Building & Renovation projects can be stressful at the best of times. Usually because things just don’t go to plan. There’s a heap of inconvenience, mess and disruption and of course sometimes some pretty heated conflict. And often this conflict is between the client and the builder!

At M&R Renovations, we have always made TRUST the cornerstone of our mission and service that we provide to clients as builders in Plymouth. We believe there are 5 traits to look for when you are choosing a builder in Plymouth to work with. We call these the TRUST traits and they are:

T – truthful
R – reliable
U – understanding
S – steadfast
T – thorough

Our Builders You Can Trust page explains more about these traits. And hopefully help you in finding a local builder in Plymouth that you can trust.

How do we know at M&R Renovations thatwe live up to our promise of being a builder in Plymouth that our clients can trust? Well they tell us and show their appreciation of what we do for them.

Here is just one recent example of a client who we undertake property maintenance and building work for on her rental properties.  Not only did we undertake the building work as required, we went a step further and eliminated a heap of stress for her by showing the property to some tenants!

Yes at M&R Renovations Builders Plymouth, we go the extra mile for our clients and they have the utmost of Trust in us.

So if you’re looking for Plymouth Builders you can Trust you may want to give us a call. We don’t expect you to buy us a meal though!

For more information about our building services contact us on 01752 249257 or enquiries@mandrrenovations.co.uk and we will be happy to help.

From The Team At M&R Renovations
The Trusted Builders in Plymouth

Here at M & R Renovations we believe we are the best building company in Plymouth – because many of our clients tell us so!

And it’s for our kitchen makeovers that we attract some very impressive plaudits.

That’s because we can save you thousands of pounds on installing a new kitchen to a very high specification.

Whatever your reason for wanting a new kitchen, a kitchen makeover from M & R Renovations is the perfect solution.

Our team of highly skilled workmen can create a beautiful fresh new kitchen using your existing kitchen as its basis. Our work is cost effective and very impressive.

If you don’t want a brand new kitchen, we can refurbish your existing kitchen with a range of techniques such as hand painting the existing drawers and doors and replacing and repairing any damaged items as required.

Here at M & R Renovations Builders Plymouth we believe strongly that a refurbishment is about making what you have not only work better – but look better too.

It’s those little touches such as upgrading the drawers or replacing the worktops in granite or oak that can make such a big difference.

And we’ve found that having new tiles fitted can also transform a kitchen.

When it comes to choosing the design for your kitchen, you really need to plan ahead and give consideration to how you want your kitchen to function.

Your kitchen makeover will not only breathe life into what may be a dull and lifeless room but also, with the clever use of space, create something that is impressive and effective.

We are proud of our hard-earned excellent building reputation as we do everything from start to finish.

If you are after a kitchen makeover then call us now – you won’t find a better firm in the Plymouth area to undertake the work.

Remember: a well-designed quality kitchen will add value to your home and help enhance your day-to-day life.

For that dream kitchen in Plymouth use a local firm that comes highly recommended – and that’s going to be Plymouth Builders M & R Renovations Ltd. For more information about our building services contact us on 01752 249257 or enquiries@mandrrenovations.co.uk and we will be happy to help.

From The Team At M&R Renovations
The Trusted Builders in Plymouth

If you need more space in your home, whether it be to accommodate another person or to give you extra storage space, there are many home extension options which will help you achieve it. Not only will they give you more space, but it will help to increase the value of your home. If you want additional space but can’t afford to buy a new home, a home extension is the most cost effective way to achieve it.

At M&R Renovations Builders Plymouth, our tailored conversions  and extensions service is an ideal option for those that would like to, or perhaps, due to disability requirements, need to change the usage or functionality of their whole property or even just a designated area within the property.

The most popular rooms for extensions are those which people tend to spend the most amount of time in, such as the kitchen, bedrooms and living area, and it is relatively easy to extend these. There are unlimited possibilities for extensions and you can place them wherever you want. There are options for both single storey and double storey extensions.

Another popular way of getting more space is to buy a conservatory which you can convert into a new room or extra storage space. You can also build a loft extension, which will also give you a brand new room. It is essential to get planning permission before you create any extensions, so you know you have legal permission to do it. You also need to consider electrical and plumbing lines when you construct an extension onto your home.

Home extensions are becoming more popular as people are having to tighten their budgets, and can’t afford to buy a bigger home. They also provide the perfect opportunity to add new features and create the kind of home you always dreamed of. If you are considering an extension, make sure you use a builder who has been recommended and give them as much information as possible, to ensure you get exactly what you are looking for.

If you have been thinking about a home extension project then call us at M&R Renovations Builders Plymouth to find out how we can help you create a perfect solution to your needs.

From The Team at M&R Renovations
Builders Plymouth

Undertaking a building project in the winter is a good idea – though we appreciate that because of the weather it’s likely to be an internal decoration project.

Hopefully you have followed our previous post on Pre-Winter Maintenance Checks and resolved any issues that occurred.

At M & R Renovations, we find that internal decorating is the most popular winter job and something as simple as washing painted walls can make so much difference.

As a leading Plymouth building firm we have years of experience and offer a professional painting and decorating service to both our residential and business customers alike.

But here’s our little checklist about what you could do to improve your home.

Wash painted walls: use Sugar Soap and start washing walls from the bottom, not the top. By starting at the top washes you will be removing dirt which runs down the wall soaking in as it goes which will make it more difficult to remove.

Papered walls can be stripped and the wallpaper replaced.

Winter is also a great time to replace skirting boards and dado rails which can change the appearance of a room completely.

One trick is to run a dado rail around the room which effectively splits it in half. You can use strong glue for this job if you aren’t too confident about drilling and securing the dado rail.

One half can then be painted and the other wallpapered. Or two different types of wallpaper can be used.

Here at M&R Renovations we have extensive experience as builders in Plymouth and we can help with a wide range of internal decoration jobs.

We have had clients who find that winter is also a good time for larger internal improvements such as installing a new bathroom or kitchen and they use our building and design services to achieve their dream project.

And once we’ve got winter out of the way you will be looking for tips on Spring revival.

Whatever your building or internal decoration project, you are guaranteed a top quality finish by Plymouth Builders M & R Renovations Ltd – for more information about our professional painting and decorating services, contact us on 01752 249257 or enquiries@mandrrenovations.co.uk and we will be happy to help.

The Team at M&R Renovations
Builders Plymouth

It’s that time of year again when for many of us our thoughts turn to what we’re going to do next year! Believe it or not in a recent survey undertaken by Fosra the number one resolution for 2012 is to undertake some home improvements. This was followed by spending more time on a hobby and going on a diet.

With the uncertainty in the economy it probably doesn’t come as surprise that so many are intending to improve their homes rather than move. Given that many of you may be considering home improvement and renovation projects of your own in 2012 we at M&R Renovations Builders Plymouth wanted to remind you of a few steps that we believe will help you in achieving the perfect end results for you project.

There are so many horror stories of building projects that go wrong or become really stressful that we have put together a simple guide to the building process which we believe will get you off to a good start. As with all projects, success comes down to some solid preparation and this guide will step you through the key preparation stages for you to go through.

If you are considering a home improvement or renovation project in 2012 take a look at the guide. If you have any questions then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at M&R Renovations Builders Plymouth and we’ll do our best to answer your questions.

In the meantime we wish you all the best for 2012 and we look forward to helping you in 2012.

From the Team at M&R Renovations

Builders Plymouth

Since its conversion in 1988 from a former Methodist Central Hall, Devonport  Playhouse, has become a fixture for the entertaining arts in and around Plymouth. With the devotion of the members of the Plymouth Theatre Company the dream of turning a church into a theatre came to fruition.

The Theatre continues to go from strength to strength. The building itself has had many improvements over the years. One of  the most recent being to accommodate disabled facilities in the building.

M&R Renovations Builders Plymouth were asked to convert the existing toilet facilities to accommodate disabled facilities, which included providing sufficient access through doors. The second party of the project involved supplying and fitting wheelchair access to the building.

Here are some photos of the completed work:

M&R Renovations Builders Plymouth are very pleased to be a part of the ongoing improvements to such a Plymouth icon as the Devonport Playhouse.

If you are looking for a Plymouth builder to upgrade your facilites then call the team at M&R Renovations Builders Plymouth to get far more than just a quote!

From The Team at M&R Renovations

Builders Plymouth

Accidents do happen and as experienced builders in Plymouth we are often called to fix accidental damage to properties.

In this instance we were asked to do some building work to fix up a property that had been left empty for a while and had suffered extensive damage from a burst pipe and tank failure in the loft space. As a result all the ceilings had collapsed and the kitchen had been damaged beyond repair. You can imagine that it was not a pretty sight and there was some extensive work needed to get the property looking its best again.

The work we undertook included:

• Replacing ceilings and storage cupboards
• Painting and decorating of damaged rooms
• Removing the damaged kitchen
• Installing a new kitchen including all fixtures and fittings
• Installing a new bathroom & WC
• Replacing the staircase

If you are unlucky enough to find yourself in a situation where you need building work done as a result of accidental damage then call us at M&R Renovations Builders Plymouth to find out how best we can help you get your property looking even better than before with the minimum of stress.

From the Team at M&R Renovations
Builders Plymouth

Your Hall is the first room that everybody sees when they arrive at your home, your friends and your family. It is a great room to start with if you are looking to brighten up your home as it creates a first impression about your home. So why not make a great first impression? And, with Christmas fast approaching, now might be a really good time.

To freshen up your hall you do not need to make large changes, in fact you can achieve a lot just in a few short hours. The first thing is to decide on the effect you want to create. Maybe you want to make a big first impression. If so, then you will be looking for bold colours on the walls (very stylish and they’re becoming very popular now). If it is a dark room then maybe you want it to become lighter and brighter? If so, paler neutral colours will help you to achieve that.

If this is a very quick makeover then you may be able to simply paint the walls and leave everything else untouched. This can completely change the mood of a room but it only works if everything else in the room is in good condition.

If you are completely re-painting the room then, after filling any cracks and cleaning and preparing the surfaces, the suggested order that you do this in is to paint the ceiling first (with one or two coats) and then undercoat the woodwork. Then you paint the walls (again with one or two coats) and finally put the top-coat onto the woodwork. And, of course, your woodwork and ceilings don’t need to be white either. White makes the room brighter and lighter but other colours can create a mood and have a stunning effect on how you feel every time you return home.

For a more effective makeover, one of the things that can make a large difference is the positioning and types of lights that you have. If you just have a single pendant light in the middle of the room than maybe consider wall lights instead. Changing the lighting in your hall will have a powerful effect on the “mood” of the hall. You can make it cosier or more dramatic and you can focus lighting where it is most needed or you most want it (eg to light up a picture). And, with the days becoming shorter at a frightening rate, now really is a good time to consider upgrading your lighting as you will be using it more! Of course, new lighting can be more energy efficient too so your new hall may look great and save you money as well.

Brightening up your hall is a great way to quickly cheer you up and cheer up everyone who visits you. It doesn’t take long and it isn’t expensive. So have fun and be bold with it.

B&Q Calls it the “lipstick effect”. They have found that the hot choice is red for our home decorating needs. Sales of red paint have increased so dramatically that people are now buying twice as much red paint as the more traditional magnolia. This is for both matt and silk paint so it is being used throughout the home.

With more people choosing to stay in their current home and extend, re-decorate or renovate rather than move home, part of the process is decorating in a more individual colour scheme rather than the “safe” magnolia. Bold colours have become more popular with red leading the way.

After Classic Red, the second most popular colour is a pale grey called Light Rain, then Ivory, Grey Slate and Antique White.

People may be reducing the amount they spend on large purchases (such as moving home) but they are buying less expensive things that offer a quick pick-me-up, like lipstick, or red paint that can make a dramatic difference for a small investment. The term “lipstick effect” was first used in the Great Depression in the 1930s when this trend was first noticed.

Alistair Wilson, Buyer for Decorative Paints at B&Q says: “Don’t be surprised to see spaces such as hallways and living areas painted in such an indulgent red. Classic Red serves as a mood enhancer for consumers in today’s economy.”

Red is also becoming popular for soft furnishings and wallpaper. Sebastian Krysiak, Director of Decorative at B&Q, says: “People are taking time out to enjoy their home, fix it up to suit their personality, rather than to sell on, and in doing so are becoming more adventurous in their style choices.”

If you are thinking of staying in your home and “fixing it up” with a building extension or a renovation then will you go red too?

As the nights start drawing in and you feel that crispness in the air, it is easy to come up with reasons for putting off those pre-winter checks around the home. The idea of scrambling along damp gutters and unblocking air vents aren’t exactly the jobs people look forward to when buying a new home, but they do come with the territory and could save you a small fortune in the long run. If you were under the impression that a quick central heating test will suffice, you’d be mistaken, for preparing your home for the winter months requires more than just boiler breakdown and brittle pipes. Use our winter guide to stay one step ahead of the big chill this year and remember – professionals love the jobs you hate!

Insulation

‘Energy saving’ is a term bandied about by everyone during autumn months, but it isn’t just the environment that could benefit from a few strategic changes. From retaining heat energy, to driving down the cost of your fuel bills, insulation should be at the top of your checklist.

• Check that you have enough loft insulation. The current building regulations require a total of 270mm of mineral wool insulation, 100mm between the ceiling joists and an extra 170mm laid on top (at 90 degrees to the first layer) covering the bottom layer and the joists. While looking at your loft insulation, check that it does not interfere with the ventilation points near the soffits.
• If your home does not have cavity wall insulation, consider having this use installed. With subsidies it may only cost a small amount and pay for itself in one to three years.

Exterior Walls, Windows and Woodwork

Bricks and mortar tend to be the last thing on anyone’s mind when preparing for winter, yet they often suffer the greatest damage during the cold winter months. From rising damp and mildew, to rotting wooden window frames, not protecting your home’s exterior can lead to huge repair bills.

• Check the condition of mortar and mortar joints. If you notice signs of crumbling and decay, ask a professional to take a look before you get damp problems.
• Touch up exterior paint if you notice any areas of chipping or cracking. This is especially important for wooden doors or frames, since changes in temperature, coupled with wet weather will cause wood to sag, shrink and, worse still, rot.
• Caulk or fill any gaps around pipes, door frames and windows.
• Check for signs of decay or weathering of putty around window frames and replace as necessary. If your home is still fitted with wooden windows, you may want to consider an upgrade for optimum energy saving efficiency and insulation.

Guttering, Ducts and Pipes

Winter is that one time of year when dodging buildings becomes compulsory, if you’re to arrive at work bone dry. Guttering showers are a common characteristic of uncleared or cracked gutters yet this is surprisingly inexpensive to fix.

• Stop exterior pipes freezing by turning off the water flow to any exterior taps, then open the exterior tap to clear any water in the pipes. Also, wrap the pipe and tap with insulation.
• Clean debris from your roof and gutters.
• Check guttering, valleys and downpipes for blockages, cracking and birds’ nests. In some cases, the job can be too big for one person and if repairs or replacements are needed, it can be both safer and more cost-effective to call in the professionals.
• If you have an open fire, check to see if the chimney needs sweeping – you may be about the use the fire a lot!
• Check for signs of damaged flashing or tiles, as problems here may well render gutter repairs a waste of time during heavy downpours.

Fences and Gardens

Pondering the fate of your perennials shouldn’t be your only consideration for the garden this winter. Staying one step ahead of possible storms will help avoid winter emergencies.

• Clear all exterior culverts and drains on a regular basis during autumn. It is surprising how quickly a drain can become blocked with fallen leaves.
• Check the condition of fencing and walls. If necessary, book maintenance work well in advance of the wet season.
• Treat your patios, pathways and concrete driveway with a moss preventative substance.
• Ensure any wooden decking is adequately proofed using a weather resistant paint or varnish.
• Assess ground drainage around the house to encourage rainwater to flow away from building foundations.

With a few simple checks and a small investment of time and money you can avoid expensive and unpleasant winter disasters.

From the Team at M&R Renovations

Builders Plymouth