Building is about MORE than just bricks, mortar and timber!

BUILDING IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
Relationships that are made of the old-fashioned values of Integrity, Trust & Respect.

At Lecale Homes we try to avoid scenarios where the lowest bid rules. In these situations the client always loses out in the end as contractors try to make their margin by cutting costs and quality, and no client wants that!
Instead we are interested in a client-friendly process where we collaborate with the client, designer, engineer and suppliers to deliver a project where everybody wins and we meet and exceed your expectations.
As a Design & Build contractor we can handle your project in its entirety under a single umbrella. We work closely with professional designers and engineers to create the conceptual architectural plans needed for preliminary estimating, and continue all the way through to construction-ready technical drawings with full structural calculations.

Your initial enquiry will enable us to get a feel for your project and we can discuss the basic design and idea parameters, as well as any concerns or issues for your proposed project. We also try to quantify budget parameters (when we can). This allows us to make a determination as to whether we are a good fit and can be of help to you. If so, a site meeting is scheduled.

For our first consultation meeting we give you a small homework assignment.
You are asked to provide the following if you can (and when applicable):

  • A concise outline of what you want to do, including a sketch if possible
  • Your Wish List — This is really three lists:
    • Your needs list
    • Your wants list
    • If money were no object – your dream list
  • Any and all pictures from the web of ideas you have seen and like, including interior finishes, colour schemes, etc.
At our first meeting, we will thoroughly discuss all aspects of your project. The goal of this first meeting is to get an outline of what you want to achieve, understand your expectations, establish how best to meet them and determine the price bracket for your project. At this stage we may suggest alterations to the plans in order to maximise the finished design or avoid unnecessary expenditure. We’ll ask lots of questions! We will also provide an idea of timescale for the work, and how long it will take for the building work can start.

Next step we move into Phase One of the Design/Estimating Process where we give you a preliminary cost proposal/Quote. This estimate will have cost breakdowns of all the options discussed in our first meeting. Our estimate will be as accurate as possible based on the information supplied. Therefore the more detail you can provide the more accurate our quote can be. Finishes such as lighting, electrical outlets, switches, flooring and bespoke items are very important and will have a significant impact on the cost. For instance, if we provide a quote allowing for a single central light fitting with a single light switch and 2 electrical outlets in a room and the finished design has 8 spotlights a 2-way switching circuit, 4 electrical outlets with a wall mounted TV and cables chased into the wall, the price between the two will be quite different! We try to avoid this wherever possible. The preliminary cost estimate will help validate your desire to do the work and from there we can proceed to Phase Two, The Complete Design.

In Phase Two we bring in all our professional resources and develop a complete and accurate set of Building Plans, Engineering Calculations, 3D Layouts and Specification Documents, as required, to ensure your project’s success. The time we spend up front communicating, planning and estimating is required to define the parameters and specifications of the build. This in turn will ensure a smooth build process with minimal disruption. We’ll also look at time scales and realistic start dates in greater detail. In circumstances where planning applications need to be submitted this usually takes a minimum of 3 months, including the time to commission architectural plans.
After this, we move to Phase Three, Build. We aim to complete the work to the agreed design, within the timelines proposed and to the specified budget. Quality is a focus throughout and we are dedicated to deliver what has been agreed. Should changes be desired or required during the build stage, we will endeavour to include these, after agreement on their scope and any impact to budget or timelines that may occur.

When it comes to price we won’t be the cheapest contractor. On a scale of 1 to 10 we’ll be around 7 or 8. This isn’t because we’re high bidders, it’s because our meticulous attention to detail ensures that we rarely miss anything and thus avoid costly extras being added as the project prigresses or after completion. We want the price we quote to be the price you pay and not a penny more.

So, if you’re looking for a building contractor who’ll treat your home as if it were their own, you won’t find anyone who’ll work as hard to deliver results as Lecale Homes.