Q & A
Most commonly asked questions of us by architects
Q: Who are you?
A: We are a building company specialising in larger extensions, individual new builds and commercial projects. Quality finishes need the skills and resources we can deliver.
Q: How long have you been in the Construction Industry?
A: I have been in the building Industry for over thirty years, serving a three-year apprenticeship with Irvine & Witlock (Bedford). I gained experience with Mount Anvill & Broadfields as a site manager and contracts manager respectively. I later setup a labour only bricklaying sub-contracting company working on behalf main contractors like Willmot Dixon, SDC, and Jarvis among others. In 2005 I formed M.J.Purdy's sole trader and grew from there.
Q: How many people work for you?
A: We principally use a core team of tradesmen and sub- contractors for the build projects. We can have up to 30 guys working for us at any one time. These are supported by an office team who look after the purchase and sale ledgers, procurement of supplies, pricing, estimating, quantity surveying. Plus sales and marketing and the maintenance of health safety policy and procedure.
Q: What makes your business different?
A: Our objective is to provide a transparent, open book approach where we could work to an agreed budget and program whilst maintaining quality.
Q: What area do you specialise in?
A: We are specialist in New Build. large extensions, loft conversions, structural alterations and refurbishments within both the domestic and commercial sectors.
Q: What value of works do you undertake?
A: We have moved a long way in four years from an average project size of £50-60k to recently completing a new build property in Elstree of £550,000. The recent downturn has given us the opportunity to restructure the business. We have recently tendered schemes in excess of £1,000,000. Whilst we will continue with our core business of £50-250k schemes this will be a significant move forward for us, that we are now ready to deliver.
Q: What attitude do you have to closing out the completion, final snags and after care of works?
A: Well! It's all about the communication with our clients. There is clearly a difference between unfinished works, snags and additional items. We aim to carry out a pre-completion inspection of the schemes prior to handover eliminating this frustration. When the works are complete we have a policy to rectify any outstanding defects as soon as practically possible working with the client.
Q: Are environmental issues important?
A: Environmental considerations are given equal consideration to the running of this business, be it construction, research, sales, safety or finance.
- Meeting all statutory obligations
- Maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of premises we visit to the highest standard
- Aim for the efficient use of all our resources used in its operation and by the reduction of waste
- Providing customers and employees with the information to enable our products to be used, stored and disposed of so as to avoid unacceptable effects on the environment.
- Providing the necessary information to enable employees to operate the processes properly and with minimal effects on the environment.
Q: What do you consider to be the key to a successful project?
A: I consider the following to be the key components to a successful project
- Full understanding of scheme
- Program and sequencing
- Procurement of materials, specialist items
- Health & Safety, keeping my people and surrounding people safe
- Communication
- Problem solving covering design and interface issues