Services for Conversions/Extensions
Please note: All information contained within this section is for guidance only. It is best that you check current sources of information.
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Areas covered under this Category are as follows:
- Agricultural
- Architect
- Barn
- Basement
- Cellar
- Dormer
- Garage
- Home
- Home Office
- Kitchen
- Listed Building
- Loft
- New Build
- Porches
- Project Manager
- Self Build
- Sunrooms
- Underground
- Wine Cellar
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NHIC membership comprises many of the most important companies and organisations operating in the home improvement sector - www.nhic.org.uk
Lead Contractors Association (LCA) - www.leadcontractorsassociation.com LCA comprises of specialist contractors committed to providing quality craftsmanship for their clients, supported by associate members supplying materials and ancillary services.
The Painting and Decorating Association (PDA) - www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk - the UK's largest trade and employers' association for contractors in the painting and decorating industry. The Association has one clear purpose - to ensure all members adhere to the highest standards.
The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) - www.eca.co.uk - Is the trade association representing the interests of contractors who design, install, inspect, test and maintain electrical and electronic equipment and building services in England and Wales. Founded in 1901, it has over 3,000 Registered Members, ranging from local contractors to national building services organisations.
Confederation of Roofing Contractors (CRC) - www.corc.co.uk By using a member of the Confederation of Roofing Contractors you are assured that all member companies have been strictly vetted and carry out works to a high standard and at a competitive price. All new works can be protected by a fully insured 10 year back up guarantee.
Gas Safe Register is the official list of gas engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas appliances. By law only a Gas Safe registered engineer can fit, fix or service your gas appliances. Always check the engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card. To check an engineer is currently registered visit www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk.
The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) - www.locksmiths.co.uk Is a not-for-profit trade association, that was established to set and promote standards of conduct, practice and materials within locksmithing. MLA licensed companies, who undergo strict vetting, regular inspections and employ a qualified locksmith, can provide you with peace of mind regarding the security of your home.
Founded in 1900, SELECT - www.select.org.uk is the trade association that represents the interests of electrical contractors operating throughout Scotland. There are now over 1200 members, from small local contractors to large UK companies, accredited in one of eight technical disciplines giving SELECT member companies proven capability across a wide range of design, manufacturing, testing and commissioning skills.
The National Skip Hire Association was established for the purpose of advancing the waste industry in an ethical and professional manner throughout the British Isles - www.nsha-uk.co.uk
NAPIT was formed in 1992 as the National Association for Professional Inspectors and Testers - www.napit.org.uk - its members are active in the Domestic, Commercial and Industrial sectors and members can register and be assessed by NAPIT in the fields of electrical installation, plumbing, heating and ventilation (which includes air conditioning).
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited (NFRC) - www.nfrc.co.uk - the UK's largest roofing trade association representing over 60% of the roofing industry by value. By using an NFRC registered contractor you have the comfort of guaranteed protection and quality.
Competent Person Scheme - www.competentroofer.co.uk - CompetentRoofer is the prime Government-approved scheme for England and Wales that legally allows professional roofing contractors to self-certify for Building Regulations for refurbishment roofing work. This encompasses all roofing types for domestic, industrial and commercial properties and the scheme is open to all roofing contractors to apply within England and Wales.
Architects Registration Board - www.arb.org.uk
Association of Specialist Fire Protection - www.asfp.org.uk
British Blind and Shutter Association - www.bbsa.org.uk
British Structural Waterproofing Association - www.thebswa.plus.com
British Woodworking Federation - www.bwf.org.uk
Considerate Constructors Scheme - www.ccscheme.org.uk
Construction Skills - www.cskills.org
CORGI - www.corgiservices.com
Door & Hardware Federation - www.dhfonline.org.uk
FENSA - www.fensa.org.uk - Is the largest Competent Person Scheme for replacement windows and doors, to allow companies to self certify compliance to Building Regulations.
Glass and Glazing Federation - www.ggf.co.uk - Is the leading Trade Federation for companies who manufacture, supply or fit flat glass, windows and related products.
Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installers (iKBBI) - www.ikbbi.org.uk
National Access & Scaffolding Confederation - www.nasc.org.uk
National Federation of Builders - www.builders.org.uk
NICEIC - www.niceic.org.uk
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) - www.architecture.com
SAFEcontractor - www.safecontractor.com
Scottish Joint Industry Board - www.sjib.org.uk
Steel Window Association - www.steel-window-association.co.uk
The Property Care Association - www.property-care.org
UKAS - www.ukas.com
- Screwfix
- B&Q
- Wickes
- Homebase
- Velux
- Everest
- Anglian
- Addition: a projecting structure, or wing, which is part of the original building rather than a subsequent extension.
- A-frame: a roof shape with a very steep pitch forming a gable or 'a' shape.
- Aisled barn: a barn in which a central space is separated from side aisles by posts and braces.
- Angle iron: a fitting that provides supporting lintels for openings in masonry wall construction.
- Arch: a curved structure built to distribute weight over an opening in a wall.
- Area wells: corrugated metal or concrete barrier walls installed around a basement window to hold back the earth
- Attic access: an opening that is placed in the dry walled ceiling of a home providing access to the attic.
- Attic ventilators: in houses, screened openings provided to ventilate an attic space.
- Balcony: a platform that extends from an upper story and is enclosed by a railing.
- Barn: a building used primarily for storing hay, grain, farm equipment or as a shelter for livestock.
- Basement: that portion of a building which is partly or completely below ground.
- Basement wall: a wall of a building that is mostly below ground.
- Bedrock: a subsurface layer of earth that is suitable to support a structure.
- Beam: a structural element transversely supporting a load. This carries building loads from one support to another.
- Bearing partition: a partition that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.
- Bearing point: a point where a bearing or structural weight is concentrated and transferred to the foundation
- Bearing wall: a wall that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.
- Blow insulation: fiber insulation in loose form and used to insulate attics and existing walls where framing members are not exposed.
- Bolster: a hardwood cap that may be attached to the end of a wooden post in order to increase its capacity to bear loads.
- Borrowed light: an internal window in a partition or wall that allows natural light from one room to enter another.
- Capillary action: the ability of a substance to draw another substance into it.
- Cart shed: a building for housing and protecting from the weather carts, wagons and farm implements. They are open-fronted buildings sited close to a road or track into the farmstead.
- Ceiling joist: one of a series of parallel framing members used to support ceiling loads and supported in turn by larger beams, girders or bearing walls. Also called roof joists.
- Chase: to cut a groove in brickwork or other material to enable a pipe or cable to be embedded into it.
- Cob: a term used for earth-walled buildings
- Combination barn: a threshing barn that also housed cattle or horses, and sometimes other functions such as cart sheds and granaries. Combination barns can be two-storey or single-storey buildings.
- Conservation area: an area of special architectural or historic interest, normally designated by the council to preserve and enhance the character or appearance.
- Cornerite: metal-mesh lath cut into strips and bent to a right angle. Used in interior corners of walls and ceilings on lath to prevent cracks in plastering.
- Crawl space: a shallow space below the living quarters of a basement-less house, normally enclosed by the foundation wall.
- Cross bridging: diagonal bracing between adjacent floor joists, placed near the center of the joist span to prevent joists from twisting.
- Dormer: an opening in a sloping roof, the framing of which projects out to form a vertical wall suitable for windows or other openings.
- Dwelling - a family dwelling: means a dwelling containing at least a living room and two bedrooms.
- Dwelling - a non-family dwelling: means a dwelling containing two habitable rooms or less.
- Dwelling - a self-contained dwelling: is a residential unit of one or more habitable rooms, whose occupier has exclusive use of all his/her amenities, including kitchen, shower/bath whose occupier has exclusive use of all his/her amenities, including kitchen, shower/bath.
- Excavate: to dig the basement and/or all areas that will need footings/foundations below ground.
- Expansive soils: earth that swells and contracts depending on the amount of water that is present.
- Fenestration: the pattern of windows.
- Floating wall: a non-bearing wall built on a concrete floor. It is constructed so that the bottom two horizontal plates can compress or pull apart if the concrete floor moves up or down. Normally built on basements and garage slabs.
- Footings: the foundations of a structure.
- Footprint: the 'footprint' of the building refers to those parts within the external walls
- Foundation ties: metal wires that hold the foundation wall panels and rebar in place during the concrete pour.
- Frostline: the depth of frost penetration in soil. This depth varies in different parts of the country. Footings should be placed below this depth to prevent movement.
- Full-width roof extension: means any extension to a pitched roof property which extends the existing roof from party wall to party wall, associated with the raising of those party walls irrespective of whether it is over the whole of the roof area or only a part of it.
- Furring: strips of wood or metal applied to a wall or other surface to even it and normally to serve as a fastening base for finish material.
- Gable end wall: the triangular area of wall on the end of the property where there is a double pitched roof.
- Gazebo: a small building or structure, which is often open on one or more sides for views eg a summerhouse.
- Girder: a large or principal beam of wood or steel used to support concentrated loads at isolated points along its length.
- Granary: a building or room for storing grain after it has been threshed and winnowed in the barn. Granaries are usually at first-floor level to prevent rodents and damp damaging the grain.
- Habitable room: is any room used or intended to be used for dwelling purposes in floor area except for kitchens , bathrooms and wc's.
- Hay barn: a structure to shelter hay whilst having good ventilation. Typically open-sided with roofs supported on high brick, stone, timber or iron piers.
- Herringbone strutting: a type of cross bracing used between floor joists to increase stiffness.
- Insulation: any material high in resistance to heat transmission that, when placed in the walls, ceiling, or floors of a structure, and will reduce the rate of heat flow.
- Joist hanger: a metal "u" shaped item used to support the end of a floor joist and attached with hardened nails to another bearing joist or beam.
- Juliet balcony: a shallow balcony designed to provide a safety barrier in front of French windows.
- Kraft: a heavy, water resistant paper.
- Laithe house: a linear range of one construction comprising a farmhouse with attached barn and usually a stable.
- Land certificate: a document issued by the HM land registry giving details of who owns the land, the boundaries of the property and the covenants affecting it.
- Leaf: the inner or outer wall of a cavity wall construction.
- Lintel: a horizontal structural member that supports the load over an opening such as a door or window.
- Listed building consent: the consent to carry out works to a listed building.
- Listed building: a building designated by the secretary of state (for culture, media and sport) as of special architectural or historic interest.
- Listed building: grade i - buildings of exceptional interest.
- Listed building: grade ii - buildings of special interest.
- Listed building: grade ii - particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
- Local register of buildings of merit: means buildings which are of local interest because of their townscape, architectural or historic interest.
- Net site area: means the area of the site as measured to its boundaries.
- Nonbearing wall: a wall supporting no load other than its own weight.
- Open space: land laid out as a public garden, or used for the purposes of public recreation, or land which is a used as a burial ground. It excludes individual private gardens, which do not serve a wider open space function, yards, roads and car parks.
- Partition: internal dividing wall.
- Party wall: the wall which separates, but is shared by, adjoining properties.
- Pier block: a concrete block used to support foundation members such as posts, beams, girders and joist
- Pile: a deep foundation that is created because of large design loads, site constraints or a poor soil at shallow depth
- Point load: a point where a bearing/structural weight is concentrated and transferred to the foundation.
- Ransom strip: a small strip or area of land needed to be crossed to access to the building land. The land is owned by a third party who will demand money to allow access over the strip or for its purchase.
- Roof extension: means any extension to the original roof and can apply to a dormer window or full-width extension to the roof of a pitched roofed property.
- Rooflight: a window fitted level into a sloping roof (also known as a Velux window)
- Sleeper wall: a short wall that is used to support the floor joists of the ground floor, and to hold them away from the potentially damp ground.
- Structural floor: a framed lumber floor that is installed as a basement floor instead of concrete. This is done on very expansive soils.
- Strut: a support, usually to a purlin.
- Stud wall: lightweight wall construction comprising a framework of timber faced with plaster, plasterboard or other finish.
- Subsidence: downward movement resulting from failure in the ground.
- Sub-rough: that part of a building's plumbing system that is done before the cement is poured.
- Sub-soil: soil lying immediately below the topsoil.
- Tandem garage: a garage long enough for two vehicles to park one behind the other
- Teco: metal straps that are nailed and secure the roof rafters and trusses to the top horizontal wall plate.
- Title deeds: legal documents proving ownership of a property
- Tree preservation order (TPO): an order made by the council to protect a tree or group of trees. An application must be made to the council to fell or undertake work for tree/s subject to TPOs.
- Turnkey project: a project that is entirely managed on the owner's behalf by a company or an individual.
- Water table: the location of the underground water, and the vertical distance from the surface of the earth to this underground water.
- Waterproofing: the process where a building component is made totally resistant to the passage of water and/or water vapour.
- Zero rated: non vat able items.