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Dan is the driving force behind Bespoke’s determination for high quality workmanship. He started in the trade at 16 years old, when he realised most people were not getting the quality they deserved. Dan went on to create Bespoke with a determination to build beautiful houses, and will proudly say that we are not the cheapest but we will be the best quality.

He works closely with all our new clients to ensure that we have a clear idea of their vision for the completed home. Whether it is a luxury barn conversion, eco-friendly home or a commercial joint venture Dan has the expertise you are looking for.

In early 2017, Dan achieved his dream of becoming a published writer, launching ‘Building the Dream, A Guide to Barn Renovations & Conversions’.The book channels Dan’s passion for barn conversions and offers a comprehensive look at the process of creating your dream home. If you want to start building your own dream, find out more about Dan’s barn conversion book or order a copy now on Amazon.

Away from work, Dan loves to cook for his wife and 3 children at their home where he perhaps thinks he’s a better cook than he probably actually is.

Why Should I Use Reclaimed Bricks & Tiles In My Building Project?

Sustainability is a huge subject, and one that we at Bespoke are passionate about. In this blog, I’ll take a closer look at re-purposing bricks and tiles, as well as some of the most important environmental reasons that we should all be considering sustainability throughout the building process.

Building your property using beautifully aged tiles made from original reclaimed bricks adds a sense of authenticity and integrity. You’re creating a unique, hand-crafted home, and this can be reflected in everything you do – from the processes you use, to the materials you choose. Reclaimed and recycled tiles and bricks help to create a building filled with warmth, character and history.

There’s no faking the real thing

To begin with, the only way of achieving the authentic look and feel of an original exposed brick wall is to use authentic, aged brick tiles. These little beauties have genuinely matured and acquired natural character over the years, and there’s just no faking that. Brick tiles can be used on the exterior walls of your home and on interior spaces too,allowing you to design unique and stunning effects. Brand new, factory-made modern bricks aren’t able to replicate the natural effects of time that creates that wonderful ‘no two bricks are quite the same’ style.

Considerate building

If you’re creating a new design & build home, you should certainly think about the natural and built environment that you’re proposing to build into. In many cases, planning legislation will require you to do this but it’s something you should plan into your project where possible.It’s important that when creating new buildings, we’re all mindful of UK heritage and our place within it.

Environmental Impact

This of course raises the broader question of sustainability – where building work is not only in keeping with its location, but also seeks to limit its environmental impact.  The process of recycling bricks incurs a smaller carbon footprint than using new bricks with its associated production and firing processes.The Building Research Establishment’s (BRE)“Green Guide to Specification”, suggests that there is significant capacity within the UK to further recycling bricks. So, there’s certainly still work to be done across the industry.

A Global Issue

Research by the Reclaimed Brick-Tile Company concludes that approximately 50% of global resources are consumed by the construction industry, so it’s important that builders maintain a sustainable when selecting materials. ‘Sustainability’ after all, means adapting the way we meet our objectives to minimise the impact of construction, giving the most beneficial options for people of today, without endangering the generations of tomorrow. Buildings can be the greatest producers of environmentally harmful gases such as CO2 and this ‘eco-footprint’ continues to grow.

A worldwide commitment to use sustainable materials is vital in helping to avert the negative effects of global warming. Whilst something as relatively small as re-purposing brick tiles can seem insignificant, if we all make little considerations and reuse materials wherever possible, we can make a difference.

Innovative eco building

One of the things I’m most passionate about in my professional career is creating beautifully crafted eco homes, and at the moment we’re lucky enough to be working on a really exciting eco build in North Nibley, rural Gloucestershire.

It’s the stuff that dreams are made of for eco enthusiasts – a beautiful valley setting, a terrific client, and the chance to work with some incredible, ground-breaking materials.

Our client is fantastic – she’s creating her dream home and is incredibly brave and experimental in terms of choosing details and features; the project is really fulfilling for her and in turn, the team at Bespoke is really enjoying helping her to realise her vision. We’re installing reclaimed kitchen units, underfloor heating, locally sourced materials – and a whole range of cutting edge eco products.

This has got me thinking and in this blog I want to talk to you about some of the more unusual aspects of this build, to show you how you can incorporate eco-friendly techniques into your design and build.

We’re installing a standing seam roof – which beautifully complements the building, and is extremely durable and hard-wearing. This type of roof is made of vertical panels that run up the length of the roof, and seams that connect the panels together. The construct of this material means that the roof can move under thermal expansion, and also that there’s very little chance of leaks, unlike traditional roofing where gaps in the tiles can lead to water ingress. It’s sleek, modern and available in lots of different materials so you’re sure to find something that works with your budget. Eco credentials? It’s hardwearing, long-lasting, and likely to cost a lot less than traditional roofing to maintain over the lifetime of your home.

We’re also working with Accoya cladding to the external elevations. Accoya cladding is an extremely durable modified timber, sourced from fast growing, sustainable forests. It provides a long-lasting finish and is easily recycled at the end of its lifetime. It’s a great product to use on external elevations, and looks fantastic.

One of the more unusual features we’re working with on our eco build in North Nibley are Internorm windows. These beautiful contemporary windows are incredibly versatile and available in a range of shapes and sizes. They are created with sustainability and responsible building in mind and incorporate a whole lot of technology, including energy saving built-in ventilation, sound reduction and thermal insulation.

I guess the aim of this blog is to encourage you to consider the more unusual choices, especially if they are sustainable and responsibly sourced. As well as protecting the environment that you’re building in, you’ll save money in the long run. You certainly don’t need to compromise on style and finish – some of the most exciting sustainable options are also the most visually stunning.

We can’t wait for this exciting design and build to be completed so we can show you the finished building – it’s set to be really special. Keep an eye on the blog for more news about this and other projects.

If you’re considering a new eco-friendly design & build project, barn conversion or renovation, contact the Bespoke team for a no-obligation chat.

Health and safety in construction

All industries and workplaces have regulations and procedures in place to limit the likelihood of accidents and to safeguard staff, clients and the public. But for companies like Bespoke Land, who operate in construction, adhering to robust health and safety (H&S) practices is absolutely critical – lives literally depend on it.

Did you know construction workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in Britain? Data from the  Health and Safety Executive (HSE), shared by the Telegraph, reveals that there were 196 deaths on construction sites between 2011 and 2016.

There are hazards aplenty on any construction site, whether it’s a new build or renovation project. Not only is there a risk of workers falling from a height, but there are dangers associated with falling objects, moving heavy items and sometimes, handling hazardous materials.

For a construction site to be as safe as possible, everyone involved in a project needs to be educated and trained on H&S practices, follow the correct procedures at all times and help to ensure that everyone else does, too.

Construction Regulations 2015

In 2015, the HSE published its Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), replacing CDM 2007. The publication details the legal H&S requirements for all construction projects, from concept to completion. It sets out the responsibilities of each duty holder in ensuring that projects are carried out in the safest possible way.

As a domestic client, your duties under the CDM 2015 are passed on to the company carrying out the construction work.

The CDM 2015 sets the industry standard and it’s essential that all companies comply. Still, there are many firms that aren’t taking H&S as seriously as they should. Just take research from law firm Clyde & Co., which found that fines resulting from H&S breaches soared by 83% in the year to 31 January 2017, from £7m to £13m.

Rest assured with Bespoke Builders

Here at Bespoke Land, health and safety is not something we take lightly. In fact, it’s one of our top priorities.

We’ve put together a H&S plan, in line with the CDM 2015, that’s used on every single project we undertake. The plan helps teams to identify main H&S risks on a site and outline proposals for the effective management of those risks. Having this plan in place will allow you – and us – to progress through the build safe in the knowledge that everything, and everyone, is protected.

If you want to chat through health and safety some more or want to discuss ideas for your next self-build project, give us a call today.

Sources:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/08/07/deadliest-jobs-uk-much-pay/

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l153.htm

 

 

Interior Designers & Why To Hire One

If you’re planning an extensive renovation or building a brand new home, it’s likely that you are planning to invest a significant amount of money. You’re likely to be re-configuring the layout of an existing building, or creating something brand new from scratch. Whilst you almost certainly will have engaged the services of an architect, an interior designer may be something you haven’t decided on yet.

When meeting with clients who are undertaking a large design and build or renovation project, I’d always recommend working with an interior designer. Although on the face of it, it looks like another cost on top of an already large financial commitment, working with the right designer can help you to achieve your dreams of a perfect space, and even save time and money. In fact, in my experience, clients who hire an interior designer are much more likely to stay within budget.

It is a designer’s job to know how to make the most of a given space, and to see your plans with the creative eye of a professional. It’s a lot more than simply choosing colours and fabrics – a good designer will be able to advise you on the natural flow of the space as a whole, and will have lots of ideas to create a harmonious and polished finished product.

Whilst you might have very clear ideas about the style and look you’re after, I’d still recommend talking to an interior designer, so I want to explore that a little further in this blog.

A good designer will save you time

Timing is everything here. If you hire an interior designer near the start of your project, it can save you time and money and help you avoid some common pitfalls. Bring them in at the planning stages for a creative view of your overall plans. A good designer will primarily help you to understand what can be achieved in your particular space, and will streamline your vision in order to help you choose the most effective way to style your home. They will come armed with experience and solutions to challenges such as tricky spaces, layouts and storage solutions. They’ll help you to disguise important but ‘aesthetically challenging’ items such as power points, and they’ll help you to avoid expensive mistakes such as over-ordering a particular product or something that you later wish you hadn’t bought.

Trust is the key

Rather like your relationship with your architect or building contractor, it’s imperative that you have trust and confidence in your interior decorator, and that you feel an affinity with them. A well-trained and professional interior designer will work closely with you to understand exactly what you’re trying to achieve. One of the things people often say is that they’re worried they’ll end up with someone else’s style; however, the reality is that a designer wants to help you achieve your perfect environment, and it’s their job to help you do that. The interior designers that Bespoke works with take pride in helping every client to realise their own individual style, and will take into account what you need to use the space for.

Making the most of your budget – and sticking to it!

An interior designer has knowledge of all the latest trends and innovative ideas in the marketplace, and they’ll have lots of contacts and suppliers that you may not be able to access as a private individual. However, crucially, in your very first meeting, they will also ask you what your budget is, and they’ll talk you through what you can realistically achieve. Throughout the project, they’ll be responsible for bringing thing in on time and within budget, and they’ll be able to source items for you. Your designer is there to be objective and to keep you focused on the bigger picture, to help you remember what’s important to you, and not letting the choices overwhelm you and take you over budget!

Saving you some grey hairs..

A building or renovation project is a big undertaking, particularly if you work or have a young family. Working with an interior designer is a great option for busy people (let’s face it, that’s all of us!) and will take a huge amount of stress away, leaving you time to deal with other aspects of the build.

One of the best reasons to work with a designer is that they are good at solving problems. Challenging spaces? They will have seen it before! Awkward suppliers? Let them be the bad guy! Problems do happen – the wrong material has been ordered, something’s been measured incorrectly – rather than worry about it, this is something your designer can help you with.

Overall, I’d always recommend at least talking to a well-established and well-considered trained interior designer. Arrange a consultation and go from there – I don’t think you’ll regret it.

Bespoke works with a number of interior designers, and we’d be delighted to put you in touch. Give us a call or pop in to see us at our Bristol offices.

I’m often asked to explain the pros and cons of Refurbish versus New Build, so here goes.

To totally re-furnish an existing building that’s detached, whilst can be a much “cheaper” alternative to new build, you will always be restricted by the existing structure, design and spaces.

Demolishing, say an existing bungalow, gives you the freedom to change the entire style and tailor the proposed house to suit your needs. This will make your new home, truly “Bespoke”. I believe that if you are developing your forever home, then what’s the point in doing it half hearted. I think its so hard to come across a decent residential site that suits your needs and when they do come up are snatched up by aggressive developer’s panic buying and paying over market value, that a pragmatic approach if often essential.

I think that thinking outside of the box and starting with an existing dwelling can often lead to having exactly what you require at the end so long as you do a really good job and do not end up building something not to dissimilar to what you started with.

You will also get the benefit and saving of the services already being in place along with the drainage. As previously mentioned in our last blog, a new build currently carries a discounted VAT rate of 0%, therefore if you knock down an existing building and rebuild, you actually save 20% across the entire project and wouldn’t if you refurbished.

It has also become much easier to finance a new build using aself-build mortgage over the last few years and I will be writing a blog soon to hopefully help explain this as much as I can.

So go on, go out and buy a cheap,“disposable” static caravan (possibly all part of the fun), pack up the family for an adventure and stop dreaming.

I do hope this helps slightly if you are deliberating and if you are serious and what to talk further, please call our offices 01179 248335 and someone will be more than happy to help and discuss the feasibility of your proposed scheme.

Water Mist Systems v Sprinkler Systems

Looking back at one our clients who designed a beautiful utility room, with detailed perfection, it became evident that sprinkler system water tanks tend to have a heavy ‘Commercial Look’ and not the streamline unit or ‘easy on the eye look’ they were looking for. This gave us an idea to consider something different as some things simply cannot be changed.  Obstacles such as this bring a challenge, but also broadens our own options and how to overcome them, which gave us an idea – Water Mist Systems!  This is a new and exciting area for us as a building company to become involved with Water Mist Systems, as without doubt, this will be the best way forward to protecting not only commercial properties but now our own dream homes.  Mist Systems not only reduce the risk of the fire spreading to other areas by the way they are designed to work, but the amount of water damage too is greatly reduced.

Principles of the Water Mist System

Water Mist systems control and suppress fires by cooling of temperature and surface wetting.  With the systems producing very small water droplets over a large surface area are made available and thus, the speed of the cooling effect of the water is increased. As the water uses the thermal energy from the fire source to heat up, it changes from a liquid into a gaseous phase, displacing oxygen from the fire location. The amount of oxygen displaced remains local to the fire source and does not affect the tenability of the protected area.  Once the water is discharged, the light droplets remain airborne for longer and retain a volume of mist in the protected area. This aids in surface wetting of the surrounding materials to assist in preventing the spread of the fire. The cooling effect of the mist reduces the ambient temperature of the room. This aids with the reduction of flammable vapours being produced to assist in the prevention of flashovers.

Water Mist V Sprinkler Systems come with benefits!

No Heavy Intrusive 1,000 Litre Tanks or heavy, long runs of pipe work.  No more complicated installations, with the added benefit that Mist systems are typically lower in cost from the design stage through to the installation and ongoing running and maintenance.No unsightly intrusive Sprinklers that jump out at us, despite how hard we try to disguise them! Mist systems are invisible, intelligent and intuitive systems which are continuing to grow in choice over the traditional sprinkler systems.

Existing oak trusses can, in my opinion, end up making a room within a period property look incredible – or can end up just becoming an “epic fail” if not restored properly.

I’ve seen the restoration of oak trusses done badly far too many times and want to help enthusiastic period property owners and lost builders to find the right path to success.

Step 1   Existing timbers

You need to appoint a decent and confident carpenter/joiner to cut out any of the existing rotten or soft wood sections from the truss and replace using new timber to match the existing. More commonly than not, you will find that your trusses will be made using English oak from the UK.

Unfortunately, due to the local authorities slapping Tree Protection Orders on most of our established oak trees in the UK, you will find that the price of English oak is very expensive in comparison with European and French oak. Our American cousins produce an oak (cleverly labelled as American oak) which is very white and is the cheapest oak on the market.

I have taken oak as an example here, but it’s important to match your timber correctly, because if you replace any sections with a different wood, it will simply stick out like a sore thumb.

Once you have removed the defected or incorrect timbers, they will need to be replaced, ensuring that the existing marry properly and that the joints and connections are scarfed properly. One common fault is to try to fill between the two timbers. Seeing this makes me want to cry and should never happen – it is simply a disaster.

A good joiner will need to replicate the existing junctions, for example a mortise and tendon joint.

Step 2     Sand Blasting

This is a must. Many people (including other contractors) cannot believe that we actually sandblast our “old” timbers, but I’m telling you, there is no better way to bring them back to life – the rich and chalky colours that are hidden inside really come out. Most people associate sandblasting with graffiti removal, but using the correct grade sand and a consistent, experienced blaster, it really works.

I always ask my sandblaster to do a small test patch in a corner out of the way or even on the off cut of timber you have just removed before committing to the entire truss. Using a sandblaster may sound expensive as opposed to a decorator using a piece of sand paper and elbow grease, but there is no comparison with the finish. Remember though, sandblasting is super messy so prepare for sand everywhere!

Step 3   Treatment

It’s very important to treat the timbers and twice saturate with an anti-dry and wet rot system. Obviously you should have already cut and removed any existing rot, but this treatment will ensure the rot has gone completely. There are many types of treatment systems on the market and I would recommend using a system that carries a decent 10 year recognised guarantee.

Step 4   Adding Extra Period Features

This is now your opportunity to jazz up the truss and add features such as pegs and bolts, washers and brackets. Always ensure that they are suited to the period of the property and are added within the correct locations. For example, you wouldn’t want to put a medieval candle holder in a modern piggery.

Step 5 Treating and Decorating

As with the sandblasting, I recommend doing a few test panels before committing, but generally, I like to use a clear, very good quality varnish. Lots of decorators will tell you to just add one coat, as that’s all it needs because it’s now sealed. This is incorrect in my experience – the second coat improves it and the third really brings the truss alive.

I hope this serves as a useful guide for restoring a period oak truss. As you can see, it is a process which requires care, attention and expertise in order to be done properly. We are lucky to work with a team of exceptional contractors who all firmly believe in doing things the right way, and who will not compromise on the quality of the restoration work by cutting corners at any stage of the process.

As you may have heard, this month the UK Government has announced plans to scrap tolls on both Severn crossings by the end of 2018, with both Severn crossings returning to public ownership. Currently, monthly tickets range from £117.92 for small cars to £396 for large vehicles, which means that a daily commute sets you back over £1400 per year for the smallest category of vehicle.

The announcement that the Government will scrap what has been described as a ‘tax on Wales’by the end of next year will be seen as a positive move by many. The move is set to boost Welsh economy by an estimated £100m a year, and is expected to increase tourism and business in the region. As an independent business that regularly works in Wales, this is certainly a consideration and I welcome the scrappage of tolls for my business as it makes the Welsh market even more appealing.

As I alluded to above, trade is likely to be the big winner, with many English-based companies starting to see Wales as a more profitable proposition. Wales is currently experiencing a huge resurgence -it’s a country brimming over with confidence, and major cities such as Cardiff, Swansea and Newport are seeing really interesting commercial and industrial growth, making them attractive to national and global companies. There is still a large gap between urban and rural areas in Wales, and there’s a huge opportunity to invest in the Valleys and wider Wales.

We could also see an impact on house prices, as buyers find the commute to the M4 corridor more appealing.This of course has both positive and negative connotations – it’s great for investors and workers priced out of their local market, who can now take advantage of lower house prices, and not so great for locals who find their home market prices increasing as they try to get on the ladder. Overall however, this is a positive effect and good for the local economy.

The removal of tolls could also have a not-so-positive effect on congestion; although there are plans for a relief road via Newport, some quarters have warned that the lack of tolls will create traffic issues, putting particular pressure on the Bryn Glas tunnels – not a happy thought for anyone who currently uses that route regularly! There are currently 25 million crossings a year, and naturally, you’d expect this to rise when the tolls are removed, so upgrades to the highways will need to be handled with care. It’s fair to say that there’s a difference in opinion on this – the AA says that journey times will be cut due to people not having to plan their route to avoid tolls. It will be interesting to see whether the increased traffic will outweigh the benefits of the boost to the economy or vice versa.

From Bespoke’s point of view, the removal of the Severn Crossing tolls is great news. It opens up Wales as a more viable business opportunity, allowing us to look again at the region in terms of extending our reach from the South West of England over to South East Wales. I foresee many potential and existing home-owners seeing the lifting of the tolls as a golden opportunity to invest in property in Wales. And with house-prices currently lower than equivalent properties in Bristol and the wider M4 corridor, I suspect that we’ll see an influx of investors who see the investment opportunity to create their dream design and build homes, all of which is good news for Bespoke.

If you’re considering building or redeveloping a property in Wales, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call and we will arrange to come and see you to discuss your project and how Bespoke can help.

Back in February we purchased a farm site in Usk, South Wales which has planning consent to convert into 9 very nice and specious units.

We started the 22 weeks conversion of Unit 1 and are pleased to announce that it has now sold 9 days post open day! The property has been purchased by a really nice couple who are excited and as enthusiastic as we are about the Barn.

Sycamore Retreat includes, an Aga, Wood Burning Stove, Kitchen, Utility Room, En-Suite to Master Bedroom, Jack and Jill En-Suite to bedroom 2&3, huge private driveway, 60 sqm lounge, incredible views across the Usk Valley and the list just goes on and on.

We are now moving onto Unit 2,3 & 4 and these dwellings will be ready to market late Spring 2017.

Usk is a very pretty, Historic Village will a small high street, full of shops and amenities, and you really get the feeling when in Usk of being in a rural Village but have the added bonus of the great motorway and train links making the area desirable for business commuters.

Being based in Bristol, it only takes around 40 minutes to commute to and from our office and actually is easier to get to than someone of our other Bristol based sites.