About Riccardo McCormack
I have been working in the construction industry for 25 years. I initially worked in my family Building business learning through practical hands on experience in the working environment. I started with Roofing specialising in pitched roofs with slate and tile coverings. I progressed onto specialist projects involving listed building status which require particular skills and expertise – using reclaimed materials and techniques to fit in with the existing fabric of the project for restoration and preservation.
I have extensive carpentry and wooden floor laying skills and have successfully completed many refurbishments particularly within older properties where the client requires a completely modern look within. I have Project Managed from start to finish – working with the client from the planning stages to completion and understand the process and progression of a quality build and the elements that make this possible. I have extensive management and Team Leading experience – managing a team of building professionals on bespoke projects and am also a good team player – I value and appreciate that working together as a team can make a project a success.
I have a good knowledge of building regulations and am used to communicating and liaising with other professionals notably Surveyors and Architects. I can read and understand Architectural Drawings and Specifications and work to them accordingly. I have built my client base up mostly through recommendation and some of my clients have been with me for many years. I understand the importance of good customer service delivery and putting the client at the centre of every project. Health and Safety is a priority and I embed Best Practice into every element of the working environment .
Choosing a Builder
How do you choose the right Builder?
(Dont forget this person and his team will be in and around your property every day)
The wrong builder can make your life a misery, so what can you do?
Firstly always ask for recommendations and check them follow them up, a good builder will have nothing to hide. Get all work details in writing e.g what the agreement is for what you expect to be done, don't be afraid to look around get quotes for the work, but look at what you're getting. You do pay for what you get.
Agree a payment plan with your builder, it's not a good idea to pay large amounts of money up front, talk with your builder come to an agreeable arrangement. These are just some simple basics precautions a bad builder can change your life. But so can a good builder
Building Regulations
Building Regulations are there to protect the consumer and to make sure that your builder is doing the work to a correct and safe standard. Depending on what work you are having done it is expected that the builder should arrange for either an independent building control body (bcb) or for a local authority to inspect the work in the correct stages.
Do ask your builder to do this and when the bcb inspector comes try to be there, this is all in your interest. Planning permission / Extensions / Party walls are other common things which always pop up, I have included some usefull info in the links below
