• 7

  Quotation For Construction Stage

  On the basis of the drawings, documentation and information gathered so far we provide accurate quotation. Our quotations are itemised but written in language understandable for everyone. The quotation is written at the way that any variations are easily manageable. We do our best to specify and quote for all works required.

• 8

  Contract

  Shortly after you approve our quotation, we prepare following documents:
  - Top line timeline
  - Payment terms
  - Contract
  If you are happy with all above, we both sign up a contract to proceed with further works.

​PRE-CONSTRUCTION STAGE

• 9

  Structural Drawings & Calculations

  Any changes to the structural envelope of the building requires additional drawings and structural calculations. At this stage we will consult the proposed changes with the structural engineer and provide structural package. This may be required for Party Wall Agreement or Freeholder Consent for leasehold properties.

• 10

  Party Wall Agreement(s)

  The process may take from one week up to three months. Starting it at the right time is crucial to the schedule of the project. We aim to start this process as early as possible.

• 11

  Freeholder Approval For Leasehold Properties

  If you own leasehold property, most likely you'll need to obtain a consent from your freeholder before carrying out any renovations. Freeholders may request some documents to give you a consent. The requirements may vary from one property to another but generally consists of:
  - Risk Assessments and Method Statements
  - Construction Phase Plan
  - Contractor Liability Insurance
  - Building Control Approval
  - Structural Report for any changes to the layout
  Upon your request, we are more than happy to prepare all documents for you and help you to go through the process smoothly.

• 12

  Dedicated Project Manager

  At this stage we introduce you to our project manager who, from now on, will be your first line of contact.

• 13

  Project Documentation

  For all projects we prepare following documents:
  - Project plan
  - Project Documentation
  - Itemized Schedule of works
  - Management spreadsheet for day to day communication

• 14

  Construction Drawings & Project Documentation

  For complex projects in most cases the architect works with us. At this stage we both prepare more accurate set of documents before starting works on site. The pack may vary from one project to another but generally includes:
  - Architectural construction drawings
  - Construction structural drawings and calculations
  - Interior Designer drawings
  - Revision from Building Control Inspector and approval letter
  - Gantt Project Plan
  - Itemized Schedule of works
  Management spreadsheet for day to day communication

CONSTRUCTION STAGE

• 15

  Start Meeting

  Just before or during the first days of work on site we schedule a meeting for final arrangements:
  - To introduce to you our site manager / foreman and site team
  - To schedule regular meetings
  - To agree forms of communication between you and all parties involved
  - To inform us which and if any appliance or fittings you would like to keep

• 16

  Health & Safety

  In accordance with Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) as a principal contractor we are obligated to prepare Health & Safety file and to keep it up to date through the entire project. For more complex projects there may be Health & Safety Coordinator as the Client’s representative. Otherwise we, as a principal contractor, take over this role.

• 17

  Interior Design

  For projects including interior design service, the interior designer will work along you and us to provide the drawings for any required details, starting from kitchens through bathrooms and finishing on custom made furniture.

• 18

  Technical Drawings & Documentation

  During the building works we work on additional technical specification and drawings for our site building team. These may include:
  - Ground works
  - Gas and plumbing
  - Windows and glazing
  - Glass Balustrades
  - Electrical, AV, Entry System
  - Emergency Lighting Design
  - RWP Surface Gutters and Downpipes
  - Stair and staircases

• 19

  Management

  The person responsible for day to day activities is Site Manager / Foreman. Additionally, every our project is run by an experienced Project Manager. Some of Project Manager responsibilities are:
  - Liaison with all involved parties including: the Client, Principal Designer, Building Control, Structural Engineer, CDM Coordinator, Freeholder, etc
  - Technical Design Aspect (Covered elsewhere)
  - Arrange and run weekly site meetings
  - Weekly plans and plan execution
  - Dealing with all variations to the scope of works
  Furthermore, for more complex projects it is advised for an architect or designer to take a role of project coordinator. This is to take a burden of decision making from your shoulders.
  

• 20

  The Build

  During the building stage works will be professionally managed by experienced and qualified site manager or foreman. Most of not all of our staff is directly employed by us and we pay enormous attention to employ right people, people who care, starting from steel installers finishing on painters and decorators.

COMPLETION

• 21

  Practical Completion

  We arrange completion meeting with Building Control Inspector and obtain a final letter of compliance. Our building team finishes all works on site and the property is ready to be hand over to you.

• 22

  Guarantees

  For all works we provide Guarantee Certificates: twelve months guarantee for all works and up to ten years guarantee for selected elements. We also activate for you all guarantees for any appliance and equipment which was supplied and installed by us.

• 23

  Handover & Snagging Meeting(s)

  Before the handover meeting we prepare a folder with manuals, guarantees and any other related documents. During the meeting not only we pass and explain all these documents to you but also we run through the set up and instructions of all all equipment: thermostats, boiler, smart electrical fittings, AV, appliance and anything that requires your attention. Lastly, we go with you through all the little things we may have missed before practical completion and form a snagging list.

• 24

  Snagging

  We aim to resolve any outstanding issues as soon as possible and in time convenient to you. We run a specialist handyman team to deal with any problems in smoothly manner.

• 25

  Aftercare

  We make sure you don’t miss any maintenance visits which can lead to invalidating guarantees. We will send you a reminder for all necessary services and, if requested, we will arrange our maintenance team where needed.

​SUCCESSFUL PROJECT