Building Showcases

One of Surrey’s best kept secrets – a simply spectacular Grade II* listed building mentioned in the Domesday Book. The mansion has undergone many changes through the centuries. Partly destroyed by fire at least once, it has been lovingly restored and added to by its many owners. The most famous additions are by the architects Sir John Soane, designer of the first cantilevered staircase, and notably Augustus Pugin, in the 1800’s. He worked on the Houses of Parliament building the tower to house Big Ben, whilst at Albury Park, his sixty three Gothic style chimney stacks each with a different design, give the mansion its distinctive appearance. The gardens and parkland still bear the resonance of the 1700’s, when Sir John Evelyn, a famous garden designer and diarist and the contemporary of Samuel Pepys, laid out spectacular gardens. In addition, some of the fireplaces throughout the building are designed by Robert Adam. The mansion has three acres of land surrounding it in stunning parkland still owned by the Duke of Northumberland, and which includes an ancient Saxon church. The ceilings to most of the rooms are seven metres high with intricate and original mouldings and pillars including tall elegant windows, many with shutters.

The opportunity to work on this superb project was too good to miss. TM Building are the contractors on the site, working closely with the architect on the structure and division of the main house into twelve individually designed apartments. The work is absorbing and a tremendous challenge to everyone involved.

Nov 2011 – Job started with a soft strip out – carpets, kitchens etc.

Dec 2011 - Some demolition of walls, floors, ceilings, columns and cornices, which we have stored and kept for re-use.

Jan 2012 - Some cut through alterations completed, studwork and mezzanine floor installed.

Feb 2012 – Scaffolding going up for chimney stack renovation works inside the building. Full strip out nearly completed.

We began by completing the demolition of the existing conservatory, then constructing a small square bay and modifying the main sitting room.

Phase 2 – The main vertical tiles and garage tiles were removed and replaced with Keymer hand-made tiles, thereby transforming the appearance of this Charles Church home.

Phase 3 – Removal of the existing windows and fitting feature hand-made timber windows. The rear and side extension and kitchen alterations were carried out using the owner’s design. In our opinion, this remains one of the most impressive extensions to have been constructed by TM Roofing and Building.

Phase 4 – Garden landscaping and paths, plus a water feature, ensures the garden now looks stunning year round.

Phase 5 – The next phase is to come; this will include a side and front first floor extension that will render the house a substantial, practical and magnificent home.

Features include:- Keymer hand-made tiles, second-hand salvage London stock bricks, green oak hand-made timber windows and doors and a designer kitchen as featured in glossy magazines.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank this customer for their loyalty over the last 10 years, and for recommending our services to many friends during this time.

Following our initial visit we produced the drawings for Planning Permission and Building Regulation applications for both Phase 1 and 2.

Phase 1 – Works included completing the flat roof and vertical cladding conversions, matching the second-hand tiled pitch roof to the main roof, incorporating new granulated brown, vertical-tiled panels and associated lead-works.

Phase 2 – Works were to complete a single storey extension using second hand tiles to match the existing roof. The internal alterations have created a much improved living space for the owners, including French doors opening onto the rear garden. This house is situated in one of the most desirable roads in Fleet.

The project consisted of the demolition of a cattle shed, associated barns, and clearance of the extensive site. Of the one salvageable barn, the existing walls were left. The bricks, concrete and debris removed from the walls was then crushed for hardcore purposes. Underpinning works commenced as did the repairing and renovation of the existing walls. Footings were then dug and slab laid; followed by the installation of the ground heat pump and pipework in the adjacent field.

Construction of the new house then commenced, which featured oak trusses and glass work to make the most of the fantastic views of the fields surrounding the property. We used Ashurst clay hand-crafted tiles for the roof, incorporating a lead roll-top roof and lead clad dormers, together with solar panels. Internal works included oak staircases throughout and a feature loft balcony detail. Final completion work comprised the fitting of a bespoke kitchen, along with internal floor tiling, timber floors and internal decorations. This is a magnificent house which has retained all the charm and originality of the period, by the clever use of salvaged bricks in the renovation.

The extensions consisted of front and side single-story extension and a rear two-story extension. Materials were selected to match the existing roof and the render was cut back and joined to prevent patching. Re-painting was then undertaken to mask the joins from old to new.

Two pitched dormers were constructed using second-hand tiles, ridges and bonnets to match the existing roof. New windows were then fitted to match existing. The loft space was altered and converted, installing Velux windows to give a sense of space and light, as well as a new staircase to open up the new living space.

The house underwent complete renovation; removing all plumbing, electrics, floors and walls. Steel supports and RSJs were erected and new plumbing, boilers and a CAT 6 wiring system installed. New stairs were built, walls re-plastered, tiled, and wooden floors laid. Internal decoration was undertaken throughout the fitted kitchen. Quality bi-fold double doors were installed to provide a view overlooking the garden and pool.

The double-garage was constructed using hand-made bricks and second-hand tiles to match the main roof of the house. With the electronically operated front and side doors, it is not only a very useful garage, but a practical garden storage too.

The drive entrance was improved from a narrow blind entrance to an electric-gated, crushed-gravel tarmac drive. The landscapers created a lawned front garden, transformed the rear into terraced Indian sandstone patio areas where brick paths were built to create access. The landscape works included the addition of a good-sized vegetable patch and various other garden areas, with the pool centralised at the rear. The transformation is absolutely stunning and the views from the house of the landscaped gardens, combined with the pool, the new entrance and the golf course in the distance, are breathtaking.

The area was excavated and TM Building supplied and fitted new power pumps and filter systems prior to undertaking the construction of the pool and pool house. The pool was tiled and a cover system was installed, as well as a safety fence.