FMB verifies that their members have no undischarged bankruptcies and outstanding court judgements and have provided two references, one client reference and one professional reference.
We also had to have an inspection of a job in progress.

It’s quite difficult for small businesses to stand out in a crowded market place, but as a consumer it can be just as difficult to know where to turn and who to trust.

So as a member of FMB, we hope that gives all our current and future clients confidence that we can give you the best result possible.

Topping the list of value-adding projects are loft conversions, which experts say can increase the value of a property by an average of £20,876, at a cost of about £10,000. They are followed by room extensions, which add an average £16,069 to a home’s value. New kitchens, windows and bathrooms also feature on the list, boosting property prices by an average of £5,617, £5,265 and £3,351 respectively.

Below are some examples of staircases we have transformed.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

If you are interested in transforming your staircase, call Allan Rae at the office on 01527 543 668

If you are interested in our exclusive staircase sector, do not hesitate to contact our highly trained staircase designer. Or if you wish to come see our grand staircase deisgns for youself, please book an appoinment to come and see us.

Contact Allan Rae – 01527 543 668

Charles Grosvenor Ltd always ascertian if a property is in a conservation area or is a listed building as the proposed loft conversion will have to be designed with these constraints in mind, this procedure will reduce the chance of the loft conversion being refused planning permission. Should a design be refused planning permission, within a conservation area or not, we work with the client and directly with the planning officer to agree the necessary amendments to assist with a design being approved. If a compromise cannot be reached the refusal decision can be appealed against, however this process can take a considerable time.

Old regulations used to allow a low level window and ledge to be installed in the loft as means of escape, but it proved to be too dangerous to escape the house via the loft. So now the escape route should be through the house.
Main stairways need to be protected by installing fire rated doors on both storeys. When installing fire doors, people should remember that the hinges should also be fire rated. Interlinked smoke detectors are an essential fire safety item and must be installed on each level.
Floors and walls also need a 30 minute fire protection period. This can be achieved by using two layers of plaster board. Even though your loft conversions forms a third storey, the structure needs to be separated from the rest of the house.

In the event of a fire, the means of escape would be the main staircase, which must lead directly to an external door. This door will also need to be enclosed and give a 30 minute fire protection period and smoke alarms will need to be fitted on each floor.
If the staircase ends in an open plan room, this space can be fitted with a sprinkler system., and a fire door will be fitted, separating the ground floor from the first floor. The means of escape from the loft in this case, would be via a window on the first floor.

For any more information, there is a great guide to fire regulations on the Direct Gov website.

On our page we are selling Fusion Alternative Contemporary Stair parts, complete staircase packs, contemporary handrail, baserail and spindle kits, Refurbishment packs and balustrades packs.

Visit us here: http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/charlesgrosvenor1?_trksid=p2047675.l2559 

If you have any questions about any of the items we have for sale, please contact our staircase manager Allan Rae at the office on 01527 543 668

We had a great weekend, and it was extremely successful!

Everyone that came to see us, interested in a quotation, we will be contacting you shortly. Due to the number of enquiries we have received, it may take us a few days to call you. But we will be on the phone to you in no time.

We hope you had a great show and we look forward to working with you in the near future!

If you’re interested in a Loft, stair or window quotation, call us on 01527 543 668 and we’ll send out your free tickets.

Be quick! The show is less than a week away!

We are sure that you have many questions that you would like answered about loft extensions.  We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions to help answer some of the most common questions you may have.

Loft Extensions

How much height do I need in my loft for it to be converted?

You need approximately 2.2 metres in the highest point of your loft.

How long does the work take to be completed?

The work takes approximately 6-7 weeks for a loft extension with en-suite bathroom.

Is there a lot of mess and upheaval?

No. All materials are brought in externally through the roof to keep inconvenience to a minimum.  There will generally be no interruption to your home until the staircase is fitted. We ensure that we tidy any mess we may make at the end of each day.

Can I see a completed loft extension?

Yes, we are more than happy to arrange for you to see and speak to our previous clients. We also have a show room in our main office in Redditch. We are happy to arrange with you, a day you can come and have a look around.

Do you need planning permission?

Most of the time planning permission is not required for Loft Conversions and in most cases is not required for ground floor extensions. In most mid terraced properties you can extend your property by 40 cubic metres in the loft space and by 50 cubic metres for a semi-detached property.  Our architect can advise you accordingly to your permitted development allowances and can advise you if planning permission is required.

Architect and Structural Engineers

All loft conversions and extensions require plans and structural engineer’s reports as every house is different. Building Control will need to check the structural engineer’s calculations for accuracy. Building Control issue a Certificate of Completion once all work is completed to current building regulations. We can arrange our architect to contact you. The architect will arrange a suitable time to visit you to discuss your requirements so that you are getting exactly what you want from your conversion or extension. A copy of the plans will be sent to you and to the structural engineer who can carry out the calculations once you are happy to proceed. If you have already appointed an architect who has drawn up the plans for you this is absolutely fine as long as we have the structural calculations to supply you with an accurate costing.

Building Control

All work carried out is subject to current Building Regulations and is inspected at various stages of the build. At present we use a private Building Control company so you do not need to go through your Local Authority Building Control department. Once the work has been completed a Certificate of Completion is issued. This certificate confirms that all work conforms to current building regulations and your new conversion or extension is part of your home which importantly adds value to your home.