CARREG CONSTRUCTION LTD
to work, carrying out the renovation in four phases, starting at the roof and finishing in the basement. Working from the vision of Murray John Architects of London – a renowned heritage designer originally from Tenby – Carreg Construction needed to carry out a “sympathetic modernisation whilst retaining all key heritage features of this iconic property”. The main objectives included: new bathroom and shower suites; new kitchen on the existing ground floor sitting room; replacing a large, fully glazed conservatory; and restoring a dilapidated vaulted basement. With the key outcomes in sight, the team also needed to complete a lot more work, which included: removing, refurbishing and reinstalling all of the original cast iron railings onto a reconstructed masonry wall that reused existing stone cills and cappings; refurbishing all windows and internal timber shutters; and installing new plumbing and electrical services – including an air source heat pump for underfloor heating in the new conservatory. Overcoming challenges Making sure all repairs and refurbishment works remained sympathetic to the heritage aesthetics of the building was the key point of focus for the Carreg Construction team. This meant preserving the original fabric, whilst meeting current building regulations. But to make matters more challenging, Lexden
Good relations Keeping the client happy was key to the success of this project – and Carreg Construction Ltd did just that. Given the client was based outside of Wales during the initial phase of the project, the team worked hard to build trust quickly. They did this through regular and transparent communication, ensuring any questions of cost variations were discussed immediately. Specifically, Carreg Construction relied on technology to facilitate good relationships. Using a web application named Agored Build – which, interestingly, was developed by the building company – the contractor and client were able to communicate in real time regarding any cost fluctuations. The result was complete cost transparency, which meant the client could make informed decisions, understanding immediately how they would affect the overall project budget.
Given the restricted access and the need for extensive scaffolding to complete work on the roof, windows, and replacement conservatory, the company was concerned it would need to transport the necessary equipment manually across neighbouring gardens, as this is the method previously used in the area. However, Carreg
Construction worked closely with the local
planning authority to create a permanent direct access route to get materials, equipment and labour from the front driveway directly to the rear, which can also be used in the future to complete any maintenance work on the property. What the client said A positive testimonial goes a long way to winning future work, but it’s also a rewarding affirmation of a job well done. This was certainly the case for Carreg Construction, earning high praise from the client, as they said: “The wider team became part of the family and we always felt that they were emotionally engaged in what they were doing. Great technical skills, an eye for detail and a desire for quality were key attributes and were all much valued and appreciated.”
House – perched above Tenby’s south beach – is only reachable via a narrow road, access to which is restricted during summer. So the team needed to schedule deliveries according to a specific project timeframe. With the client and builder eager to reuse as many of the existing materials as possible, the team constantly looked out for opportunities. For example, they demolished a workshop by hand and used the recovered bricks to pave the rear patio, side walkway and front screen walls. Not only was it a cost-effective solution, it was also light on carbon.
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Master Builder
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