We admire television shows, where interior design specialists complete flat renovation Edinburgh projects Let’s hand over the keys to the team leader’s building specialists. We will mobilize the employees of the construction company. Your flat is going to get a new improved face.
Things are a little bit different on the site. The evolution of the works will have to be carefully followed. We know that anyone’s house renovation budget is not unlimited. Alpha Business Contractors Ltd cares about customers budget and always comply with it.
Get involved and know each step to be taken in your flat renovation Edinburgh. Keep a clear record of expenses.
Make sure that the hired workers team and craftsmen will maintain the rhythm of work. Check the quality of services provided. You are preparing to renovate your home. Looking for more precise information regarding this project challenges? This is the right place for your flat renovation Edinburgh project.
So, when should you do a flat renovation ?
Let’s assume that you share the apartment or house only with your family. You have tried to keep the property in good condition over the time. So, a complete flat renovation Edinburgh should be done within maximum 15 years after the last refurbishment.
The reasons for renovating your home can be many. These should be the more prevalent:
- you will benefit from increased comfort, Specialists will renovate the interior of your home up to the latest and newest trends in terms of interior design or furniture
- Increase the value of your home by 25% -30% , if you consider selling it at some point
- Increase living conditions security. Get to analyze the condition of your property in terms of its structure.
- Because renovation will provide increased energy efficiency, you will greatly reduce utility bills.
Evaluation of the home – First step in flat renovation project
We take our responsibilities. You will need the opinion of a building specialist. This, to exactly know what works and improvements your home needs. We suggest you turn to an specialist or appraiser, be he an architect or a builder. Because specialists will provide you valuable recommendations while doing a flat renovation Edinburgh.
Thus, professionals builders will help you save money during the flat renovation Edinburgh project. Their advice involves refurbishing, instead of completely replacing the walls, parquet, ceramic wall and floor tiles or pieces of furniture. They will prepare you for the expenses to be made, for a desired renovation.
House renovation Edinburgh company, the best choice you can make
Professional team will save you a lot of worries. Thus, they will help you save money, because:
- the workers in the team are highly qualified in specific fields, so the final result will be a very good one
- the team leader will come up with a practical work plan. So, you will have a clear record of the expenses to be made
- conclude a service contract for the agreed works This way, you have clear control over the deadline for completion of works. Include in the contract a list of detailed works to be done and the agreed prices.
- our customers receive a guarantee (warrant certificate) for the completed house renovation works, so you will be carefree.
Possible works to be done during a flat renovation
The construction engineer will sign the acceptance of the works. He will keep informing you about the changes ( improvements) need to be made. These could be:
- a) replacement of the electrical network (rewiring, including supply and fit a new fuse box). Just in case the old one can represent a danger for the building.
- b) renovation of the walls. The existing walls might have cracks, water infiltrations ( mold, dampness ) or walls are not perfectly straight. This work involves multi finish plastering with the skim finish, fixing cracks with fibre-glass mesh or metal mesh for deep cracks
- c) changing tiles, flooring or parquet. ONLY if the floors of the flat or the ceramic walls of the bathroom or kitchen are in a state of degradation
- d) window repair or replacement. ONLY if old carpentry is deteriorated or loosened at the fasteners
- e) replacement of sanitary ware (sinks, toilets bowls , bath tub, shower, supply & fit new boiler) ). ONLY if the old ones can no longer be used in hygienic conditions.
- f) Radiators, heating system, gas, water and household waste pipes – if they are rusty, clogged or even cracked;
IMPORTANT NOTICE :
It is not enough to check the integrity of the above items. You should also pay high attention to possible infiltrations. Check under the bathtub, behind the sinks or the toilet bowl. Double check it even behind the false walls, if you have such a thing in the house.
Dampness and mold require special treatment. Make sure that you will not have such problems after a flat renovation Edinburgh.
Additional works can be added when workers identify potential issues.
Once you have developed the “plan of attack”, you can move on to the next step. Think to establishing the costs of flat renovation Edinburgh. Stick within a budget!
Estimate the costs in a flat renovation
The most important rule of renovation is to never underestimate the costs while starting a flat renovation Edinburgh project. The initial quotation takes into account only the estimated costs of materials and labor.
Overall, it’s a good idea to expect 20% higher costs than the project phase estimates. Take your time while estimating and carrying out a flat renovation Edinburgh.
Choose to invest in the highest quality products and high-performance construction materials. We want our customers to enjoy the renovation for as long as possible. Our customers won’t have to go through again the discomfort created by a home renovation. We guarantee 5-6 years of quality upon completion of the works.
Asses correctly, from the beginning, the need for construction materials and needed works to be done. Keep all the receipts related to purchases during the evolution of the works.
Decide if you are renovating the whole flat or just a part of it
You have set the costs of renovating your home Decide if you can commit to renovating the entire home or just part of it. This, depends on the funds you have available.
Since your money is limited, planning your repair work is important, because it must follow a natural course.
Focus first on renovating the basic elements of your home: walls, floors, electrical network rewiring and pipes, heating system.
Usually, do the floors as the last works during flat renovation Edinburgh project. Whenever you wish to install wardrobes or cupboards then floor must be fitted first.
How long does it take to carry out a flat renovation project ?
The timescale can spread over several weeks. Works to be performed are on different complexity while carrying out a flat renovation Edinburgh. The craftsmen team leader in charge will present you with a work plan. . According to this, you can carefully plan in detail the time you need to spend away from home.
From our experience: In case of a complete renovation of your home is needed, you will most likely have to move to another living space for a few (4-5) weeks.
Do allow enough time to gather all personal or valuables from the flat, before the workers arriving Store them safely, either in a rented space or with a close relative or friend.
Large furniture can be moved to the center of the rooms and covered with special foil to remain protected throughout the flat renovation Edinburgh. A serious company like Alpha Business Contractors Ltd will always cover and move your furniture for free!!
You can still stay and live in your home and keep an eye on the ongoing works. Whenever the renovation is going to be performed only in one room, you can be there. Such as kitchen refurbishment or bathroom refurbishment.
Your main duty will be to constantly check. Watch for the deadlines to be met. Check completion of the various stages of renovation in due time You can take pictures inside the apartment, as the work progresses. Just to have control over them, during a flat renovation Edinburgh.
Mistakes to be avoided when you carry out a home renovation project
Take the following tips into account and apply them exactly if you want to enjoy a desired result.
DO NOT sit on the workers’ feet, watching them non stop .
As long as you have hired a craftsmen team qualified in interior works, allow them to do their job.
Do intervene in case of non-compliance with the contract. Written contract is agreed and signed at the beginning of the flat renovation Edinburgh.
DO NOT buy cheap materials. Your comfort and safety of your family are priceless Do invest in quality construction materials.
DO NOT hire lonely workers. Choose not to resort to “one man show” workers! This, to avoid any inconvenience that may occur later, due to their lack of experience and work force. The price charged by a team of construction specialists can be slightly higher. Although, their skills and experience working together like an orchestra, can serve you much better! Your flat renovation Edinburgh project is very important to us.
These are the best ideas to keep in mind when you start planning your flat renovation Edinburgh. Good luck with that!
Ideas and suggestions for an affordable flat renovation
There comes a time in every person’s life when the environment seems tiring, boring, and everything is associated with routine.
Bottom line, you are tired of what you see every day around you and feel the need for change. You think about a flat renovation Edinburgh. This can be expensive and can test your budget to the limit.
Here we are to show you useful tips on how you can change the face of your house. All, without burdening yourself with expenses that are too difficult to bear.
What comes first in a flat renovation ?
- Make a plan : Every flat renovation Edinburgh has to start with pen and paper. Make a separate plan with each room you want to renovate and tackle each problem separately. Only after you have done this, you will realize how much the budget should be and, depending on that, you can set your priorities and look for solutions for a cheap home renovation.
- Set a budget for your flat renovation Edinburgh project : Never go into a home renovation without setting a final budget. Always take into account that all the initially estimated budget might be 25% higher and set the start of the works only from the day when you will be sure that you have all the needed money at your hand.
We can teach you how to manage a home renovation within a GBP 1,000 – 2,000 budget
Priorities are:
- insulating your flat or house,
- choosing quality materials, even if you refurbish only a small area of the flat
- replace electrical (rewiring) – if needed
- Check plumbing and heating system – if needed
- refurbish carpentry.( Doors, windows)
- All elegant ornaments and decorations can be purchased along the way. It is important to invest at first in what is a priority for your flat renovation Edinburgh project.
Proper insulation will help you save money on the gas and electricity bills and live in greater comfort. Quality electrical and sanitary (plumbing) installations will not cause you problems for a long time of at least 15-20 years.
What are the supporting structures and steel beams installation of a building?
Resistance structure in frames consists of vertical bars (strength poles) and horizontal bars (steel beams installation). The advantage of steel beams installation is that it allows great flexibility in terms of partitioning the interior space. Steel beams and belts are horizontally installed load bearing structures. There is a major difference between the two: the belt of the house rests along its entire length on a stable support. On a wall, a load-bearing element, the steel beams installation rests only at the ends on pillars or other load-bearing elements.
Concrete columns are vertically placed structural elements made of reinforced concrete, wire-bonded stirrups and concrete.
UNITED KIGDOM is a territory with a high resistance (strength) structure risk, due the very old existing buildings. Thus, we recommend to use steel beams installation, bricks and reinforced concrete pillars for a correct flat renovation and alteration.
Fully renovating a flat is generally time, energy and money consuming. Especially when it comes to building structure alteration. And, because most of the time we think we’re doing it for a lifetime, we’d like it to be safe and durable. The choice of building materials can give us a headache, because market is flooded with many building materials but their qualities are often doubtful.
Steel beams installation is also a more durable structure.
How these structural elements must be made and their exact dimensions are designed by the structural engineer, following exact calculations and according to the type of construction site.
An alteration is one of the most important stages of a flat renovation Edinburgh. Therefore, all the indications and measurements in the project must be followed exactly and without deviations
What’s the purpose of steel beams installation ?
Steel beams installation (frame strength structure) is recommended when large spaces are desired inside the building.
You can achieve up to 9 meters openings with the help of such a structure.
It is true that a large opening also means larger beams, which can be quite unsightly.
This structure is great for those who want flexibility in interior design, as the really important elements are the pillars and steel beams installation. In order to preserve the strength of the building, these elements must remain as strong as possible.
Each construction material is important and has its well-established role. With the right combination of materials, solid constructions will result. For example, to provide strength to a block of flats, concrete is not enough to keep the walls from collapsing. Therefore, in order to make some durable pillars and beams, material is completed with steel or iron bars, concrete and stirrups.
- Steel beam installation Edinburgh
- Steel beam installation Edinburgh
Explore our work: Steel beams installation Edinburgh
- Edinburgh steel beams installation
Different forces act differently on the material.
The steel beams, the bricks, the mortar between the joints and even the concrete have an increased resistance to compression, but not to stretching as iron (steel beams installation) has. Working together, concrete and iron reinforced concrete will cope well with many shocks, such as those caused by high load bearings.
Reinforced concrete can be shaped directly on the construction site or even in the factory, to the dimensions provided in the project. Before installing them, the builders must make sure that the iron concrete has no traces of rust, excess oil or dirt, soil or mortar because in these situations it does not bond well with the concrete and there could be some problems in the future.
Before installing them, the builders must check that the steel beams have no traces of rust, dirt, or mortar. In case of these situations it won’t not bond well with the concrete and there could be some problems in the future.
How much does it cost to install a steel beam in Edinburgh?
A 1 metre steel beam installation in Edinburgh (RSJ – Rolled Steel Joist ) might cost you ranging from £100 to £250 as material supply. Labour costs are estimated up to £350 per 1 meter steel beam installation RSJ. The total cost estimate for installation is expected between £430 to £550.
A 4 metres steel beam installation (RSJ) is expected to cost you between £500 to £1,000 as material costs and up to £800 to £1,000 in labour costs. The total estimated cost for steel beam installation Edinburgh is ranging between £1,300 to £2,000.
The high labour costs are due to the high qualified and responsible needed work. Competent and skilled calculation are being required.
You should employ an extremely qualified contractor and a structural engineer to secure that the steel beam installation can bear the intended load. This, will certify and secure that the structural resistance and integrity of your home is not compromised. So, you can safely live in.
Tips and tricks for a cheap and stunning flat renovation project
Did you see something, did you like it, did you buy it on the spot? Avoid this mistake and always compare prices from several places.
Find the best solutions: Custom made kitchen changing the face of your flat renovation Edinburgh
You will be surprised to discover that a custom made kitchen, with all the finishes and details included, will be more affordable than a renovation made out of pieces in one of the most important rooms in your home renovation.
One of the biggest expenses in a home renovation project is the kitchen furniture. It’s understandable that you are reluctant to replace the old one with a new one. The structure and hardware of the existing cabinets are in good condition. Yet, you no longer like their fronts or the countertop that has worn out over the time. Then, you shouldn’t give up to the old furniture altogether. Any specialized furniture company can make new doors for the cabinets which you already have. They can also install a new and beautiful sparking worktop. All you have to do is choose the new handles and new worktop for the kitchen furniture. Enjoy your newly refurbished kitchen. We suggest that you think about replacing the taps in the kitchen.
Doors always help to make a good first impression.
Don’t worry if you can’t afford a general, complete flat renovation Edinburgh. Only make those changes that really manage to steal everyone’s attention. For example, the doors of the house (or every room’s door) will always help to make a special first impression, whether you just repaint them, or you buy new ones.
In the case of the doors, an even more cheaper convenient option than painting is to use a sticker paper. Everyone will be surprised what effect such a change has on the arrangement of the house.
Paint the walls or replace the wallpaper in the rooms
We will guide you through your home renovation project to find the right colors for a brighter house. Alpha BC can also help you get a 20% discount when buying the needed paints, wallpaper and other materials from the specialized stores.
If wallpaper is pealed, it can be glued. If wallpaper is damaged, it can be replaced by new wallpaper. But we’d suggest to strip off the wallpaper or lining paper off. Then, plaster and skim the walls to prevent viruses growing on the paper surface, especially at the present when COVID is dangerous for everyone.
Multi finish plastering with the skim finish and paint on the top of it can refresh an appearance of the whole flat
Another important aspect of the home renovation is the space, and it is greatly helped by the light inside. This is also the reason why it is important to go in light colors, which will attract more light in the house.
Small rooms do not have to look small.
You can create space and brightness with the help of light colors or horizontal stripes and you can even get wonderful visual effects with little money. You can also play with mirrors placed in strategic places around the house, for brightness and space.
Create storage spaces
Try to fill the corners of the house or those areas that always remain completely useless with storage spaces made of recycled materials. With a little skill you can both bring fresh air into your home renovation and, at the same time, make the space more efficiently used.
Consider to change the windows in your flat renovation Edinburgh planning
Choose to either replace them with larger ones (glazing windows), to allow light to enter the house, or to repaint them in light colors, for the same reason of a higher brightness in the house. Windows play an important role in a home renovation project. Save energy , save money and bills by replacing the old windows with double glazing ( triple glazing windows). Call windows fitters in Edinburgh.
Refurbish or redesign the bathroom in your flat renovation project:
If you can’t afford a complete flat renovation Edinburgh, at least change the shower or bathtub, the storage spaces, the front door, the mirror and the light sources. A new walk-in shower is a cheap and very comfortable solution.
We would also suggest to renew the grouting between the tiles. A new fresh colorful grout between the tiles offers the impression of a bright new bathroom.
Even for ceramic wall and floor tiles there is a special paint, you can try it too, if you don’t necessarily want to invest money and time in changing the old ones.
How to Renovate a Flat on a Budget, in Edinburgh: A Comprehensive Guide
This article will guide you through the steps to renovate a flat on a budget in Edinburgh while also providing insights into the costs of renovation in 2024.
Renovating a flat can be an exciting yet daunting task, especially in a vibrant city like Edinburgh. With its rich history and stunning architecture, many homeowners are eager to enhance their flats without breaking the bank.
## Understanding the Costs of a flat Renovation in Edinburgh (2024)
Overall, a basic flat renovation project in Edinburgh can range from £10,000 to £30,000, depending on the scope of work.
Before diving into the flat renovation Edinburgh process, it’s crucial to understand the financial aspects involved. As of 2024, the average costs for a flat renovation in Edinburgh can vary widely based on the type of work required:
*Labour Costs*:
The average hourly rate for tradespeople in Edinburgh is around £25-£35. Skilled trades such as electricians and plumbers may charge more, averaging up to £45 per hour.
*Materials Costs*:
The cost of materials has seen an increase, with basic materials (like paint, flooring, and fixtures) averaging £20-£50 per square meter, depending on quality. High-end materials can significantly raise this cost.
*Permits and Regulations*:
Depending on your renovation, you may need to allocate £200-£1,500 for permits and compliance with building regulations.
## Steps to Renovate a Flat on a Budget
1. *Set a Realistic Budget*
The first step in any renovation project is to determine your overall budget. Identify how much you can afford to spend and create a detailed breakdown of costs. Consider setting aside an additional 10-15% of the budget for unexpected expenses.
2. *Prioritize Your Renovation Needs*
List out all the potential renovations you’d like to undertake and prioritize them based on necessity. Focus on improvements that will significantly enhance your living space, such as: – Updating kitchens and bathrooms – Improving energy efficiency – Enhancing curb appeal
3. *DIY Where Possible*
One of the best ways to save money on renovations is to tackle some of the work yourself. Simple tasks such as painting walls, installing shelving, or landscaping can be done with minimal professional help. There are plenty of online tutorials that can guide you through basic DIY projects.
4. *Source Affordable Materials*
When it comes to materials, look for budget-friendly alternatives.
Consider:
– *Reclaimed Materials*: Salvaged wood, tiles, and fixtures can add character and save money.
– *Local Suppliers*: Visit local hardware stores or markets for competitive pricing on materials.
– *Sales and Discounts*: Keep an eye out for seasonal sales or discounts from major retailers.
5. *Hire Local Tradespeople*
If you need professional help, consider hiring local tradespeople rather than larger companies. They often have lower rates and more flexible schedules. Always check reviews and ask for quotes from multiple contractors to ensure you get the best deal.
6. *Plan for Energy Efficiency*
Edinburgh’s weather can be harsh, making energy efficiency a priority. Look for ways to improve insulation, replace old windows, or install energy-efficient appliances. While these upgrades may have upfront costs, they can save you money in the long run on energy bills.
7. *Focus on Aesthetic Improvements*
Sometimes, simple aesthetic changes can make a significant difference without a hefty price tag. Consider: – Rearranging furniture for better space utilization – Adding fresh paint or wallpaper – Updating light fixtures or hardware for a modern touch
8. *Consult with Experts*
If you’re unsure where to start, consider consulting with a budget-friendly interior designer or architect. They can provide valuable insights and help you maximize your renovation impact without overspending.
Final Thoughts Renovating a flat in Edinburgh on a budget
By prioritizing your needs, sourcing affordable materials, and possibly tackling some tasks yourself, you can enhance your living space without financial strain. Always keep in mind the importance of budgeting for unexpected costs and hiring local tradespeople to save on labour expenses. With the right approach, your dream flat renovation can become a reality, making your Edinburgh home not only more comfortable but also a reflection of your personal style.
Smile, you are building with ALPHA BUSINESS CONTRACTORS Ltd Edinburgh