Step Three

Preparing a Programme for the works

We prepare and build a bespoke Programme of Works tailor made for your building project. We calculate how long each phase of the works will take and produce a report for the builder to work towards. The programme of works will include which tradesmen are due on site, for what reason and for how long. It ensures immediate reaction should your project ever fall behind schedule. This could be due to something as simple as inclement weather causing delays to the original time frame. It may be the builder will have to increase the number of men working on site for a few weeks, to get the project back on track.

It’s important the works run to a programme, as there will be critical dates you will want to achieve, the date when the kitchen is to be delivered and fitted for example. Working without a programme is like working in the dark and will often create delays, additional expense and potentially, unnecessary disputes.

How much to pay your builder and when you need to make payments

We will also calculate payment schedule to the programme and add this to the schedule so you know how much to pay the builder and at what stages. We recommend you never engage a builder that requests a deposit up front. Our network builders will all commence on site without a large deposit and are happy to receive weekly payments in-line with the Programme of Works and agreed payment schedule. Including both documents within the contract with the builder, protects you from uncertainty or last minute changes. If for example, your builder becomes ill or has an accident delaying the build, we can engage another of our network builders, to complete your project with the minimum of disruptions to you.

We make sure your payment schedule includes an agreed retention at the end of the works. The final payment is made payable to the builder only once all of the snagging has been completed to your satisfaction and you are in receipt of your building regulation completion certificate.

Material Matching

There is little worse than investing time and effort to get your design just right and then handing it over to a builder who fails to put as much effort into the build, as you did with the design. Most planning applications do state that new materials are to match existing as near as possible. We ensure that the builder matches the new bricks, mortar and roofing tiles / slates with your existing property.

By checking materials that the builder is proposing to use, before they are ordered, we can achieve as perfect a match as possible. A builder may order the exact brick as the property was originally constructed in but this may not be the best match for your property, as your original brick has likely weathered over a period of time. We insist on seeing physical samples of the materials the builder is proposing to use so you can hold them against the existing property to ensure you are getting the best match possible. It is just as important to agree a mortar match with the existing property. Often, even when the brick work is matched, the mortar matching process has been forgotten. There are many dyes on the market to enable your builder to accurately match the mortar as well and we will work with him/her to get the best possible result.

Health and Safety requirements and complying with CDM 2015

Due to the change in the health and safety requirements and complying with the CDM 2015 regulations, we can assist you and your builder with the documentation required to make your project compliant. This is assuming your builder does not already have this in hand and available for our inspection.