What we build
Renovations, extensions and finishing a stalled house
A lot of our calls are about houses that already exist. Somebody needs another bedroom, or the first contractor did poor work, or the money ran out at roof level and the walls have been open for two years.
Finishing a stalled build
A structure that has stood open through two rainy seasons needs checking before anyone spends another shilling on it. Reinforcement that has been exposed rusts, mortar that never cured properly crumbles, and a slab that has been rained on for a year may have moved.
We survey it, tell you honestly what is sound and what is not, and give you a written figure to finish it. Sometimes the answer is that part of it should come down, and we would rather say that at the start.
Extending an existing house
The join is where extensions succeed or fail. New foundations settle at a different rate from old ones, which is why so many extensions crack along the join within a year. It is a design detail, and it is solvable.
Matching the existing stone, roof profile and window style matters more than people expect. An extension that reads as an extension takes value off the house.
- Survey first, then a written figure. No open ended work
- Movement joints designed where new meets old
- Matching stone, roofing and joinery
- Approval needed for most extensions, and we handle it
Questions we get asked
- Can you finish a house another contractor abandoned?
- Yes, and we do it regularly. We start with a survey and a written report on what is sound, because taking on someone else's work without checking it is how you inherit their mistakes. You get a fixed figure to complete, based on what we find.
- Do I need approval to extend my house?
- In most cases yes, particularly where the footprint, height or use changes. It also protects you, because an unapproved extension can block a sale or a mortgage years later.
Also worth reading
Annexes, DSQ and staff housing
A DSQ, a flat for parents, a home office, or housing for farm staff. All of it goes up on a plot that already has a house standing on it, which changes how the work is run.
Farm and agricultural buildings
Laikipia and Meru are farming counties. We put up grain and input stores, dairy units, machinery sheds, workshops and staff housing.
Prepare the scope before asking for a price
- Send the exact plot location and the type of building you need.
- Include the approximate floor area, any existing drawings and the work already done.
- List what belongs in this quotation, including any external works or fit-out.
Planning a renovation or extension?
Tell us the plot and roughly what you have in mind. We will come and look, then give you an itemised figure and a programme.