Builders in Cornwall

Why Use A Federation of Master Builder?

Why Use A Federation of Master Builder? (UK)

“Why use a Federation of Master Builder in the UK?” Like many other potential home owners and investors, you probably have asked yourself this question. I mean, in this day-and-age where people are after quality, you can’t take chances with your hard-earned money. It doesn’t matter if you are doing a simple loft conversion or a complex renovation. Stories about shoddy constructions, unprofessional service, or builders who bailed out without finishing a project are not new in the UK, and this is why prospective customers take a more cautious approach.

So, Who Exactly is Federation of Master Builder?

Federation of Master Builder (FMB) is a non-profit making association that represents construction experts and builders in the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). It was established in 1941 with the aim of protecting their members who majorly comprise of small and medium-size construction companies. Additionally, the association helps to improve the standards of excellence, adopt the latest trends, provide training to their members, and also arbitrates between registered members and the public. To become a member, a builder needs to meet the criteria laid down by the association.

Why Deal with FMB?

1. High Standards of Excellence

Imagine you paying for a nice home but ending up getting something that is far from what you had imagined? Well, this is common in the UK and many a times it’s blamed on incompetent or inexperienced builders. To avoid such scenarios which not only end up costing the owner money but also ruin the reputation of construction and builders industry, the FMB provides regular training to its members. This arms its members with the latest skills and technology. And as a potential home or property owner, you can be certain that you will enjoy high standards of excellence.

2. Finding a Reputable Firm

Have you ever tried to look for a builder? If you have then you know the challenges you face. Firstly, you may lack the knowledge of distinguishing between a good and not-so-good firm. Secondly, sifting thorough the many firms isn’t easy and take lots of time and effort. Thirdly, you can’t be sure whether the builder is qualified and meets the minimum recommended standards. Fourthly, the firm may not offer guarantee on their service. Federation of Master Builders (UK) boasts of large membership of qualified, competent and certified builders. When in need of a builder, all you need is visit the site and choose from the database. The firm also offers warranty protection.

3. Quality Workmanship

When building, renovating or repairing your home, you want to enjoy quality service right from the start. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a simple partition or extension, or a complete makeover. This is why you are always encouraged to deal with a competent, skilled and certified builder. In line with their goal of promoting standards of excellence, adopting the best practices and maintaining professionalism, FMB regularly trains their members on different aspects. They also hold seminars that discuss the issues that face the industry and how best to resolve them. By dealing with a registered member of the association, you are guaranteed of quality workmanship.

4. Professionalism

In a recent development, a customer complained about paying a builder to renovate his home only for the provider to disappear after receiving about £24,000. Not only did the owner lose money but had his dreams shattered. To avoid such issues, you should always engage an FMB in all your building projects. All the members go through a strict vetting process to ascertain their competence, integrity and track record. Any member who doesn’t meet the criteria isn’t allowed to join. The association goal of doing this is protect both their members as well as public.

5. Warranty Protection

The last thing you want is for your nearly-renovated or constructed home to start crumbling within a short time. This is normally attributed to inexperience, incompetence or negligence. To guarantee prospective customers of quality service and professionalism from their listed members, FMB offers warranty protection for all work done by its members. Not only do you get maximum satisfaction but peace-of-mid as well.

Building your dream home shouldn’t be an uphill task. Renovating your office doesn’t need to be a scary affair. You also shouldn’t worry about a builder’s experience, competence or integrity when engaging one. What you need is finding a firm that is registered with Federation of Master Builder, UK.

Cornwall Builders is one firm that prides on being part of the association and has been in this trade for many years. We provide a range of services including new building, refurbishment, repairs, loft conversion, painting, maintenance and much more. Our firm boasts of highly-skilled and qualified builders who ensure you get quality service at all times. And for peace-of-mind, we offer warranty on all our work. Talk to us today and enjoy high quality workmanship, professionalism and maximum satisfaction. 01872 399026

The 5 Best Ways To Refurbish Your Property: A Complete Guide

For Home Refurb in Cornwall Call US 01872 399026

If you own a home, an apartment building or any other type of property, it is paramount to ensure they are looking good both on the inside and outside of the building. If you ignore the looks of your property and allow the paint to fade, peel and crack it is likely that you can lose business as well as any other substantial return on your investment. This is why property refurbishment is important because it brings the great feel and looks on your property.

Property refurbishment can be a challenging job especially if you have not done it before. We have found out that people have great ideas about property refurbishments but they don’t have an idea about what should be done and what shouldn’t be done. If you are looking to improve your recent bought property or looking to resell your home, refurbishing it increases its value. Well, if you are planning to refurbish your property, below are the best ways to refurbish your property. Before you jump to your refurbishment project always ensure you scope out the benefits and costs. The time you spend planning for your project will give you great outcomes at the end.

The 5 Best Ways To Refurbish Your Property

Start With the Kitchen Space

We usually advise our clients to start with their kitchen during any kind of home improvement project. If refurbished correctly and equipped well with recent modern appliance’s installed properly, a kitchen can improve the look as well as the value of your property. We have found out that the kitchen is a room that sells a house than any other room. It is one of the house rooms that should be in good shape if you are looking to sell your home in future. That doesn’t mean that you should break the bank to achieve this. In your home refurbishment project, you can consider to buy new and functional cabinets, sink fixtures, changing the tile flooring, updating appliances as well as the kitchen lighting. If you are working on a tight budget staining the cabinets and other few drastic changes can have a positive impact.

Work On the Bathroom Space

The bathroom is another area that we advise our clients to consider when refurbishing their properties. You find that buyers usually want to see a well-maintained and clean home, especially in the bathrooms. Simple refurbishments such as re-grouting the tile floor or caulking the tub will go a long way in creating a positive image in the mind of a buyer. You can consider installing a few bathroom fixtures as they help make the room look brighter and more appealing.

Enhance the Exterior

It is important to consider sprucing up your property exterior if you are looking to sell it. You can start with some of the basic maintenance such as trimming overgrown shrubs, mowing the lawn and replacement the mulch of your garden beds with a fresh layer. We advise our clients to make other minor repairs such as repointing brick walls and replacing any cracked side boards. Do not forget to replace your front door with a new steel door if it is tired and worn out. The front door ushers you and your guests to your home as well as concealing you and your belongings.

Consider Repainting The Rooms

If you want to make the perfect first impression it is good to consider applying a fresh paint coat to your house rooms. This is the quickest way to transform them. We advise our clients to inspect their house rooms and paint the rooms that need to be refurbished. It is not necessary to repaint the entire house. But you should know that Kitchens and bathrooms are among the candidate rooms that need a complete painting job.

Plumbing Issues

When you are refurbishing your property we advise our clients to consider fixing some of the plumbing issues. You can contact us to get a plumber at hand during your home refurbishment project. It is not a good advice to do plumbing tasks on your own as you might not have the expected expertise to deliver the desired results as expected. You do not want to get plumbing emergencies in future. Isn’t this the truth? So, consider hiring one.

To wrap up the loose ends, it is worth to mention that you can consider hiring us to give this kind of services whether you are looking to improve a recently bought property or you are looking to sell your property. We have a great team with vast experience and we guarantee you the best out of the project you assign us.

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How Builders and Architects Work Together

Written by James Hetfield

Cornwall Builders 01872 399026

A few years ago, a close friend approached me seeking advice. He was complaining that the builder and architect he had hired never seemed to get along. In fact, he confessed that most of the meetings they heard were more destructive rather than constructive. And the project which was slated to be completed in one month was only half-done. This scenario is familiar with several people and many still ask why the two professionals can’t iron out their differences.

Well, the truth is that builders and architects can work together. Yes many builders complain that architects are too imaginative and lack practicability. In many instances, they will base their work on new concepts that haven’t been tried before and rely on theory. On the other hand, architects argue that most builders are too rigid, lack creativity and are stick to aging practices. And due to this they will spoil good piece simply because they are applying the wrong or obsolete technique on a new concept.

1. Find Trustworthy Partners

Ask an architect or builder why he/she doesn’t trust the other and many will say it’s because he doesn’t know the other party well. Like any other trade, building and construction is about delegation and believing the other party will deliver as agreed. The builders want to work with an architect whose drawings and sketches are easy you understand and practical. The architect desires a builder who doesn’t overlook details and will stick to the grand plan. The best way to achieve this is identifying a trustworthy and competent partner.

2. Bring Builders On-board Earliest Possible

Sometime back, I myself had issues with an architect. The reason being that I was expected to carryout some changes that had been authorised without my involvement. This meant that a section of a wall had to be demolished. Of course the client wasn’t happy with the delay and additional cost. All this issues were as a result on not being brought on board early enough and having to play catch-up. Although architects usually come in the picture first, it’s always recommended to involve builders in the initial stages.

3. Follow a Clear Guideline

Both the architect and builder want to standout in their field and will work extra hard to achieve this. However, at times this ambition becomes impossible simply because there is no clear-cut guideline. What is the role of the architect in this project? When does the builder come in? What happens when there is some conflict? These questions come handy in drafting a work agreement that stipulates what each party needs to do. In our firm, Cornwall Builders, we work with many architects some of whom have been appointed by the client. But to have a clear understanding of everyone’s role, we first sit-down and agree on everything however basic it may appear.

4. Respect each Other’s Profession

The misunderstanding or war between builders and architects is also blamed on superiority. The architect may feel that the sketches and drawings are the reason why the building stands out while the builder argues that without the stone, brick, and mortar, the magnificent building would just be a dream or imagination. Whether a builder, architect, or interior design, you need to respect the other person’s professional and point of view even when you don’t really understand this. And if you feel a bit undermined or disrespected, you are better-off working with another person who values your work and respects you.

5. Have an Open Mind

Architects, builders just like other professionals aren’t created same. You may have worked with a very difficult person earlier but this doesn’t mean the next one will be the same. Also, just because the previous party was very cooperative doesn’t mean all architects or builders will be. It’s therefore essential to have an open mind when undertaking any work. This allows you to first understand the job, the person and see how best your strengths and weaknesses can be put into good use.

Conclusion

The common notion is that builders and architects don’t get along. One party thinks the other is unimaginative, lacks creativity, and prefers sticking to old practices. The other side argues that the other professional is unrealistic, a bit of a snob and believes he is superior. This may have been the case sometime back but things are now changing. For instance, at Cornwall Builders, we have for many years worked well with different architects. In fact, most of our projects involve both parties. And to achieve this, we follow the above pointers so as to ensure there is minimal friction, no party undermines the other, and work as equal parties. At the end of the day, you get exactly what you want within the stipulated time. If you have any construction project in mind, you can always talk to use.