Yorke Construction renovates country house

The project required a three-storey extension and complete renovation to an existing country house, in Painswick, Gloucestershire.

Work started on the 3-storey extension with a challenging groundworks design and a 2m to 8m driven steel and concrete piled foundation.

The renovations included: converting the unusable attic space into a master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and dressing room; the incorporation of an additional bedroom on the second floor; extending the floor space on the first and second floors to make it a spacious 4-bedroom, 3-reception room country dwelling.

Awarded through selective competition, Yorke Construction partnered with interior designer and architects, Janine Stone, on this high specification build.

Applying their expertise and knowledge, Yorke were required to rework many of the detailed plans in order to successfully achieve planning permission and meet Building Regulations.

This also included consideration of a Tree Preservation Order adjacent to the rear of the house.

The extension is constructed from Bradstone around a steel frame on a piled ring beam, ranging from 4m to 8m in depth to deal with the steep rising ground levels from the front to the rear of the property.

The roof height was raised by 600mm to create a usable area in the existing attic space, and incorporated large dormer windows.

Throughout, existing timbers were upgraded to current Building Regulation standards.

Incorporating an 18sq.m internal valley, the new sections to the roof utilised reclaimed tiles to blend in with the existing roof cladding.

All new windows were specified as painted hardwood in keeping with existing frames, but resized and repositioned for optimum light intake and views of the pond and countryside.

Many of the windows are remote-controlled Velux.

Commenting on the build, Mike Beamish, site manager at Yorke Construction, said, "An impressive amount of steel was used in this construction, over five tonnes, including steel braces and frames running throughout the house".

"This certainly proved challenging when coming to route the extensive pipework and cabling".

The whole house has been completely rewired and many functions of the existing rooms have been altered to create more living space.

An elaborate HiFi system was installed and built into most rooms.

A new utility room was incorporated and the kitchen area extended, with a recessed ceiling feature above the island kitchen units.

Two false wooden beams were installed in the lounge area to aesthetically balance with the existing beam.

A custom-designed, ornate 3-storey staircase, made from iron and oak, was relocated at the back of the house to maximise space and views from front-facing windows.

"Yorke Construction has delivered a top-quality build, on budget and executed with professionalism and attention to detail at all times".

"At the start of the project, their guidance and expertise in working through the plans and providing recommendations was invaluable in gaining all the necessary approvals".

"We are delighted with the result," said the homeowner.

The result is a superb, large country property built to an extremely high finish, taking advantage of its position on a hillside commanding great views.

All materials were specified accurately and onsite when required, allowing Yorke to meet agreed timescales and costs.

Yorke Construction Renovates Cotswold Country House.

Category: Residential Property Redevelopment.

Client: Independent Homeowner.

Interior Designer and Architect: Janine Stone, Cheshire.

Quantity Surveyors: Yorke Construction.

Value: GBP600,000.

Contract Period: 10 months.

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