Frequently asked questions

We know you'll have lots of questions about the build process, costs and working with us. We've tried to answer the most common questions on this page. Contact us to discuss any of these points further or if you can't find the answer you're looking for.

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About us

Why do you use more sub-contractors than other companies/one-man bands?

In our experience, someone who does an activity day in day out will produce a higher quality finish then someone who does the activity every now and again. This helps us maintain our high expectations of finish and allows our build team to work on other aspects of the project. This approach also allows us to keep the programme as short as possible.

Are the people allocated to do my job only working on my project?

We aim to provide a dedicated build team to each project from start to finish. On isolated occasions, we do need to move the build teams around to help out on specific labour intensive activities.

Can I see some of your work?

Yes, we can arrange viewing some of our work at a time convenient to you.

Are you insured for the work you do?

Yes we are. We hold £5,000,000 public liability and £5,000,000 products liability. We are happy to provide a certificate on request.

Do you comply with The Health and Safety at Work Act and the Construction Design and Management regulations?

Health and safety is of huge importance to us and is at the top of our priority list. Our legal responsibility is to ensure all our works have a safe working environment and our sites are safe to all visitors. All of our sites have a Construction Phase Plan (CPP) done for them. All of our sub-contract and Alchemy Project activities have risk assessments and method statements done as necessary. As part of the initial conversation on any project, our responsibilities as Principal Contractor is reviewed and the roles and responsibilities of the client are also discussed.

Project costs

How much will my work cost?

Every project is individual and as such, every price will be too. We aim to be as concise and transparent with our pricing as we can be so you know exactly what you project will cost.

How do the payments work?

Once a quote has been agreed and contract signed a non-refundable deposit (typically 10%) is requested and once paid secures your slot in our diary. Over the duration of the works payments are taken every other Friday on a fortnightly basis. The exact payment plan will be agreed ahead of contract signing.

Is the quote a fixed price?

Our quotes are broken down into four sections.

1. Prelims - these are costs based on site set up, skips etc. and are fixed for the project.
2. Main works - these are costs for the build that can be assessed from the drawings and are fixed.
3. Provisional sums - these are items that we can’t finalise at the time of quote agreement. We aim to have a sensible amount in the quote for these but they are subject to change once the items have been firmed up and finalised.
4. Client controlled items - these are items that you as the client have control over such as the extent of electrical installation, what type of windows or doors etc. These items will be firmed up and finalised as soon as possible within the design and build process. As with the provisional sums we will include an educated guess figure in the quote ahead of finalising and firming up the figures.

Project process

When can you start?

We aim to start your project as close to your desired date as possible but it is determined by our current workload and commitments.

Do we have to move out during the works?

We always aim to be as sympathetic to our client's needs as possible. If clients wish to stay in the property while the work is going on we always do our best to ensure this can happen.

Do I need to tell my insurer you are doing work on my house?

Yes, your house insurer will want to be made aware that you are having works done. Our insurance covers any damage done during our building work so you don’t need to worry about that.

Do I need planning permission/permitted development permission?

In short, generally yes either planning permission or a permitted development application will be necessary. We can run through this during the initial phases of discussions.

Do you deal with building control for us?

Yes we do. We can provide suggestions on who to use for building control and will manage the need for inspections on site for you.

Will you work from drawings we already have?

Yes we are more than happy to work from architects drawings you already have and will liaise with any architecture firm you wish to use.

How long will my work take?

All projects are individual and as such the construction programme will be created on an individual basis. We always provide a construction programme for each project and aim to better it if at all possible. It is always worth bearing in mind that working on period properties can throw up unexpected items that can affect the programme.

Other

Can you provide interior design advice?

Yes we can. We can provide interior design advice and input from our partnership with InsideSpace. A great space can be created by a great builder but it takes the right interior choices to make it an amazing space.