basement extension company recommendations please? Post Reply

[sparkletiger]

Hi all, we are considering getting more much needed space by digging out our basement. I see so many houses getting it done and wondered if anyone could give a recommendation?

We only have a ground floor flat, but the footprint is a good size so it seems worth pursuing rather than trying to move. Plus we like where we are.

So looking of company recommendations and also if you've had one done what questions should we ask? what do you wish you'd known before you started the process? that kind of thing

Any thoughts warmly welcomed... many thanks

[Nims]

We are in the process of doing the same thing...we live in a ground floor flat, and rapidly running out of space. House prices have risen so much that we cannot afford to move, therefore the only option we have is to dig down.

Based on recommendations, we got Paul Blount to draw up plans, we now have planning permission and currently in the process of going out to tender.

Estbury Basements are at the top of our preferences, not based on price but based on value. From talking to other people who have used them, they have come out strongly on reputation alone.

Questions we asked are typically - how long will it take, do we have to move out, what disruptions are we likely to expect, give us examples of any issues encountered in a project and how you dealt with them, what hours will your men do on site, etc...etc...

I'd be interested to hear what other NPV users have to say on this topic.

[Wmum]

Hello
our basement conversion has just finished. We converted an existing space and extended back. Estbury said it was too small a project to quote for us (though our new space has a kitchen/utility, tv room/study and bathroom!). We used Ashville inc whose offices are on new kings rd.
http://www.ashvilleinc.com/
Not the cheapest, but not the most expensive quote either and they did a fixed price job. It took longer than I expected but the standard of the work was impeccable and Iam so pleased. Also, they really went out of their way to make living through the work as stressfree as possible. It wasnt as bad as I thought! Give them a look.
They took care of everything from building control to design and specification. The only thing I had to arrange was party wall.
Good luck!

[alias]

I have heard very mixed reports about Estbury. Two friends of mine have had problems with them. But then I have heard some people speak highly. So difficult.

[Nims]

Alias, what problems did your friends have with Estbury? It would be good to know (if you are able to share), seeing as we are most likely to select them to do our work? We haven't come to a final decision with regards to contractor, but we need to do so by the end of the week....

[alias]

I can't remember exactly. I'll ask them if they mind me saying. I am looking around too and am being put off nearly everyone except Pure and Advantage. It seems to me that everything goes smoothly until after they've finished. Then any problems that surface are always somebody else's fault.

[Nims]

If you can't remember the problems your friends had with Estbury, then surely they can't have been that significant? If you could have a chat with your friends, then it would be good to know what those problems were, and whether they were specifically due to Estbury or another factor?

Not heard of Pure and Advantage, I'll have a google and if they look any good then we'll get them in for a quote as well. Are they currently doing any works between the commons, do you know? If so, then I'll pop on by and have a quick chat with the house owners and see what their feedback is.

Thanks!

[Wmum]

Im based in Balham and used Ashville - would be happy to send anyone pics, or have a conversation. Advantage also quoted and looked good. Also perhaps google the OLBC. I was going to use them originally, until my project decreased in size - and then like Estbury, the project was too small for them to take on.
Hope that helps

[Tigger]

I have posted before on NVN about Estbury and I'm happy to do so again.

We are just off Northcote Road and had our basement done by Estbury two years ago. The directors have a huge amount of experience with big companies but set up Estbury a few years ago and I think have done forty or fifty around here now.

From their initial visit, through construction and onto fit out they were great. We met six other companies and immediately thought that Estbury were the ones for us. They weren't too technical, nothing was a problem and they just seemed like genuinely good guys to deal with. We had a look at four of their other sites and everyone was very complimentary about them too. You get the impression that as they specialise between the commons they can't afford to get a bad reputation and so all their workmen seem to be aware of this and so make a special effort to help with pushchairs, keep everything tidy, and clean down at the end of each day. Yes it's a messy job but they all seem to do their best to make it as hassle free as possible.

Since the job was finished we have had no problems at all with the dig and they have now converted some of our friends houses and they have had no major complaints. We have had a few problems from the fit out but in fairness Estbury didn't do that and I know they now have their own fitout company which if we were doing it again I would definitely use. My understanding is that it's the fitout bit where things are most likely to go wrong but then again apparently a lot of that is from when people change their minds halfway through the project!!

Just for clarity I have to say that I have NOTHING to do with Estbury as a company and I have no ulterior motive in making this post, they are just genuine guys building a business and by our experience deserve every leg up they can get. Please feel free to get in contact directly if you want to chat more.

[Nims]

Hi Tigger, you've restored my faith now, I must admit I was a little unnerved by alias but as he/she can't come up with the actual problems then Estbury are still top of our list.

Estbury have said they will provide us with a list of clients that are happy for us to visit and look at their basements, if you're on that list then I'm sure my husband and/or I will be giving you a call.

Thanks! Nims

[belld]

we finished a basement with Rhino Construction last year, we were the Architects. they are based in Wimbledon.

[alias]

Sorry for the delay. I asked my friends and the issues are unresolved so they don't want me to give details. Sorry - that's really unhelpful.

[Elenita4ever]

Hi - we recently asked 3 companies to quote for our mid-sized basement conversion and Estbury were top of our list. But even though both directors came to look at the job and seemed really good - they then didn't quote even though I chased twice. They said the quote was "on its way" but then it never came and no explanation. They might already have a lot of work on this year so only taking certain size projects.

We eventually went ahead with Mascot but then sold our flat before we started the work (they did arragne the planning permission/drawings). Mascot seemed reasonably priced and are local to SW11/17, their quote was comprehensive (in terms of detail) and then have a number of reference sites to show us.

One thing to bear in mind if your planning a basement under a ground floor flat (rather than a house) - is that you only own the land under any current basement that is demised to your propery. So if you're planning to dig laterally (outside your existing basement footprint, and not just downwards) you will need to "buy" this land from your fellow freeholders (flat above yours) - it doesn't automatically belong to you because its physically under your flat. I didn't know this and it could have been an issue except we were only planning to convert the existing basement footprint. Hope this makes sense.

E
xx

[Ilovechocolate]

Hi
We're currently having our basement done by Premier Basements who are based in Windsor, though they have done a few basements in Battersea.
We found them through Sarah Beenys Double your House for Half the Price.

They look after the whole project from Architect through to fit out, which was important to us as we didn't want the stress of having to look for an architect or a structural engineer.

We felt the quote we were given was very reasonable compared to London Basement Company and Estbury.

Roger who owns the Company is very easy to deal with and no job is too small or too big and his team are brilliant.



We're converting a 1 bed flat into a 3 bed 2 bath flat with a large double reception room and kitchen diner.

[belld]

Please always check any Architect is really an Architect - look them up on the Architects Registration Board website. Some (thankfully not all) Builders claim to use an 'Architect' when the person they are referring to is not fully qualified, members of the RIBA and ARB which they must be to use the title 'Architect'.
If you use a builders 'Architect' then expect to get what the builder wants - not what you want - importantly for the main items/details like insulation, structural coordination, dpc's etc. Using an independent Architect gives you the control which any good builder should welcome if they are good enough. An Architect can also provide tender drawings, to allow a competitive pricing process, appraisal of preferred contractors - to ensure best price and quality.
I dont need to say, you will have guess I am an Architect.
I cant see reference to 'Architects' on Premier Basement website. Non qualified Architects called themselves Architectural Designers etc - to get round this protection of title.
Good Luck.
David