Noble DBR Ltd

First, we come round, have a look at the garage and chat about what you want to use it for. We check the floor, walls and roof, talk through the layout and work out what approvals you’ll need.

Then we get the structural work done. If we’re replacing the garage door with a wall and window, we check whether the new wall needs a foundation. If headroom is tight, we look at whether we can gain more height by altering the roof. We may also need to dig out the existing concrete floor if there isn’t enough room for the insulation and screed without raising the finished floor too much.

Once that’s sorted, we do the damp-proofing, insulation and ventilation, run the electrics and any plumbing, then get on with the plastering, flooring and finishing touches. At the end, we walk through the room with you, sort out any snags and wrap up the final building control checks.

First thing we check is the head height. We measure from the top of the existing ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge beam. If you’ve got around 2.4 metres, that’s a good starting point. You’ll lose a bit of that height once the new floor and ceiling are in.

If it’s a bit tight, it’s still worth us coming round for a look. We’ll check how the roof is built, see where the stairs could go and work out how much headroom you’ll have when it’s finished.

First, we get the plans sorted and check whether the loft can be done under permitted development or needs planning permission. We also check what building control needs. If we’re working on a shared wall, for example to alter a chimney breast or fit steel beams, we make sure any party wall paperwork is sorted before work starts. Then we book in a start date.

Once the scaffolding’s up, we strip back the roof where we need to and take final measurements for the steels and timber. Then we get the steels and new floor joists in, fit the ridge beam and rafters, and build the dormer cheeks if there’s a dormer. We get the roof watertight so we can crack on inside.

Inside, we get the partitions up, run the wiring and plumbing, and fit the insulation and fire protection. Then we fit the stairs, plaster the rooms and finish off the electrics, plumbing and joinery. At the end, we walk through it with you, sort out any snags and wrap up the final building control checks.

I started the company in 2018, working as a project manager. In 2022, we became a VAT-registered building company and started taking on the building work ourselves.

We give a 2-year guarantee on all our building work, including electrics, plumbing and structural work. All new roofing work comes with a 10-year guarantee.

I love getting to know our clients as the job goes along. My favourite bit is walking through the finished space with them and seeing their reaction when it all comes together. It’s a great feeling when they can see how much care and hard work went into it.

I started the business because I wanted to build more homes and use what I do to help people experiencing homelessness. The idea was to create shared homes where someone could live rent-free while they got back on their feet, alongside people who genuinely cared and could offer day-to-day support. I wanted to give people a stable place to live, time to rebuild their confidence and a chance to feel part of a community again.

It is still my goal.

We’re straight with you from the start. We give you a realistic price for the work, and if something you want is going to stretch your budget, we’ll tell you and talk through what can work. If something comes up during the job that affects the cost, we’ll explain it and agree any extra work with you before going ahead.

We put money back into the business by investing in training, skilled trades and the right tools. We work hard to get the result you’re after and treat your budget with the same care we’d give our own.

We can have an initial chat over the phone or on a video call. If you send us a few photos, rough measurements and an idea of what you’d like done, we can talk through your options and give you an idea of what’s involved. For the building work itself, we’ll need to come round and have a look before we can give you a firm quote.

If anyone on the team is unwell, we ask them to take a sick day and stay home. If we think someone on the team may have been exposed to COVID-19, we let you know before we come round and talk through what you’re comfortable with. We wear masks when needed and, where we can, keep the job going with team members who are well.