Structural Inspections and Reports

Structural Inspections and Reports, undertaken by Chartered Civil or Structural Engineers, would always be worthwhile before purchasing a property. Older properties are unfortunately likely to have inherent structural issues, due to their age or construction, materials used or workmanship, and these can be costly to rectify. Construction techniques and materials available were different many years…

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC)

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight, precast, cellular concrete building material. It is composed of quartz sand, gypsum, lime, portland cement, water and aluminium powder, cured under heat and pressure in an autoclave. Forms include blocks, wall, floor and roof panels, cladding (façade) panels and lintels. RAAC was used predominantly in public-sector construction…

Home Extension and Alteration

Considering an extension or alteration, if you like your property and do not wish to move, then perhaps an extension or alteration would be preferred to having to move to increase your space. Extensions and alterations add value to the property and you can appreciate the extra space to enjoy and relax or to work…

Property Purchases and Renovations

The property market continues to offer some great opportunities for individuals to purchase properties and to then invest in renovations and alterations, to create and subsequently enjoy the improvements in their houses. Simple Design Services Partnership can assist you from the early stages, when a structural report is necessary to understand the overall condition of…

Dry Summer Causes Subsidence

Again, a hot summer of 2022, has inevitably led to a huge surge in subsidence problems as homes suffered in the heat. Claims for subsidence are expected to be at the highest level for many years, reaching numbers last seen in the heatwaves of 2006 and 2003. Many households made claims but experts told homeowners…

Work From Home – Office Space

There have been many enquiries from home owners seeking to invest in their existing properties, improve not move, and to include their garden space –Extensions, alterations and loft conversions are being designed to also provide home office use, as the future is sensibly for employees, where able to, to be working more from home. Properties…

Did you know … You could build your own home using the new Help to Build loan.

Tags : Building RegulationsHomesstructural design

Creating a grand design may not be as unrealistic as it sounds using the government’s new Help to Build loan scheme. Building your own home is no longer only for the few with Grand Designs budgets and bravery. You can spend up to £600,000 to create the exact house you want with a deposit of only 5…

Buying a house soon …

Homebuyers With the Chancellor announcing that the first £500,000 of any house purchase will be exempt from Stamp Duty until 31st March 2021. There would still be an opportunity to make the most of this. Having a full structural survey would provide a buyer with a proper assessment of the house structure and indicate any necessary structural…

New Year 2021

So what’s going to be new for 2021 … Well, the main differences, for properties, are likely to be that there would be office/working space provided or included. This would enable home working to be undertaken effectively/efficiently. Buyers are likely to buy homes with more space for home working and existing owners are likely to…

Space to work at home

This might be a good time to consider investing in your home to provide a permanent and suitable space, within the house or garden area, to enable all the family to be able to efficiently work or learn from home, as this could be the future. Extensions and loft conversions can be constructed, room dividing…

Victorian terrace extension

If you are considering adding a ground floor single-storey extension to the rear of an existing end or mid-terrace, perhaps Victorian period, house perhaps consider something other than a plain looking extension. How about something quite different, like this to provide space and add value. Please contact us to see how you could achieve this.

Buying a new home?

An article in The Times mentions ‘desktop’ valuation surveys, where the mortgage provider is really only assessing the property’s suitability for mortgage purposes. This would not provide the buyer with any indication of the condition of the property. Having a full structural survey would provide the buyer with a proper assessment of the building structure…

Extensions and Alterations

Building an extension or undertaking some alterations can add some much needed family space and, of course, would add value to your property. An extension could be added to the rear or the side, or a loft conversion to use the space in the attic. Alterations could include the removal of a Ground Floor wall…

Kitchen refurbishment – open-plan Kitchen/Dining area

This is the usual time of year to consider a Kitchen refurbishment, perhaps an open-plan Kitchen/Diner making use of the existing unused Dining Room. Open-plan Kitchen/Dining areas are popular and can provide great family communal areas. Creating an open-plan Kitchen/Dining area often involves removing load-bearing walls or building an extension. Please contact me and I…

Subsidence

The summer of 2018 was long and hot. Unfortunately, shallow concrete strip foundations can be susceptible to movement due to the shrinking and swelling of clay subsoil, especially if there are trees in close proximity. This movement can cause subsidence and cracking to occur within the walls of older properties. If cracking does occur, a…

How to add space without hastle

The Times has just released an article, in Bricks and Mortar, regarding the extended permitted development rights that David Cameron introduced in 2013 under the Larger Home Extension Scheme. The scheme extended the permitted development parameters for single-storey rear extensions in England, freeing homeowners from having to apply for full planning permission, which costs £206…

Simple Design Services – Partnership

From the beginning of April – Simple Design Services Limited has now become a Partnership, for legal purposes, as plainly – Simple Design Services. The expertise will remain the same. However, the customer or client will now benefit from an even more economical and affordable service.

Spring time house move

Moving house in the Spring Now is the usual time of year when first-time buyers are looking to move into their very first house, bungalow or flat, or families look for larger accommodation and properties with additional bedrooms and bathroom perhaps. In the same way as you might have a vehicle inspection, before purchasing a…

Improving? First do the makeover maths

Telegraph Friday 2nd February 2018 Bricks and Mortar – “Improve don’t move” continues to be the mantra of many British homeowners, particularly in the south-east, where high house prices mean that a loft conversion could be more cost-effective than a move. A good article explaining how to add value to your existing property. Good information…

Conversion of redundant Farm buildings

Conversion of Farm Buildings Simple Design Services Ltd. have provided structural reports for a number of proposals, under permitted development rights, for conversions of agricultural buildings into residential use including in AONB (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

Crack Monitoring Devices

If you have some cracking in your property it would be a good idea to have it looked at by a Chartered Civil or Structural Engineer before it becomes worse. The cracking can be diagnosed and repaired and the wall reinstated before it becomes costly. Simple Design Services Ltd. would be able to make an…

Structural survey

Structural Survey A Homebuyers survey can mention structural issues. Prior to agreeing a purchase price, the recommendation would be to have a structural survey and report to identify any problems with the structure of the home. A structural survey should be undertaken by a Chartered Civil or Structural Engineer and a report produced. The structural…

House owners opt to improve instead of move

Owners opt to improve rather than move house An article from The Times Saturday 18th February Homeowners are staying put and spending the money on upgrading their existing home instead of paying stamp duty moving. Most homeowners want to add space by adding a rear or a side extension or a loft conversion. Often the…

Improving? Make sure you do the maths

The Times Friday 28th October 2016 had an interesting article …. Not all renovations add value to your home .. The article mentions that of course there are lifestyle gains to be made from loft conversions, side and rear extensions etc., but the trick is to spend the right amount on the project to also…

The best way to add value to your home

Loft Conversions The Times Bricks and Mortar article, September 2016, suggests that a Loft Conversion can add up to 10% to the value of a property. Of course, the additional space is useful. Rather than move, with the upheaval and costs, the better option would be to convert the loft.  

Structural Survey and Report

Your house or bungalow is generally an appreciating asset increasing in value. Money spent on maintaining, refurbishing, altering or extending can be an investment and increase the resale value of the property. House prices are predicted to rise by 6% on average according to The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Investing carefully in your property…

How to stay put – and add value

How to stay put – and add value The Times newspaper article on Friday 13th November, page 10, mentions how to add value to your existing home. Whether you consider a loft conversion or an extension. A loft conversion can be cost effective, you are likely to get money back and make a good profit.…

Buying a House

Tags : condition reportstructural surveysurvey

If you would like some reassurance that the house you are seeking to purchase is in a reasonable structural condition. The recommendation is to have a full structural survey and report undertaken by a Chartered Civil or Structural Engineer. This report could save you a lot of money! The seller may agree to repair the…

House Extensions and Renovations

House prices are still increasing. If you’re lucky enough to own your home, investing in your property, wisely, will increase your usable space as well as adding more value to your property than the cost of the refurbishment work. For a moderate outlay, you could create a popular open-plan living area, on the ground floor,…

Don’t scrimp on the survey

An excellent article in the Times newspaper on Saturday 3oth May. Page 61 4. Don’t scrimp on the survey “Avoiding a full survey could be a false economy. You should at the very least, get a homebuyer’s survey, which will typically cost about £300 of £400, but if the property is older you should consider…

Don’t move – when you can improve

There are lots of programmes on TV regarding refurbishing and renovating your property or indeed buying a property, which could benefit from modernisation., and renovating the property either yourselves or using builders. The benefit of renovating or refurbishing, as opposed to moving, is considerable. Apart from the cost saving, other advantages are that you can…

Kitchen/Dining room conversion to open-plan eating area

A popular structural alteration is to remove a dividing wall between a Kitchen and Dining area to create one large open plan and communal eating area.

House Auctions

Auctions An interesting bungalow refurbishment with potential for a loft conversion. Planning permission is unlikely to be necessary as the bungalows appearance is not being altered. However, Building Regulations approval would apply as the internal works are extensive.

Planning Permission and Building Regulations Approval

Planning Permission and Building Regulations Approval Simple Design Services Ltd. can assist with Planning Permission and Building Regulations Approval, including Party Wall Agreements. A site visit can take place to discuss the proposals prior to preparing the drawings and structural information.

Ongoing Projects

Ongoing Projects Recent projects include the popular removal of the wall between the Kitchen and the Dining area to create a large open plan Kitchen area for modern living. Also, house extensions and alterations are popular to create more space both on the ground floor and on the first floor. Structural condition survey and reports…

Structural Reports

Structural reports are often requested by prospective buyers before they exchange contracts with the seller. The valuation survey can sometimes identify structural issues such as cracks and movement in the walls. A structural survey and report could provide reassurance to the buyer that the cracks are not considerable. Alternatively, if the cracks were caused by…

Major House Refurbishment

This existing detached house is to be largely refurbished. The refurbishment includes the removal of the internal walls and floors and a new façade for the front elevation. Simple Design Services Ltd. are Consultant Civil and Structural engineers on the project. Part of the roof structure is occupied by bats and must left untouched. Watch…

Construction (Design & Management) CDM Regulations 2015

Tags : CDMConstruction Design and Management Regulations

Proposed Developers should be aware of the changes to the – Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 The CDM regulations have now been made and laid in Parliament. They will now become law on 6th April 2015. The principal changes are as follows: Strengthening of Client duties. Introduction of Domestic Clients. Replacement of CDM Coordinator…

Former Redbridge Primary School Refurbishment

Tags : ConversionsRenovationsSchools

Former Redbridge Primary School renovation and conversion Office project. Learn more about the renovation stages happening in this very different school conversion project.

New website for Simple Design Services

Tags : Simple Design Services

Simple Design Services Ltd. offers civil and structural consultancy services for Architects, builders, contractors and property developers.