From the Ground Up – #22

Brickwork Signed Off, an Old Conservatory Comes Down and a New One Starts

This week brickwork is finished and signed off in Ashford, an unusable conservatory is taken down in Bracknell, and the dig starts for a new conservatory in Chichester, with a flint wall to follow.

It’s the end of the week. Let’s get stuck into this week’s showcase projects

• The brickwork on this extension is now finished, and the building inspector has been out to sign it off.
• It has been built with a 100mm cavity and foil-backed insulation, so it meets building regs in full.
• That cavity is the part you never see, but it is the reason the room will hold its heat in winter and stay comfortable in summer.
• For the homeowner it means lower running costs, a room that gets used all year, and a certificate at the end confirming the work was done properly.
• The frame is due on site shortly, and once that lands we move on to fitting.

• We have started taking down the existing conservatory, which had reached the point of being completely unusable.
• Rather than reuse what was there, we are breaking up the old footings and starting again from the ground.
• Old conservatory bases are often shallow, uninsulated and cold underfoot, so building a new room on top of one just repeats the same problem.
• The new base will be modern and insulated, which is what turns a conservatory from a summer-only room into somewhere the family actually uses in January.
• It is more work up front, but it is the difference between a room that lasts and a room that gets replaced again in ten years.
• Regular skip collections ensure our clients site is as tidy as possible.

• Planning came through recently, so this week we made a start digging out the space.
• The existing garden is being dug back to create the footprint, which takes a bit of care to get the levels right against the house.
• Alongside the conservatory we are building a brand new flint wall, a traditional detail that suits this part of West Sussex and will look right long after the build is finished.
• Groundwork is the messiest stage of any project, so we keep the site tidy and the access clear while the digging is going on.
• This one is a little bit special, so keep your eyes peeled for how it turns out.

That’s a Wrap For This Week

That’s it for this week’s round-up! It’s always exciting to see these spaces take shape. From first foundations to final finishes. Whether you’re mid-project, just getting started, or simply gathering ideas, we hope these updates give you a clear view of what’s possible.

👉 Book a free 30-minute consultation with one of our team. We’ll help you explore ideas, understand the process, and see what’s possible for your home.

Check back next week for more real progress from real homes – From The Ground Up.