Natural materials, non-toxic paints and building waste reduction are simple and efficient ways to contribute to more eco-friendly buildings and to a safer environment. Some of the traditional building methods and materials like composite timbers, volatile organic compounds found in paints and solvents or cadmium are heavy pollutants and are dangerous for human health. Others are simply not sustainable, and they negatively impact the carbon footprint. Concrete releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and because it has been used widely in the construction of our cities, it has contributed to climate change. At Belmondo Building we try to
replace outdated materials as much as possible and to eliminate completely the
harmful ones.   

What are the eco-friendly alternatives we use?

Bamboo has been used for thousands of years because it’s a lightweight and a stretchy material. It regained popularity due to its renewability and its affordable price, especially in areas where it’s locally produced. Wood fibre and wool instead of traditional foamboard for insulation are green materials naturally sourced that are viable and nature-friendly.

Stone, timber and straw bale instead of bricks, concrete and metal in the structure of the buildings and natural choices for the flooring – wood and stone – make the houses wiser and more caring for the environment.

We recommend solar power whenever possible. Solar power isturned into electricity through solar panels or through innovations like Velux solar windows (electric windows that use only solar cell technology). At Belmondo Building, we use electrical vans for zero emissions and for lack of noise.

Recycled steel is steel that has been previously used in the
structure of a building or in the automotive industry. It’s a material which
takes a lot of energy to be produced, that’s why the use of recycled steel
saves three quarters of the energy costs it takes to make it. It’s the same with
recycled plastic – using feasible components
made from recycled plastic contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.   

We install innovative water
heating systems and central heating
systems through our services division, Belmondo Services and aim to
contribute to a more sustainable world
through energy-efficient solutions at the highest safety standards
possible. We always recycle the rubbish,
reduce dust and waste (unused
materials, demolition waste) and we use safe materials to protect the health and
safety of our workers on the site, the environment and the local communities we
work for. Green materials are the wise choice for the present and for the
future generations.

The post Eco friendly tools and materials appeared first on Belmondo Building.

The ideal candidate must have experience within the building industry: refurbishments and new build projects. The job involves working on site to ensure the projects run on time and to maximise client expectations. Additional job training can be provided depending on the scale and requirements of the project.

A UTR number & NINO is required since the work will be carried out on self-employment basis.

To apply, please complete this form. You can also add a short description or your CV and send the documents to the following email address: office@belmondobuilding.co.uk. We will answer your questions and will be in touch if your application is successful. Thank you, good luck!

The post Join our team! appeared first on Belmondo Building.

At Belmondo Building we offer general maintenance for commercial and residential spaces which usually includes:

• Plumbing
• Electrical installation
• Heating, boiler and gas related breakdowns
• Renewable energy systems maintenance
• Carpentry and joinery
• Painting and indoor aesthetics
• Roofing
• Communal areas maintenance
• Repair jobs: water and flooding problems, ceiling issues, garden and fence repairs, installing and replacing doors and broken locks, kitchen and bathroom installation 
• General upkeep for indoor and outdoor

Before any property maintenance intervention, we make sure the team is qualified and trained to perform the necessary tasks. After the repair or installation, our workers inspect the equipment, clean up, discard all waste and complete the necessary paperwork to document the job.

Even if the private rental sector and the commercial buildings like shops or hotels are most likely to need property maintenance services, we also work with individual house owners on a regular basis to make the best of any building. Regular maintenance services are the most cost-effective way to prevent structural or aesthetic damage, unforeseen challenges and to maintain the integrity and safety of buildings on the long run.

Property maintenance is for everybody who manages, owns or rents a building and the benefits are obvious: saving money, putting safety first, preventing stressful large-scale repairs and increasing the value of your home, shop or rental property.  

More on our range of services. Tips and advice on keeping your house wise. We’re also on Facebook with contemporary looking homes or offices we work on.

The post Property maintenance: who needs it? appeared first on Belmondo Building.

At Belmondo Building we build new roofs, but often enough we repair broken roofs that have minor or severe leaks. Only rarely do we recommend changing the entire roof. There are several main causes for which roofs fail; if the house owners understand them this can helps in promptly determining the problem and delivering a faster and more accurate service. Sometimes finding the cause of a leak is the most difficult part of the process even for a highly experienced team. Here are some of the causes we identified:

1. Slipped slates or broken tiles: when rain reaches the underlay of the roof due to broken tiles, it creates a leak in the inside part of it. Houses built after 1950s usually have this extra under layer. Replacing tiles is not a difficult task, but it should be done as soon as possible to prevent damp from spreading. Spaces of up to 5-10mm are not significant, but they might require attention depending on the problem they cause.

2. Poor or old underlay: if the wind creates a path for rain to reach the underlay, this may begin to rot and water may reach the ceiling of the house. It’s a sign it’s time to fix some parts of the underlay or to replace it completely.    

3. Old roof or poor workmanship: if the roof is built from materials that break because they are just too old (and there is no underlay) leaks appear. Rotten or beetle-infested timbers can also cause serious damage. Another cause is that the installation itself was not properly done or the contractor that built the roof didn’t use good quality materials, so various parts of the roof need replacement or reinstallation.  

4. Gaps at the joints: this is one of the most widely spread causes of failure – minor gaps or loose mortar between tiles, especially tiles from the V shaped roofs where the two sloping parts of the roof meet. The gaps can become bigger if the wind dislocates them, so a leak is increasingly likely to happen. Don’t neglect big storms and have a professional take a look after, no matter the season.  

5. Loft ventilation and poor insulation: this is also essential to lengthen the life of the roof because the lack of ventilations leads to condensation and unwanted moisture that ultimately causes structural harm to the entire house. A good level of ventilation in the loft and in all the rooms, especially bathrooms and kitchens disperses moisture and prevents long term damage.

6. Blocked water flow: keeping the gutters clean and free of rubbish helps water to flow normally after heavy rain. Any obstruction can lead to damage to the roof or to different parts of the house. Also, a house extension that was not properly connected to the rest of the house can make water from the main roof discharge onto the extended one and in time can create leaks due to pressure. 

Understanding the main parts of the roof, how all the materials involved work together and having regular checks make a huge difference in maintaining the integrity of any roof, modern or traditional. If you are not sure it’s a roof problem, it’s always better to ask a professional, we are serving both domestic and commercial customers, install new roofs and repair leaking roofs. Our services.

The post Watch out for these 6 causes of roof leaks appeared first on Belmondo Building.

1. Do you plan to increase your living space and add an extra bedroom, an office, a kids’ cinema or leisure space or maybe just built-in storage space? The destination of the extra space and the final layout will influence the structural building decisions. It all starts with a dream and a decision: what will it be?

2. Safety first. When planning a loft conversion, you must understand what building regulations must be met. Many loft conversions don’t require permission, but an initial check with the local authority can provide all the answers and conditions on the desired conversion. If your house is in a conservation area, permission is a must. In either case, the contracted builder must think about the strength of the floor, the minimum space at the highest point (6-7 ft), fire escapes, electrics, plumbing and thermal efficiency.

3. You need to regard the loft conversion as an investment. Not only in extra space and better living, but also in the value of your house. The average cost for the conversion is around £1,300 per square metre, but the value of the house can increase with up to 25%, which is a significant gain considering the London property prices. From a structural perspective, your builder might find it necessary to move the water tank or a chimney – all this will influence the cost.

4. There are different types of loft conversions: the dormer type, the mansard type, the caravan type, the rooflight conversion. Deciding on the right one starts from the existing configuration. For some conversion types most of the building works can be executed from outside, so you can live at home during the works. Noise and dust can be a bit of a hassle, so depending on the complexity of the conversion you might consider moving from home for a few days or weeks.

5. Don’t forget to consider the stairs and the glazing. The house configuration will dictate the type of stairs so that every inch of space is well put to work. The goal is to lose as less space possible and to obtain a unitary design with the rest of the house.

The loft windows can be the usual Velux rooflights, the dormer type, new windows in the walls or a more design-wise option: a glass panel that brings the maximum sky possible into your house with lots of natural light and a feel-good mood. Always pay attention to the movement of the sun when choosing the windows and to the soundproofing levels you need. There is also a limitation of areas of windows and doors a space can have.

Often enough, the loft becomes the lightest and the most serene part of the house. So raise your roof with grace, respect towards the environment, the neighbours and towards your budget and time.

More housing advice here. Some of our works on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

The post Loft Conversions: 5 Must-Haves appeared first on Belmondo Building.

As winter is approaching, we must think more about ways to save costs on utility bills and to make our homes wiser in terms of the energy we use, heat, water and general consumption. We’ve heard bits and pieces from the following advice, but rarely do we follow all of them and are aware of the great impact they have on household budgets and the environment:

1. Insulate your flat or the entire house by paying attention not only to walls but also to the loft and the roof – they’re the main sources of heat loss. It’s difficult to calculate the amount of money you lose every year due to the heat that escapes through walls and roofs, but you will feel the difference as soon as you have new insulation for at least 25cm in depth.
2. Once your walls keep the heat inside, it’s time to think about the windows. Old houses may look romantic in photos, but if they don’t have double glazed windows it’s time to make a change. You can even choose triple glazing if you plan such an investment of time and money. It will eventually pay off.
3. Technology is part of our living spaces in order to keep up not only with trends but also with expenses. Thermostats are a great way to be in control of how warm the rooms are and can save up to 20% on annual energy bills. Alternatively, energy monitors can help by showing what devices use more electricity. They can also show the gas consumption in real time, are easy to install and costs start from 30£. A guide for all sorts of smart meters can be found on the government website.
4. Small but significant changes that reduce annual bills shouldn’t be ignored. Didn’t you replace all the bulbs in the house with LED ones? They last much longer and use less energy, so they’re the eco-friendly version of the classical bulbs.
5. Choose only appliances with A, A+ or A++ energy ratings and don’t forget that 90% of the washing machine’s energy is used when heating water. Whenever possible, wash clothes at 40 °C or less.
6. Apply for an energy-saving grant on the government website or for funds to improve your home in order to make it wiser and more environmentally-friendly.
7. Replace your old water heating system and the old central heating system with innovative solutions that have a great impact. Our division Belmondo Services can supply and install cost savings solutions for domestic and commercial spaces. We are an official installer for the Magic Box International systems offering water heating systems and central heating systems that save energy and costs. More on our services on the dedicated website.

For free quotes and specific advice, drop us a line at office@belmondobuilding.co.uk.

The post Seven tips to make your house wiser appeared first on Belmondo Building.

„It’s been a challenging project with a highly positive impact, not only for the client but also for the planner and for the whole construction team. The highly contemporary design integrates traditional design and this was accomplished by the creative concept, the materials used and the craftsmanship,” said Petru Rainert, Belmondo Building Director.

The house was considered a project of great maturity and sophistication. The apparent simplicity of the compact but light-filled home belie the considered level of creativity required to achieve the design quality and finish.

The Brick Development Association is the national authority on clay bricks and pavers and its 15-strong membership accounts for almost 100% of the sector’s productivity in the UK.

The Brick Awards showcases exemplary clay brick architecture and celebrates the contribution of architects, brickwork contractors, developers, clients and brick manufacturers.

Voted for by architectural students to seasoned architects, the Architects’ Choice Award is presented to that which epitomizes exceptional clay brick architecture as considered by the professional community.

More information on the Brick Development Association website. More on our services here.

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