Friday, 19 September 2014
Take a look at our NEW website
Take a look at our new website, http://whitwhawbuilders.co.uk. We specialise in Loft conversions and Extensions in the Barnsley and Sheffield area.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Loft Update
Dormer is up. Ripping out is taking place and insulation is being installed. One more week and the plasterer will be in.....
Sunday, 6 November 2011
My own Project!!! Games Room/Study/Office
Hi, i recently purchased a 1930's semi-detached house and I'm currently undertaking a refurb programme in my 3rd bedroom. I'm going to use this as a study/Gaming TV room, which i and friends can both relax and enjoy in. I'm taking step by step photos of each process for the programme for future reference and for you guys to have a look at. I have built off the current stud wall with a 45mm x 45mm timber and created a opening for my 32" LED White samsung tv which will fit into and create a flush back to wall look. also cables etc will be hidden easily know this stud partition has being created.What you think?
http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-cinema-building-diy/1540115-games-room-complete.html
http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-cinema-building-diy/1540115-games-room-complete.html
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Loft Conversion
This week we have started a loft conversion in Pennistone, its on a mid terraced house. Using the space in the existing loft will create another double good sized bedroom. Follow Whitshaw Builders through each stage of the build
The first stage of any loft conversion is to install steel rsj's, these help carry the new floor area and also dormer walls and dormer roof, if one is to be installed
Once the steels have being installed and built in, its time to build the new floor area. You have to install new floor joists along side the exsting ceilling joists. The reason for this is strength to take the new floor level.
If you have any questions feel free to ask? ? ?
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Why convert?
Why not? When was the last time you really used the attic?We all love the idea of the loft. You only have to mention the word, and everyone has the same image – dusty toys, old books and cobwebs. Not to mention that ancient yellow insulation! It is a great place for the kids to play, and the perfect location to hide the old junk.
But let us be realistic. Once the children grow up, what is the point in having an attic? Do you really want to store all those things up there? We all love a bit of extra space, and a loft conversion is the perfect answer.
Turning the loft into an office, a spare room or a guest bedroom is much cheaper than building an extension. It makes full use of wasted space, and it enhances the value of your property.
A loft conversion is a very economic decision. According to mortgage lender Abbey, at least 50% of homeowners find the cost of moving beyond them and decide to stay put. Converting existing space offers an affordable way to gain that extra space.
Kitchens - Can you tell the difference?.?.?
Yes, of course you could! So could I. Between £30,000 and £50,000 and I’d be struggling (because the differences then are all to do with big name designers, advertising budgets and flagship showrooms) but between £5,000 and £30,000, it would be easy.
There’s a bit of a stir in the industry, at the moment because Kevin McCloud, from the Channel 4 tv show Grand Designs, has suggested that there’s not much difference, between the actual units, in kitchens at the two price extremes in the title.
To be precise, the comments came in a book “43 Principles of Home” written by Kevin McCloud. He doesn’t think it’s worth spending a lot of money on a kitchen because, when you sell the house, the new owners will “invariably rip out and replace” it. He also thinks that: “Structurally, there’s a negligible difference in quality between the £5,000 kitchen and it’s £50,000 equivalent“.
Technically, there is a little bit of truth in that – but only as far as the kitchen carcasses are concerned – and the strength of the carcasse is only part of the overall quality of a kitchen. I would argue, very strongly, that there’s a huge difference in other aspects of kitchen quality. The doors, for instance. Anyone who’s bought a kitchen with poor quality vinyl doors and had the vinyl bubble, or peel at the edges; or a foil wrapped door that’s become scuffed on the corners; will know that all doors are not equal.
And what about the range of sizes available? I’d expect Kevin, as a designer (he used to design lighting and pieces of furniture) to realise that a range of kitchen units with lots of different sizes available, is going to make for a much better design for the kitchen, especially in smaller rooms. Having bespoke units, where the size of the units and doors, the curve of the doors (if any) and even the type, size and number of panels in each door, can be specified, is better still … when it comes to having a great looking kitchen.
Apart from anything else, it’s not just the quality of the units that makes for the difference in price between kitchens. What about having a good designer, and good customer service, and providing project management? None of those are cost free. I’m surprised and a little bit shocked that Kevin holds those things in such low regard.
Shouldn’t he be encouraging people to buy good quality, long lasting kitchens, that very certainly cost more than £5,000 but which would encourage new owners to buy a house, in the first place, and which they’d want to keep? Isn’t that the environmentally sensible option?
There were further disparaging comments from Kevin, in the book, about fancy appliances. If you want to read a much lengthier rant discussion, about both kitchens and appliances, then have a look at my blog Does Kevin McCloud Know Anything About Kitchens? over at Advanced Kitchen Design. Or, tell us what you think …
There’s a bit of a stir in the industry, at the moment because Kevin McCloud, from the Channel 4 tv show Grand Designs, has suggested that there’s not much difference, between the actual units, in kitchens at the two price extremes in the title.
To be precise, the comments came in a book “43 Principles of Home” written by Kevin McCloud. He doesn’t think it’s worth spending a lot of money on a kitchen because, when you sell the house, the new owners will “invariably rip out and replace” it. He also thinks that: “Structurally, there’s a negligible difference in quality between the £5,000 kitchen and it’s £50,000 equivalent“.
Technically, there is a little bit of truth in that – but only as far as the kitchen carcasses are concerned – and the strength of the carcasse is only part of the overall quality of a kitchen. I would argue, very strongly, that there’s a huge difference in other aspects of kitchen quality. The doors, for instance. Anyone who’s bought a kitchen with poor quality vinyl doors and had the vinyl bubble, or peel at the edges; or a foil wrapped door that’s become scuffed on the corners; will know that all doors are not equal.
Foil wrapped doors are inexpensive and they look good, but they're prone to damage on the corners
And what about the range of sizes available? I’d expect Kevin, as a designer (he used to design lighting and pieces of furniture) to realise that a range of kitchen units with lots of different sizes available, is going to make for a much better design for the kitchen, especially in smaller rooms. Having bespoke units, where the size of the units and doors, the curve of the doors (if any) and even the type, size and number of panels in each door, can be specified, is better still … when it comes to having a great looking kitchen.
A bespoke kitchen is designed specifically for the room and the client - and it's always going to cost a whole lot more than £5,000
Apart from anything else, it’s not just the quality of the units that makes for the difference in price between kitchens. What about having a good designer, and good customer service, and providing project management? None of those are cost free. I’m surprised and a little bit shocked that Kevin holds those things in such low regard.
Shouldn’t he be encouraging people to buy good quality, long lasting kitchens, that very certainly cost more than £5,000 but which would encourage new owners to buy a house, in the first place, and which they’d want to keep? Isn’t that the environmentally sensible option?
There were further disparaging comments from Kevin, in the book, about fancy appliances. If you want to read a much lengthier rant discussion, about both kitchens and appliances, then have a look at my blog Does Kevin McCloud Know Anything About Kitchens? over at Advanced Kitchen Design. Or, tell us what you think …
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Whitshaw Builders Top Builder in Barnsley
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