Refurbishment
Every building reaches a point where what exists no longer reflects what’s needed. The right refurbishment changes that: extending the building’s life, improving how it functions and making it somewhere people actually want to be.
YOUR BUILDING, BROUGHT UP TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE
Slate Contracts has been delivering refurbishment work across London, the Home Counties and Southern England for years. For end user clients, property managers, architects and professional teams.
We work across commercial and residential properties, from structural alterations and building fabric repairs to full interior overhauls and compliance upgrades. Most of our clients come back. We think that matters.
Our approach is always the same: understand the building, understand the client’s objectives, plan the work carefully and deliver it properly. We coordinate all trades, manage the programme and keep disruption to a minimum throughout.
"The team at Slate Contracts were polite, courteous to residents and took real care in their work. We're already planning the next project together."
JW, Project Manager — Rendall & Rittner
HOW WE WORK-
We start by understanding the building and your objectives. What needs to change? What are the constraints: planning, budget, programme, occupation? A thorough assessment at the start avoids expensive decisions later.
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We develop a detailed programme that sets out how the work will be sequenced, how disruption will be managed and what the key milestones are. For occupied buildings, this phase is critical.
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We manage all trades directly. There’s no passing the buck between contractors. One team, one programme, one point of accountability.
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We carry out a thorough inspection before handover, resolve all snagging and ensure the building is left in exactly the condition agreed.
One point of contact, start to finish
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75 years combined senior management experience
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2 offices covering London, the Home Counties and Southern England
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One point of contact, start to finish • 75 years combined senior management experience • 2 offices covering London, the Home Counties and Southern England •
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Rated on Google Reviews
What refurbishment involves
Refurbishment is a broad term that covers a wide range of work. At one end of the scale, it might mean refreshing a building’s interior: new flooring, redecoration and updated lighting. At the other, it can involve significant structural alterations, complete mechanical and electrical upgrades and the integration of new technologies.
Common refurbishment works include:
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Building fabric repairs and improvements: addressing deterioration of the external envelope, repairing roofing, brickwork, windows and doors, replacing worn or outdated components.
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Mechanical and electrical upgrades: replacing outdated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, upgrading electrical distribution, improving energy efficiency.
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Internal fit-out and decoration: new flooring, ceilings, partitioning, lighting, decoration and all associated finishes.
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Communal area refurbishment: for residential and mixed-use buildings, updating lobbies, corridors, lift lobbies and shared spaces to modern standards.
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Compliance works: bringing buildings up to current fire safety, accessibility and energy efficiency standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It depends on the scope of work and the nature of the building. Internal refurbishments often don’t require planning permission, but structural changes, changes of use, or work to listed buildings or buildings in conservation areas may require consent. We’ll advise you on what’s required at the outset.
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Many of our refurbishment clients need work carried out while their building continues to be occupied: residents living in the building, businesses continuing to operate, tenants remaining in place. This requires careful planning, clear communication and a contractor who takes the responsibility seriously.
We have extensive experience working in occupied residential and commercial buildings. We agree on methodology with clients in advance, communicate clearly with occupants and manage our work to minimise noise, dust and disruption. Our team understands that these are people’s homes and workplaces, and we treat them accordingly.
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It varies significantly depending on the scope. A communal area refurbishment in a residential block might take two to four weeks. A more substantial structural and M&E refurbishment could take several months. We’ll give you a realistic programme before we start, and we’ll keep you informed if anything changes.
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A fit-out typically involves creating a new interior within a shell or empty space. A refurbishment improves or updates something that already exists. In practice there’s overlap, and many of our projects involve elements of both. We’re happy to help you work out which approach is right for your building.
“Slate have provided ongoing services to our property management team, delivering works reliably and to a good standard. Communication has always been clear and professional. Any issues that have arisen have been dealt with promptly and pragmatically.”
Ben Robins ATPI, Property Manager — Block Management UK Ltd
Got a building that needs attention?
Get in touch. We’ll give you a straight picture of what’s involved, what it’ll cost and what to expect throughout. No vague estimates, no surprises.
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