A whole house renovation runs several trades against one programme, and the structural work has to happen in the right order or it is done twice. We survey, appoint a structural engineer where the job needs one, coordinate the building control application and inspections, and run the trades to a written programme. We do not produce structural calculations ourselves. Below are the Berkhamsted specifics worth settling before the first wall comes down.
Berkhamsted sits in a radon band that triggers protective measures in new work
The BGS Radon Indicative Atlas GB version 3 records a maximum radon potential of 3% to 5% for the 1km grid squares SP9907, SP9807 and TL0008. Those squares cover the High Street, the streets south of it and the east end of Berkhamsted. Grid square SP9707 at the western end of the town, around Gossoms End, is recorded higher, at 5% to 10%.
BRE guidance BR 211 sets the trigger for basic radon protective measures in new buildings at 3% or more of homes above the radon Action Level, and full protection at 10% or more. Those Berkhamsted figures sit at or above the level where basic measures come into the conversation. It is a question to settle with building control at design stage, because a membrane is cheap before the slab and expensive afterwards.
What the inspector actually looks at
Hertfordshire Building Control states that its inspections cover foundations, damp proofing, structural issues, insulation, ventilation, heating, sanitation, the accessibility of a building, fire protection and means of escape in case of fire. The local planning authority for Berkhamsted is Dacorum Borough Council, but building control is a separate function with its own timetable.
On a full renovation that list runs across the trades on site. It is why sequence matters: the drainage, the insulation and the fire separation all have to be seen before they are covered up. We book the inspections against the programme and hold the following trade until each one is done.
Materials in the canal, river and railway streets
The Berkhamsted Conservation Area Character Appraisal records that in its Area 2, the canal, river and railway area taking in George Street, Ellesmere Road, Station Road and the streets between them, the predominant building material is the grey and buff brick commonly used in the first three quarters of the 19th century.
It states that slate roofs are universal in the houses of that area, and that the double hung sliding sash window remains the norm in most properties there. If your renovation touches the front elevation, matching the brick and keeping the window pattern is the difference between a straightforward application and an argument. We price the matching work honestly rather than assuming a modern substitute will be waved through.
The valley the town sits in
The Berkhamsted Conservation Area Character Appraisal records that the town lies within the Bulbourne river valley at approximately 115 metres above sea level. It records that the side roads leading northwards from the High Street gently descend towards the lowest point of the valley at the River Bulbourne and the Grand Union Canal. It gives Holliday Street through to Park Street as the example.
Levels change what a renovation costs. A lower ground floor, a rear extension that has to step, or a new threshold at the back of the house all follow from the fall across the plot. We take levels at survey and put them into the information the structural engineer works from, rather than discovering them when the floor comes up.
- Damp treatment, tanking and timber repairs
- Project management from first survey to final handover
- Central heating upgrades, new radiators and pipework
- Kitchen and bathroom design, supply and installation
- Room by room programme so you can stay in the house
Why Berkhamsted Homeowners Choose GS Renovation
Berkhamsted is about 16.6 miles from our base in Potters Bar, which is a normal working distance for us, and a renovation programme is planned around a settled site rather than a string of short visits. You get one point of contact for the structural engineer, the building control application, the inspections and every trade on site. We are a contractor: we appoint and coordinate structural engineers and build to their calculations, and we never produce those calculations ourselves. GS Renovation Ltd is fully insured, registered in England, company number 14611254, and rated 4.9 from 31 reviews on MyBuilder. Quotations are free and carry no obligation.
- A whole-house programme sequenced so no trade doubles back
- Itemised pricing, so you can see what every stage costs
- Building control applications and inspections coordinated for you
- Wiring, pipework and boiler condition surveyed before we price
- One itemised quote covering structure, services and finishes
- Straight advice on what is and is not worth spending money on