How design and build works
Design and build is a great option to take full control of your project, since the very start.
houseUP offer is unique compared to any other design and build company in London:
- Design and planning application from the best architect studios in London at competitive prices
- Integrated structural design optimised with the architectural drawings in progress
- Early construction expertise input to ensure your budget is spent for the things that matter the most for you and your lifestyle
- Budget optimisation to get the best options for construction and finishes, with accurate and details cost estimations
What happens if you have your designs already
If you have architectural and structural designs ready, houseUP offers a unique Build solution, to realise your plans through to completion. You will still get:
- Professional project management and structural engineering expertise, dedicated to your project
- Accurate and detailed cost estimation
- Exclusive access to Italian finishes directly from manufacturers for all price ranges
- Real time monitoring of progress and budget consumption through our digital platform
Here’s what to expect when working with houseUP
Design
(optional)
- Work with a professional architect to translate your dream in real design drawings
- Make the most of your property’s potential with the best expertise
- Get planning permission sorted in a smooth hassle-free process
- Have all the building regs approved to get the actual work started
- (in-house) Use our in-house engineers to design the structure for your project or optimise your design
Build
- Get the best building contractor team for your project
- Have a structural expert on-site to double check current conditions and construction to increase safety and compliance
- Use the best tradespeople on site at the right time, from electricians and plumbers to carpenters, decorators and more
- Access exclusive kitchens and porcelain tiles directly from Italy at discounted prices
Project management
- Have an English speaking project manager dedicated to your project
- Optimise orders, personnel on site, building regs visits and other arrangements for effective time management
- Ensure Health and Safety, party wall procedure, council authorities, neighbours are managed promptly and professionally
- Follow a clear decision making process to be on top of what’s happening on site
Digital platform
- Take control of your project through houseUP dashboard, to monitor progress, budget consumption, see real time photos and videos, comment
- Have access to a dedicated channel on houseUP chat platform, for fast trackable decision making and issue management
- Keep a written record of all the conversations, questions, issues, decisions in one place, avoiding long email thread discussions
Understanding the Design and Build process
1. Free site visit
One of our construction specialists comes to meet you in person and view the property
- Meeting in person: understand what you want and the challenges of the project
- Seeing the place: place the vision in the physical constraints
- Discussing your taste and needs: identify challenges, prevent issues, remove blockers
- Capturing the unsaid: collect details, expressions, moods to design uniquely for you
A site visit is one of the most important keys for your successful project. Even more so if it is your home. Looking at the place and discussing your vision face to face is the best way to understand your vision, your priorities and your expectations. A perfect results is not a success if it’s not what you want for your place. A conversation in person unlocks the translation of your vision into the technical format to make things real.
Capturing the said and unsaid: what you really want to achieve
2. Vision brief and budgeting
One of our partner architects sits with you to understand your expectations, explain the cost options and translate your ideas in drawings
(design and build package only)
- Translating the vision: transfer on paper the ideas you shared
- Defining the constraints: create a concrete design to evaluate
- Understanding the options: discuss the impact of the different choices
- Connecting budget and design: get permission and stay in budget
It is important to touch base and keep everything aligned, your vision and our understanding, to make sure that your priorities are taken care of. Sometimes a small inexpensive solution can save a lot of money and make you happier than a complex and expensive detail. Creativity and design need to be all focused on light, head-height, family space, life style, taste, comfort.
Translating the vision: how you achieve what you want with practical solutions
3. Design and planning
One of our partner architects produces all the documentation and drawings for the planning authority and manages the process to get your permission granted
(design and build package only)
- Liaising with the council authorities: manage meetings, requirements and feedback
- Preparing drawings and plans: submit complete docs to council
- Filing the application to approval: submit all the package for the council decision
- Producing pre-build package: include building regs plus specifications, party wall, leasehold management and more
Managing a planning permission application is a careful balance between realising your desires, maximising the potential of your property and managing the planning authority requirements. It’s very often a matter of details, studying the history of past decisions, appointing the right consultants and communicating effectively with the planning authorities. We always want to get approval as soon as possible, avoiding to file a proposal that is too conservative and won’t give you the home that you want.
Optimising the application: exploit your property’s potential within the constraints
4. Free construction estimation
One of our estimation specialists produces an accurate quotation for your project, including a break down of all the details and their cost
- Defining the construction costs: evaluate the basic construction work
- Estimating the options: optimise the choice of finishes and suppliers for the best result
- Explaining the quote: communicate clearly what is included or not and what might be the impact
- Communicating effectively: explain the process and the project program, define the communication channels, agree on the decision flow
Investing your money in renovating your property can be a big decision. That is why understanding the quotation is paramount to make the best decision. Most important of all, the price must be reasonable. Rogue companies often quote a very low price to get appointed for the project, already planning to charge extras to make up for the difference; if not done on purpose, a contractor might choose to abandon the project when they realise it’s not profitable.
Check our infographic on 8 interesting facts that a good construction estimation should take into account.
Optimising the budget allocation: improving the quality of your life and increasing the value of your property.
5. Build
The construction manager assigned to your project organises the construction team, produces the project time plan and manages the activities on site for the execution of the work
- Creating the program: define a clear program to control the progress and prevent issues
- Scheduling the work and executing on site: use experience, best practices, professional competence and the best teams on site
- Reporting and sharing info: give regular feedback and respond promptly to questions and requests
- Setting up communication channels: dashboard, live chat, photo and video sharing using the latest tech solutions
- Making timely decisions: follow a clear process for requests, approvals, last minute changes and all decisions
Building works cause disruption in your daily routine. Information sharing and effective communication are as important as the execution of the works.
That is why you will have English speaking construction managers on your project and dedicated communication channels to avoid long and confusing email threads.
Delivering up to the expectations: produce top quality results through a hassle- and stress-free process.
6. Completion and handover
Your construction project manager defines the snagging list, ensures all the tiny details are taken care of and reviews everything with you to get to a successful handover of your property
- Completing the work: finalise all the construction works for you to move in
- Checking all the details: compile a snagging list to sort out all the small details
- Wrapping up all the final bits: complete the snagging and sign off the project
The very last few days at the end of your project can feel the hardest sometimes. You can’t wait to complete the works and start your new life and there are always the final details to smooth out. After all the waiting and the disruption during the works, and then all the small details to be finalised!
That is why we make sure to be there on your side, for any last minute request, question, fixing. Because seeing you happy is what motivates us everyday.
Taking care of all the final details: complete the snagging, provide all the certifications, warranties and documentation and sign off the project.
Our residential design and build projects
5-BEDROOM HOUSE EXTENSION AND HOUSE RENOVATION IN GANTS HILL, LONDON
This big family house in Gants Hill, London, is one of our favourite residential design and build project. We project included:
- two storey rear and side extension
- loft conversion
- kitchen installation and full renovation
- 3 new bathrooms fittings
- wooden flooring, carpet, tiling installation throughout
- all finishes supply and fit
Testimonial:
“It was daunting having to think about a company to do such major works for us, however Mike and Vinz were great all throughout the project and helped us achieve what we wanted. They are always available to speak to, and are knowledgable and friendly. The transparency is something I do not think we could have got with most other companies, and for this I am grateful. Thank you guys!”
Industrial penthouse in Shoreditch, London
For this residential build project in London we earned the cover of the Real Homes magazine. It’s on the top floor of a former warehouse in Shoreditch.
For this project the finishing details were especially important. We love the copper details, which were handcrafted onsite by our team. All the original windows were refurbished and repainted to their splendour.
Conversion of a Victorian foundry into 7 mews houses
For the Old Foundry project we worked in partnership with the designers and the developers to create 7 mews houses from a Victorian foundry built in the XIX century.
The challenges here were all about respecting the original structure while creating a comfortable living space for real people.
Testimonials:
Vincenzo, Mike and their teams of subcontractors are a breath of fresh air to the construction market. They are extremely well organised and professional, providing a high end service, with clear and constant communication to clients throughout their projects, not matter how big or small. We enjoy working with houseUP as the projects are realised with ease, on time and on budget. We highly recommend these guys to all of our clients for construction projects of all sizes in London and beyond!
Testimonials
Junaid
London
It was daunting having to think about a company to do such major works for us, however Mike and Vinz were great all throughout the project and helped us achieve what we wanted. They are always available to speak to, and are knowledgable and friendly. The transparency is something I do not think we could have got with most other companies, and for this I am grateful. Thank you guys!
Model Projects
London
Vincenzo, Mike and their teams of subcontractors are a breath of fresh air to the construction market. They are extremely well organised and professional, providing a high end service, with clear and constant communication to clients throughout their projects, not matter how big or small. We enjoy working with houseUP as the projects are realised with ease, on time and on budget. We highly recommend these guys to all of our clients for construction projects of all sizes in London and beyond!
H Mart
London
houseUP carried out the fit out of our new flagship restaurant in Waterloo. Vincenzo and Mike were always on top of everything, taking care of all the last minute changes and unexpected events that occurred on site. From the very start of the project to the completion, houseUP was a true partner. We never felt they were contractors delivering a service to us. We were able to openly discuss the budget and the specs, finding the best solution to achieve the best possible results. We were always on the same side, equally motivated to push forward and successfully get to the grand opening.
We finally found construction partners we can trust and rely on. A refreshing experience in such a difficult industry.
Get in touch with us for a chat, a free site visit or a free quotation for your construction project in London. We can help with residential design and build, commercial design and build and residential and commercial construction projects in London.