My Bathroom Renovation Experience with Axe Construction

The process of finding a reliable building contractor in South London is quite a challenging one. It took me several weeks to finally be recommended to a reliable South London construction company named Axe Construction by a colleague. My initial reaction was negative. Having heard too many stories about contractors disappearing into thin air, doubling their bills and leaving behind poor quality workmanship that falls apart after a couple of months, like any other homeowner, I was reluctant to be overly enthusiastic right away. However, from our very first conversation over the phone, I understood that things with Axe Construction really were different from that.

For years our bathroom lay abandoned. The grout fell off, the corner bath stopped working from the day we had moved in, the lighting was terrible, and the shower did not provide enough water pressure even to wash the shampoo out of our hair. It definitely needed an overhaul. Having compared a number of quotes and discussed our needs with various companies, we have chosen Axe Construction. Eight months later, it still proves to be one of the best decisions of home improvement we ever made.

What Was Wrong With Our Bathroom

Before we could start thinking about installing new tiles and fittings, there were a number of very practical issues that had to be sorted out.

• Deteriorating grout with failing tile adherence around the whole of the bath surround
• The extractor fan that had stopped working over a year ago, resulting in moisture build-up and mold growth on the ceiling
• Poor shower pressure from corrosion and age of the pipe work
• Undetected water damage from under the corner bath, spreading into the sub-floor
• Insufficient lighting making the room look smaller than it really is
• Non-existent ventilation, a common problem in many old terraced houses in South London

These were not just cosmetic problems. Some of them were actually structural problems which had to be sorted out properly before any new fitting could take place. Otherwise, we would end up wasting our money on something which wouldn’t last even a year or two.

The Survey, Quote, and First Impressions

A surveyor from Axe Construction came to assess the space within a week. He took about 45 minutes to go through it. What really impressed me is that he was not in a hurry or tried to sell any additional services. Instead, he asked very reasonable questions about the use of the space and was totally open about two things we were not aware of ourselves  water damage on the subfloor and pipework that would require rerouting for the desired shower pressure.

This kind of openness before starting work is really rare in this trade. It showed me immediately that Axe Construction cares much more about the quality of their work than about speed.

The quotation came within a few days. All costs were itemized, labour, material, and contingency included in the line-by-line list. Their price was not the lowest among all quotations. One company offered a lower price. However, the quotation from Axe Construction was the most clear and detailed one, and after the survey, I believed it more than any others. Cheap quotes which conceal problems are not savings but future expenses.

Project Snapshot: What Was Agreed

How the Renovation Went Day to Day

They came right on time on the first day, and this itself helped establish a positive and professional approach. Even before starting any work, they placed protective sheeting on the stairs and the hallway. It may be a minor thing, but it shows a lot of respect to the other parts of the house as well.

Communication with them has always been excellent. They would give me a status update every two days  about all they have done so far, what is next and whether I need to do anything about it. Never once did I have to chase them. Coming from the standpoint of someone who has a busy schedule at work, it makes a world of a difference.

The refurbishment included everything that had been agreed upon:

• Demolition of the whole bathroom including tiles, vanity and all plumbing
• Reconditioning of sub-floor and waterproof membrane installation
• Piping re-routed for improved water pressure and future maintenance
• Installation of porcelain floor and wall tiling in large format with tight cuts
• Installation of thermostatic walk-in shower complete with fixed head and hand-held shower
• Revised LED light fixtures with an extractor fan
• Install of new vanity unit with storage below the sink
• Sealing of all joints with professional silicone and grouting

The tiling work was exceptional. The cuts around the edges of the shower, the wall niches and the internal corners were extremely tight. You tend to forget how good tiling can be until it isn’t.

Why Specialist Experience Makes All the Difference

A bathroom refit is a lot more complicated than homeowners think it will be. All plumbing, tiling, carpentry, electrics, and waterproofing must be carefully coordinated within the small area of the room. But when even one of these aspects goes wrong, there are always delays before the problems become visible and are usually discovered when everything is at its most inconvenient and is costly to fix rather than doing the job properly the first time around.

• That is how you can distinguish an expert from a handyman. Experts make sure that:
• There are adequate waterproofing layers installed behind the tiles to prevent structural damage
• The substrates are properly prepared for a secure and durable tile layer
• Electrical installations conform to building regulations in wet areas
• Pipework routes are set up correctly for proper water pressure and easy future access
• The project meets all building regulations requirements for all trades involved in it
• Materials are accurately estimated to avoid waste and additional costs during the project

These are not minor details. They are the difference between a bathroom that looks great for two years and one that performs perfectly for twenty.

The Snag List and Final Handover

Upon completion of the primary work, the project manager came back again to inspect the bathroom that had been completed with me. This time, he came with his own list of snags which included a tiny space left in the silicon sealant around the shower door, an out-of-level mirror by a few millimetres and a switch cover plate that needed replacement. All these were noted by him before I even got a chance to check for any of these problems.

All these snags were sorted out within one day. The bathroom was handed over completely spotless, tidy and exactly the way we had decided from the very beginning.

Conclusion

Using the services of Axe Construction is one of the best things we ever did for our house. Everything from the initial site inspection until the last day when they handed over the keys was done with professionalism, transparency, and a concern for the quality of their work. No hidden charges and no nasty surprises, nothing but quality construction completed within the specified period of time.

Looking for a contractor or bathroom renovation specialists in Clapham Then Axe Construction is the team to choose without any doubts! Eight months have passed and I have zero regrets now, just a bathroom to be proud of!

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