RKB and Son are proud to be members of the Federation of Master Builders

RKB BUilding Services

The following information describes some of the main services we carry out. As considerate builders all our skip contents are sent to be re-cycled.

We can construct new build to clients' approved drawings or from clients' ideas and input. Whether you want a a stand-alone structure, one attached to an existing building, or a partly new build structure which modifies or extends an existing structure, all will be built to complement and blend with the surrounding environment.

We liaise with your architects, party wall surveyors and structural engineers to ensure a smooth build from start to finish.

Loft conversion

All aspects of loft works undertaken. Looking for an extra bedroom or a master bedroom with en-suite? Then maybe a loft conversion could be the answer. The extra floor space becomes part of your main house being fitted with all new Mechanical and Electrical services and a new staircase connecting it with the rest of the house. External works including walls and roof will be finished to match surrounding structures.

All works are carried out to approved drawings and inspected by Building Control at each stage of the build and we liaise with architects, party wall surveyors and structural engineers for a smooth build from start to finish.

All necessary care and considerations is taken not to inconvenience surrounding neighbours and keeping them informed during heavy and noisy works.

Refurbishments

All aspects off refurbishment are undertaken to suit individual needs, eg from changing your house layout to adding a new cloakroom downstairs (very useful for children and elderly family members). Perhaps you want a new bathroom in a different part of the house, windows installed or moved, to change the layout of your kitchen and bathrooms, or add new lighting, tiling, walls and floors?

We can block existing doorways, change direction of door openings, remove all ceiling, wall and floor coverings, fix new door frames and skim all walls, change all woodwork to complement new doors and ironmongery.

All the above include painting and decoration.

Extensions

An extension can eliminate all the expense of moving house by adding extra habitable space with layout to suit. Whether it's a study, office or even an en-suite depending on size and layout, these can add considerable value to your property. There are different types of extension ranging from single to double storeys which can also be built with a single side extension to continue to return to rear face of house ( L shaped). The construction of the build will match the finish of house externally eg brickwork, render plastering or even pebble dashing .

• single storey extension might be used as bedroom for elderly family members who might have difficulty climbing a staircase.
• double storey extension can create extra bedroom on first floor further adding extra value to property. Your existing stair-case is used with a new opening onto new floor space.
• rear extension can be used for variety of uses from extra living floor space, dining room or new kitchen space.
• existing kitchen if re-located to extension can be turned into shower area with shower tray and enclosure or into wet room if difficult to step onto shower tray

Extensions are built from approved drawings with on-going works certified with Building Controls and liaison with structural engineers, party wall surveyors and architects.

Wooden floorings

All aspects of engineered, solidwood and laminate flooring works undertaken eg sanding existing floorboards and sealing to bring them to their former glory or laying new floorings onto existing floorboards.

Laminate floorings can be laid onto concrete or wooden subfloor, the only difference is that different underlay is required depending on the subfloor. Laminate floors are laid onto underlay and not fixed onto subfloor. They have a tongue and groove system and just click into place. The advantage of this type of flooring is that it can be removed and relaid elsewhere if required.

Engineered and solidwood flooring can also be laid on concrete or wooden subfloor with underlay to suit subfloor. This type of flooring has a tongue and groove system which needs to be glued and nailed onto a wooden subfloor or laid with a floating floor technique on concrete. The advantage of engineering flooring is that it doesn’t shrink or expand due to its construction.

The disadvantage with solidwood flooring is that in winter due to moisture evaporating, the planks can contract leaving unsightly gaps. Equally, it expands during the summer, closing the gaps. Because of this occurring, due care has to be taken when laying and allowance for gaps as advised by manufacturer must be strictly adhered to.

Engineered and solidwood flooring cannot be reused as the floor is glued and nailed.

Property maintenance

All aspects off property maintenance works undertaken ranging from tidying up to major complete maintenance.

For example, those small jobs which never get done around the house from painting to general tidy-up. Other maintenance works can range from replacing broken bathroom and kitchen tiles together with raking off old grout and regrouting, removing existing mastik sealant and re-sealing around worktops and bathroom suite. Decoration can be completed once all new works have dried out.

Garage conversion

How about converting an existing garage into habitable room space which can be integrated and accessed internally from house.

Building regulations may be required due to structural alterations and drainage works. Structural alterations might include removing garage door and brickwork up to window cill level with new window to match existing, upgrading roof, insulating walls, insulating and waterproofing floors to existing house floor levels and creating a new entrance for access into your new conversion.

Drainage works are required if incorporating a bathroom into the conversion together with running new services ie hot and cold water and electrics.

Garden offices

Why not make use of garden space to build a stand alone office fully usable all year even through extreme weather. All walls, floor and ceiling are fully insulated throughout to retain heat. Some larger constructions may require building regulations. Electrical services can be incorporated if of a solid construction to mains fusebox within house .

The external face of a garden office can be constructed of facing brickwork, facing concrete block, thermal block with external render. All solid constructions have to be clad in slab insulation and plasterboards internally. We can also construct a framework with external treated timber faced in maintenance free pvc cladding and internally insulated plasterboards. Claddings are available in different widths and colours to complement requirement the surroundings. All claddings are plastic and maintenance free.

Roof can be constructed in timber framework with ply dressed in mineral felt, combining underlay and top layer for longer life or can also be covered with roof tiles to match the main roof of house. Depending on your requirements, we can also offer our expertise as to other coverings available.

Ironmongery

We can undertake removal of and replacement of existing ironmongery. We can also fit new ironmongery on blank doors. If additional locks are required on main exit doors due to your insurance company’s requirements, these can also becarried out.

Renovations

All aspects of renovations carried out from minor to major works. As we cover all aspect of works we manage all tradesmen to carry out their part of works as works progresses

Other works include relocating / upgrading bathrooms and kitchens. As we have many preferred partners we can also assist with sourcing fittings and fixtures as most of our partners have show-room facilities.

Carpentary works from new door frames, skirtings and picture rails to new handrails and balustrades. Ironmongery works can also be included to complement new doors. All types of flooring.

Electrical and lighting

Complete installation - we disconnect and remove existing installation from main fuse coming into property onwards, old cables are removed where appropriate.

New installation will take into considerations for siting off sockets (all sockets used are switched for ease of switching individual appliances) and light fittings only be it single fittings to recess low voltage light fitting , all above point determines size off fuse-box with 2 surplus for future use and fusebox labelled

complete installation are commissioned and certified

Central Heating

Complete heating systems designed, installed, commissioned and certified. All rooms are measured and appropriately sized radiators installed in a position to suit for maximum efficiency. Boilers installed and vented externally to suitable point. Bathroom towel-rail may be incorporated (client's choice and requirement is taken into consideration). We can also install client-sourced towel rails into your system.

We can also replace faulty boilers with new efficiency boilers. All brands installed and all operating instructions are handed to clients on completion.

Porches

We can carry out all aspects off porch works, with brickwork matched to surroundings and laid to window cill level,, with window and doors also to match. Roof can be constructed of similar materials to match main roof or to complement porch and blend in more easily. Internally, the porch can be finished to match hallway and new lighting can also be incorporated.

Brickwork

All aspects off brickwork undertaken from garden wall to new build works for extensions and out building. Can be built to match existing surroundings with bricks sourced to match and approved prior to laying with mortar. Joint sizes and mortar can be matched with surrounding brickwork. Some walls can also be built with concrete blocks - this option is cheaper as blocks can be laid faster due to size.

Plastering

Internal and external rendering from sand & cement, bonding, browning and finishing to match surrounding areas.

Internal plastering is made up of two coats of plaster (also known as wet plastering or two-coat). First coat applied is normally levelled and finished off with top coat to achieve smooth surface, which once dry is ready for decorating. Advantage off this type of plaster is that as well as being fire-proof it can also retain heat and sound.

External plastering is known as rendering (sand and cement mix) which can be applied onto most masonry. This is applied in two coats consisting of scratch and top coat. The top coat can be smoothed off or pebble dashed depending on surrounding structure. Smooth coats can also be left natural once sealed with clear sealant, or painted with a suitable external paint.

Painting and decorating

All painting and decorating works covered from a small area to complete house, from top to bottom. Works carried out to client's requirement and choices of colours, with removal of wall and ceiling coverings to achieve a blank canvas prior to preparation and painting with the required number of coats as per manufacturer recommendation.

All new timber with timber knots needs to be treated to stop knots from bleeding, and primed, with undercoat applied prior to top coat. We can also stain new timber to required colour.

Structural alterations and layout

All aspect of alterations works undertaken from removing dividing support walls to create open plan layout.

Due to the nature of works, structural engineers may be required for calculating loads imposed and which steel beams are required to support upper walls. Some alterations will require planning permission from your local authority.

All alterations are carried out in a controlled and safe manner due to loadings on walls, and all necessary temporary supports and precautions are taken prior to demolition.

Kitchen fittings

With our preferred partners we can offer made to measure kitchen units with fitting service. Our preferred partners have full manufacturing units with showroom facilities.

As all units are manufactured to exact requirement, any alterations can be easily incorporated to accommodate specific depths, height, internal shelvings and drawers.

All doors are individually made to your chosen colour, design and finish with choice of handles.

Through lounge (open plan) and chimney breast removals

Due to heavy loading on chimneys, all necessary permissions must be sought from the local authority in writing prior to removal. All chimney support works are carried out within roof void and inspected by local authority.

Removal of dividing wall between living room and dining room are carried out in the same sequence as chimney breast removal, both ceiling joists are supported on either side of the wall with temporary supports (Akro props) and wall also supported with props. A small pocket is created to insert support prior to removal of complete wall.

All structural steel beams are cased in fire proof plasterboards and all disturbed works will be made good and painted.

Wardrobe fittings

With our preferred partners we can offer made to measure wardrobes with fitting service. These can be made to suit exact structural openings. Our preferred partners have full manufacturing units with showroom facilities

As all wardrobes are manufactured to exact requirement alterations any layout can be easily incorporated to accommodate specific depths, height, internal shelvings and drawers.

All doors are individually made to your chosen colour, design and finish with choice of handles.

Carpentry

All aspects of carpentry works undertaken, eg doors, partitions, staircase works - changing / upgrading handrails and spindles, laminate floorings, loft boarding and boxing-in of pipes, kitchen upgrading - replacement / realignment of unit doors.

Tiling

We can undertake all types of tiling from ceramic, porcelain and clay tiles fitted in bathrooms, kitchens, hallways and entrances. Floor tiles can be layed on concrete or wooden sub-floors. Sealants are applied to solid floors prior to tiling while on wooden floors it's advisable to fix 18mm ply using flexible adhesive to allow for floor movement and traffic.

Tiles can also be fixed to bathroom walls, either splashback or full wall to wall. Tiles can also be laid onto floor within kitchen and bathroom.

Miscellaneous

We can also arrange following through our preferred partners:-

• glass of varying thickness which can be cut to size and toughened for safety
• mirrors cut to shape and size with polished edges,
• double glazing sealed units manufactured to size or replacement of faulty sealed units.
• architect services from initial survey to submitting layout drawings to local authority for final approval
• structural steel beams supplied to all different dimensions and cut to required lengths, we can also supply metal fabrications from made to measure gates and balustrades
• kitchen units and bedroom units manufactured to required shape and size to utilise dead space within house where normal sized units is not possible. We can also supply marble worktops made to measure with polished edges.

If you would like a quote, please contact us using our contact form or by telephoning 07960 069 269 or local rate number 08450 300 600. We are only a phone call away!