Mirror Image Extension
An exciting home improvement project was in the thought pipeline for the owners of a 1930s semi-detached home in Elmscroft, Potters Bar. The owners were considerate enough to show their plans to their attached neighbours for a single-storey rear lean-to extension. The plans included internal structural alterations to create a large kitchen/living space. Their neighbours were so impressed that they asked the builder to construct a mirror image for their property and the job subsequently doubled in size.
This brought about several benefits:
- An increase in floor area resulting from a party wall on the line of the boundary
- A much more aesthetically pleasing rear elevation
- Economies with design and build costs
Local builder Clive Scott has a long-established and respected building company in constant demand for domestic jobs in the Potters Bar area. He has always opted to use the Local Authority Building Control service and welcomes the thorough inspection service that we provide. He told us that he values the reassurance that it gives to his clients in knowing that the work will be checked and approved at certain stages by an independent third-party chartered surveyor. In other words, Clive has nothing to hide. If he does come across problems on his job, he finds that familiar faces from our South Team will be on hand to offer constructive advice to resolve the issue. ‘Leading the Compliance Process’ is a strapline that we pay more than lip service to.
We were delighted to be given the opportunity to visit both neighbours to admire the finished work on their homes. We also took the opportunity to ask them about their experience of using our service. Both couples were complimentary of the way in which we worked with their builder.
The two owners submitted four building regulations applications in total, as the work included the replacement of the existing roof tiling that was found to be in poor condition. They were understandably concerned that the new party wall between the extensions should perform well in terms of sound insulation. Our surveyor Craig was able to offer technical advice that led to the decision to build a triple skin cavity wall. This specification more than meets the minimum standards in the building regulations.