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Extension/Remodel|New Homes

14/07/2019

Choosing a Builder: 4 Important Tips to Consider

Choosing a builder can be tricky. We’ve all heard stories or had bad experiences with contractors. As builders in Cork working in the industry, we’ve had our fair share of encounters and experiences. We’ve seen time and time again how the wrong builder for the job can cost you time, money and peace of mind. Here are a few tips to consider when choosing a builder.

How to Choose a Builder: Seek Out Reviews

Whether referrals, recommendations, testimonials or reviews, make sure that the builder has some sort of evidence of previous work for you to go by. When you get an in-person recommendation for a family member or friend, be sure and compare the scope of your own project. Check the reviews for comparable projects so that you know you’re comparing like with like.

Choosing The Best Builder for the Project

Some builders can be excellent at a specific type of project, whether an extension or kitchen, but they may lack the skill or experience for larger builds, they

choosing a builder cork

might not have the experience or finesse to get it done to your exact specifications. If you can, ask if you can inspect the builder’s finished projects and pay special attention to the finer details and finishes. The proof is in the pudding, but the devil is in the details.

Check The Builder’s Skills and Experience

We’ve heard some horror stories. carpenters selling themselves as building managers and costing time and money and creating unnecessary stress for clients. Always check that the builder is fully insured. When hiring a project manager, be sure they know their craft. A skilled and experienced project manager will be able to read plans and communicate clearly. Do they listen to your questions, ideas and suggestions? How open are they to your ideas?

Clarify All Aspects of the Contract

Ensure that everything is clear and written on paper before hiring. For example, if it’s a new build, who will do the finishes such as plumbing and electrical services, piping and cabling. Also consider plastering, cabinets, sinks, fixtures, tiling and appliances? What are the specific deliverables? Are they offering any guarantees? What is the agreed procedure for changes? It’s best to have everything clearly laid out so that both parties are on the same page.

We hope this was helpful. If you have any further questions or you’re just seeking clarity, feel free to give us a call today on 021-2348095. If you’re seeking a builder, please check out our testimonials page. We’re proud to be recognised as the 2018 Cork builder of the year.

Extension/Remodel

13/06/2019

Move Or Renovate? How to Decide

While buying a new home can be exciting, when possible, it’s often more cost-effective to do a full home renovation. Moving has hidden costs of time and money, and selling an existing home raises the issue of hefty fees and taxes. So is it wiser to move or renovate? It all depends on what makes the most sense for you and your needs. Here are a few pros and cons to help you decide which direction makes the most sense for you.

One of the biggest reasons to move rather than renovate an existing home is the fact that you can pick a new location. This can mean a smaller or larger home, or a different neighbourhood, close to schools or amenities — closer or further away from town, depending on your preference.

Move or Renovate? The Disadvantages of Moving

While you can usually find a home that ticks some of the boxes. You’re unlikely to have a layout that’s just right for you. If you do find a space that suits your needs, it’s rare to find one in an ideal area. Buying a home and moving is time-consuming and stressful. Between searching, viewing, applying for the mortgage, closing on the new home, trying to sell your existing home, etc., it can all end up being a huge hassle. To make it all worthwhile, there have to be really good reasons to leave your existing home and location.

The Advantage of Home Renovation with Sigma Homes

With Sigma Homes, you can plan a renovate to meet your exact specifications. Renovation lets you choose how everything is laid out to suit your needs and tastes. If you love your existing location, you don’t have to move. Home renovation lets you stay where you are while avoiding the costs of moving and selling your home.

A typical downside to home renovation is that it requires a period of time with mess and activity around the home. For example, a major kitchen renovation could leave you without a place to prepare food for days, or even weeks as tends to be the case when dealing with various contractors. Typically (though not with us), you have to deal with various contractors and no matter how much vetting and planning you do, you tend to run into hiccups which can cost time and additional expense not planned in your original budget. With Sigma Homes, we aim to take the stress out of renovation. We can manage the entire build, and our team of experts take care of everything ‘in house’. We are used to working together with the aim of getting the job done to the highest quality and with the least amount of disruption to you. By minimising costs and build time while increasing build quality, home renovation can be made relatively pain-free. Especially when compared with the time and expense of moving.

If you’re unsure whether to move or if a home renovation can offer you the changes you’re after, we would be happy to examine your existing home, listen to your ideas, then present to you a plan based on your existing structure. To find out more, please call us today on 021-2348095

Extension/Remodel

15/05/2019

5 Tips Before You Remodel Your Kitchen

The advantage of doing your kitchen remodelling with Sigma Homes is that we can help you reduce build cost and time while avoiding many of the common pitfalls. Still, if you decide to go it alone, here are a few important kitchen remodelling tips.

1. Don’t Underestimate Your Budget

Of all the kitchen remodelling tips, this is number one. It’s common for people to start a build or remodel with the best of intentions, but no matter how frugal you are, without experience managing a build, there are simply too many factors that can be overlooked or just go wrong. We’ve had clients come to us frustrated after spending way beyond their intended budget before realising they were better off seeking help. If you’re going it alone, it’s not uncommon to pay 40% more than you originally planned. Things do go wrong, there are things you will overlook, and when you’re doing it yourself you’re the one who foots the bill. (This is one of the issues you can avoid entirely by going with Sigma Homes).

2. Don’t Underestimate the Time Involved

When you factor in the design, the build, the inevitable issues that arise, not to mention the appliances, fixtures, managing different contractors, getting them back to fix a bad installation, etc., you are often talking about extended periods of time. Sourcing great, reliable contractors is a job in itself. When you are managing the kitchen remodel with separate contractors, it can be an ordeal getting them to show up in good time, and come back when they’re needed. We have worked with clients whose home became a building site as they waited for unreliable contractors to finish the job they had barely started.

3. Make Sure You Have a Solid Plan

Kitchen remodelling is a big investment in time and money. To get it done in good time, you’ll want to ensure that you have the various contractors in and out in the right order to minimise disruptions. In addition to the kitchen, you may find that there is disruption in other areas of your home too. Also, remember to have a plan for food preparation as there may be times when this is unavailable to you.

Once your contractors get to work, you don’t want to chop and change as you go. This can lead to serious delays and additional expense. It’s vital that you have a clear plan in advance so that you increase the speed of your build while minimising cost and disruption.

4. Don’t Overlook Your Infrastructure

When ordering new appliances and fixtures, it’s easy to forget about the plumbing and electrics. Consult with an electrician and a plumber to ensure that you have adequate access (and capacity) for your water, gas and electricity. This is especially important for older homes which may have outdated systems that are incapable of handling an increased load.

5. Call Us For Advice and More Kitchen Remodelling Tips

If you’re looking for guidance, feel free to call us. At Sigma Homes, we’ve seen the many issues that can plague kitchen renovation projects. We aim to solve these problems, giving our clients a superior quality build, on time and with zero stress. We will help you plan, producing an architecturally designed, high-quality renovation plan for your kitchen. Because we manage the entire project with our own contractors, we can ensure that everything is completed on time and on budget.

When you arrange a free consultation, we’ll call by, take a look at your kitchen space and offer you some kitchen remodelling tips. There’s no pressure and no obligation. Give us a call today on 021-2348095

House Extensions

12/04/2019

6 Home Extension Tips

Are you planning a home extension? There are some tips to keep in mind if you’d rather handle it yourself. Below are some quick pointers to keep in mind before you start any house extensions in Cork. If you don’t get all your questions answered or you’re simply looking for professional advice, we’re very open to helping. We’ve decades of combined experience working with the best (and rescuing extensions made by the worst) in the industry.

1. Evaluate the Cost

Before starting out it’s important to be clear on your budget. You’ll need to assess the total potential costs, factoring in planning fees, design fees, insurance, material costs, labour and other factors. The following areas will influence the total cost.

2. Does your home extension need planning permission?

You must adhere to all building regulations, but not all home extensions need planning permission. Roughly speaking, any extension with less than 40sqm, and under 3-metres in height may be exempt from planning permission. If you have any doubt, ask for a Section 5 Declaration Form from Cork City Council, or a Certificate of Lawful Development to ensure that you don’t need planning permission.

3. Assess The Extension’s Design

The design needs to factor in the kind of sunlight exposure you want, elevation, and the existing structure. You must also consider the site and the existing house. You might need an architectural designer for the house design, and potentially a structural engineer to assess the correct construction materials. Additionally, you may want someone to assess the building energy rating.

4. Identify Finishes Before You Start

To Manage Your Budget, identify as many windows, doors, tiles and appliances as you can. Finding the right products for your space, within your budget, and crucially, with a good provider, can be a time-consuming and stressful ordeal. But it’s better to get started earlier. It might be hard shopping around now, but it’ll help you avoid the pain of selecting the wrong suppliers and having to contend with delays or re-orders for poorly installed or damaged fittings. The sooner you start shopping around the better. The best way to get an accurate price for your home extension is to have as many finishes listed as you can in advance. Otherwise, you’re at risk of ‘cost creep’.

5. Stay in Keeping with Fire & Building Control

If you secured planning permission you will need to go through the building control process by filing a commencement notice. Building Control requires that all structural work (including insulation) is filed for home extensions. The only exceptions are:

Ground-level porches under 5sqm around an external door (even then, the porch’s glazing must comply with Part 5 of the Regulations).
Conservatories under thirty square metres that are composed of mostly glass or transparent materials (50% of all walls and 75% of the roofing)
Detached garages under thirty square metres composed of non-flammable materials.

6. Check that Your Insurance Is Still Valid

Ensure that your insurance isn’t going to expire during the building of the home extension. Also, check if you can get an insurance extension during construction. If you hire a contractor to manage the build, ensure that their insurance covers both public liability and employer’s liability.

7. Consider Getting An Expert To Handle All of This For You

If you’re undecided about whether to handle the build yourself, please give us a call on 021-2348095. We’re always happy to help. If you’d like to read more about how we can help you renovate your home.

Renovation

08/03/2019

Home Renovations Cork

Are you considering home renovations and living in the Cork area? As professionals (and customers), we have experienced first-hand the many issues that can plague construction and home renovation projects. We created Sigma Homes with a vision of solving these problems. Whether it’s the whole home or something like a kitchen renovation, our focus is always on giving our client what they want, on time, with superior quality and zero stress. We take your ideas and produce an architecturally designed, high-quality renovation to your house, delivered on time and within your defined budget.

Right from the first meeting, we aim to take all the stress and hassle out of home renovation. We can advise on ways to improve your home to enhance energy efficiency, maximise daylight and reinvent your living space. If you’d like to arrange an obligation-free meeting, we can call by, look at your space and see how we can best help you.

“It’s a delight to have it all taken care of for you, from start to finish”.
Pamela and Simon, Sigma Homes Clients

Home Renovations Without the Worry

While renovating your home, we can handle all of the required Building & Design work in-house. You still have full control, while letting us manage the construction reduces your costs and speeds up the building process.

We can manage your whole project from start to finish, including design drawings, 3D modelling, planning applications, tendering and specification, interior design and of course construction and supervision. Let us be the ones worrying about the contractors, plumbers, electricians, etc. We can also take care of the engineering supervision and mortgage sign off.

If you already have plans, we’re happy to tender for the project. We can often give advice and help make changes that can bring proposals within budget and regulations without losing the features you want. And if your extension requires planning — or you’re unsure if it requires planning — we can help with that too. One of our clients had this to say:

“Sigma Homes are as good as they say they are, and probably even better.. They suggested elements to the build that we wouldn’t have thought of ourselves. They are a great team. They’re very bright and enthusiastic, and take great pride in their work. We really felt safe with them from the word go… Any concerns we had were taken seriously and dealt with straight away, without any quibbles and without any delay. That really felt good. “
Helen Murray, Sigma Homes Client

For Queries Regarding Home Renovations in Cork

If you have any questions or if you would like us to call out, obligation-free, to go through your options, feel free to give us a call on 021 234 8095. Or you can email us at info@sigmahomes.ie.

House Extensions

11/02/2019

How A New Home Extension Can Work Wonders For Your Home

Given the Irish weather and building norms of yesteryear, many of us live, or have lived, in the standard 3-bed semi-detached house typical of its time and designed as a functional family home but one that seems dated by today’s standards.

Building Technologies

Building technologies have improved hugely in recent years, and people considering a home extension can now enjoy design and build features that were simply not feasible in the past.

The combination of air tightness, new glazing systems and improved building and heating technologies all combine to ensure that even the most open plan of homes and extensions will remain warm and cosy throughout the year, and will, of course, cost a lot less than older homes to run.

Open Plan Design Features

Open plan features are particularly beneficial for family life, as the whole family can relax and spend time in the same space without feeling claustrophobic or in one another’s way. These spaces can be designed to suit the needs of a modern or growing family, and may include kitchen and dining spaces, and also seated areas where the whole family can relax together in a convivial home life environment.

Modern Kitchen Designs

One of the key benefits enjoyed by those who remodel and extend their existing homes is that they can now install a truly modern kitchen complete with the latest in storage solutions and space saving ideas, and not to mention the inclusion of thoroughly modern cooking appliances.

Discerning home owners typically use their new extension to locate the kitchen of their choice and we at Sigma Homes can help you to design and build the kitchen of your dreams that in its way will soon become the centre-piece of your new home.

Effective Glazing Solutions

Modern glazing solutions allow for the extensive use of floor to ceiling glass that allows any home to make the most of the natural bright daylight without compromising on the warmth and cosiness of the house.

In addition to these glazing options, the modern home extension can include custom-made sliding doors that facilitate the extension of the home into the garden if so desired by the home owner, and in this way add a huge amount of variation to the family lifestyle throughout the year.

Building a new home extension is a very personal journey for the home owners, and at Sigma Homes we understand that, and that is why we work with each of our clients to ensure their journey with us is as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

To this end we are always fully aware of the individual design features that any home owner might wish to include in their extension, and that is why we bring our many years of building experience to every project so that the home owners can include design cues and features that are truly unique to them, and that ensure they are truly happy and comfortable in their newly remodelled home.

Extension/Remodel

14/12/2018

Building Ireland Magazine – Sigma Homes

We were thrilled to be featured in Building Ireland magazine, and even more happy to make the front cover. See what they had to say about us and read the full story below to find out what makes Sigma Homes so different to our competitors and why everyone is talking about us in Cork.

[responsive-flipbook id=”building_ireland”]

Extension/Remodel

02/11/2018

4 Bedroom Remodel Ideas To Incorporate Into Your Home

Your bedroom is your sanctuary, a place that entirely belongs to you. It is a place where you rest, chill out and think in peace. If the look and layout of your current bedroom give you negative feelings rather than positive then it’s time for a change. Whatever the reason is that you want a change, it’s important that you become to love entering and being in your private place. Here are 4 bedroom remodel ideas to incorporate into your home to make your bedroom a place to cherish.

1: Open & Spacious Layout

An open layout and spacious bedroom is something that is delightful to have at your disposal. By removing a wall or two and changing the layout, you create a more comfortable environment to live in. It gives you the privilege to do private workouts and any other tasks and activities that require a reasonably sized space. An open space won’t make it feel like you’re caught in a confined space.

2: Lighting

Lighting makes all the difference in a room. New and cool lighting can totally transform the look and feel of a bedroom. If your space is feeling a little dull or lacks vibrancy, there are so many lighting options and styles you can implement to create a cool, unique look and environment. You could add a dimmer to easily change the brightness of your lighting. You could add string lighting, chandeliers, neon lights and so many more different lighting options to make your bedroom space fun, funky and unique. Including different light sources (general overhead lighting, specific lighting and some decorative lighting) is the best choice.

3: Technology Gadgets

Cool new gadgets and helpful technology are everywhere. There’s a big need for tech gadgets in the bedroom. Wouldn’t it be great to not get up and physically shut your blinds?. Well, there is a gadget that will do that for you. Gadgets exist for all kinds of tasks and problems like controlling the lights, working the television and even tracking your sleep. A smart bedroom will make your life.

4 Bedroom Remodel Ideas To Incorporate Into Your Home - Smart

4: Foldable Furniture

Foldable furniture takes up minimal space so there is a lot more empty space to place your favourite decorative items in order to suit you. Foldable pieces can be easily folded without any extra effort and are simple to move from one place to another. There are many folding furniture options you can put in your bedroom from beds and sofas to tables and chairs and lots more. Your room will never look cramped and messy with foldable furniture.

If you’re thinking of remodelling your bedroom as part of a home renovation then Sigma Homes are the perfect partners to get the job done. Book your consultation with us today by visiting us online or by calling us on 021-436-5866.

Extension/Remodel|Renovation

19/09/2018

Incorporating Technology Into Your New Look Home

Incorporating Technology Into Your New Look Home When renovating or adding an extension to your home, you are provided with the opportunity to have a home that meets all of your requirements and is specific to your needs. The opportunities to incorporate technology into your home are endless and doing so can make your life so more convenient, easier and ultimately stress-free. Technology is finding new ways to bring homes to life into the digital age. Technology for your home is smarter than ever before. It is not just for show it can be handy and very useful. The newest technologies can save you time effort and money. There are so many different brands, gadgets, devices, and apps to consider as well as so many elements in the home that could be outfitted.

Many people are unaware of the importance and capabilities of home technology. The appeal of your life made simpler by a fingertip of a piece of technology is hard to comprehend but it is certainly true. These devices and applications can be used for purposes relating to entertainment, lighting, security systems, heating and cooling systems, cooking appliances and lots more. There are so much tech products that can be installed to reflect your personality and aid your lifestyle. Technology doesn’t have to sacrifice style in most cases it adds to the style of your home.

Whether you’re a tech genius or not tech savvy when it comes to gadgets, devices, and apps, there is something to suit everyone and their needs. If you are not tech savvy, you can manage all of your home devices in the one place which is very convenient. By simply learning how to operate the one interface you can tap into the different devices throughout your home to your specifications.

Incorporating Technology Into Your New Look Home

High tech appliances, gadgets devices and apps can do so much for you as a homeowner. Tech options for your home can be discussed with your designer and builder when you are in the planning stage of your new custom home. If you are considering a home renovation or extension then talk to sigma homes and see how to make your project tech-friendly and a home you will fall in love with. Call us now on 021-4365866 or book a consultation at https://sigmahomes.ie/get-a-quote/

Extension/Remodel|Renovation

22/08/2018

Should I Extend Or Renovate My Home?

Whether you’ve been in your home for decades or only a few years, there will come a time when you’ll think about making a change. Wanting a change can be down to a number of reasons. For example, your family could have grown and you need more space, your children have left home and you have more space to yourself, you could also be considering future-proofing your home for when you become much older or maybe you just fancy a change and want to create something fresh and new. Should I Extend Or Renovate My Home?

Doing up your home can be a tough decision and a prominent question that comes into people’s minds when deciding on a change is “should I extend or renovate my home?”. When you’re considering any plans, you should set goals of what you would like from your change and also think years ahead of time to consider the needs of you and your family in that time.

An extension is suitable for a growing family or perhaps to cater to an elderly relative moving into your home. If you want to entertain guests by having them stay over occasionally, having extra rooms will come in handy. With all extensions, you need to apply for planning permission. If you get planning permission to extend, it is best to do so instead of moving home. Financially it makes more sense because the cost of buying a new house far outweigh the cost of building an extension onto your current home. They also they add great financial value to your home should you think about selling in the future. Another reason why an extension is perfect for your home is if you want a bigger, more spacious home. Extensions allow for flexibility for example if you happen to want to convert space into something for a particular use like an office or a relaxation room whether that is now or in the future.

Should I Extend Or Renovate My Home? - Image 2

A renovation is perfect for improving the functionality of your home. Some people rush to the conclusion that they need an extension however it can be sensible to look more closely at what you already have and how improvements can be made. It’s important to think about what can be achieved within the property you already have. Cleverly reconfiguring existing space, adding some beautiful furniture, appliances and well-designed storage space will deal with excess clutter doing wonders for your home. Sometimes even knocking down some walls can have a profound impact upon the overall space and appearance of your home.

Deciding whether to extend or renovate your home is a dilemma faced by many but whichever one you decide on doing will be an exciting venture that will change your home for the better. To book a consultation for an extension or remodel in 2019, visit us online today at https://sigmahomes.ie/get-a-quote/ or call us on 021-4365866.

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