Whole House Renovation in Sunningdale — 1930s Detached, Full Refurbishment
A 1930s detached property in Sunningdale, SL5. The clients had purchased the property as a renovation project — original 1930s fabric, unmodernised since the 1970s. Full renovation: structural reconfigurations on the ground floor (two RSJ beams), complete rewire, full replumb, new heating system, loft and floor insulation upgrade, new kitchen, new bathrooms, and full cosmetic redecoration throughout. Twenty-two weeks on site.
Project Summary
- Location
- Sunningdale, SL5
- Property type
- Detached, 1930s
- Service
- Renovation & Refurbishment
- Scope
- Full whole-house renovation
- Build duration
- 22 weeks on site
- Structural work
- 2× RSJ beams, chimney breast removal
- Services
- Full rewire + replumb
- Insulation
- Wall, loft, and floor upgrade
- Building regulations
- Approved (structural)
Build Documentation
From Groundworks to Completion
Stage 1
Strip-Out & Structural
Ground floor strip-out first — kitchen, carpets, skirtings. Structural opening formation under temporary Acrow propping — RSJ beams installed over approximately 3 days per opening. Chimney breast demolition at ground floor level. Building control inspections at structural stages.
Stage 2
RSJ Steel & Replastering
New RSJ steel beam visible spanning the structural opening. New plasterboard going up on walls and ceilings. The space being transformed — the structural opening is complete, the new floor plan is emerging. New boiler position and primary pipework. Underfloor heating in kitchen-diner zone.
Stage 3 — Completed
Completed Open-Plan Ground Floor
The fully renovated open-plan ground floor: generous kitchen-dining-living space where walls once were. Period character of the 1930s house respected — original coving where retained. Herringbone engineered timber floor, sage green kitchen, Farrow & Ball throughout. Bi-fold doors to the rear garden.
The Brief
The property was purchased as an investment renovation — bought below market, to be fully modernised and owner-occupied. The brief covered every aspect of the house: ground floor open-plan reconfiguration, kitchen replacement, all bathrooms replaced (3), rewire, replumb, new boiler and heating system, loft insulation, floor insulation, window replacement (double glazed throughout), and full internal decoration.
What We Built
Ground floor: removed two internal load-bearing walls to create an open-plan kitchen-dining-living space. Two RSJ beams installed (203×133 UC sections). Chimney breast in the rear reception removed at ground floor. All ground floor walls skim plastered. New engineered timber herringbone floor throughout ground floor. New kitchen: flat-front units in sage green, Silestone quartz worktop, integrated appliances. First floor: three bathrooms fully stripped and replaced. Full rewire throughout. New Vaillant combi boiler, new radiators throughout. Loft: 300mm mineral wool blown insulation. Ground floor: PIR insulation under new floor screed.
Why Berkshire Bespoke Builders
- ✓Owner-managed — Pindi on site, personally
- ✓32 years experience — time-served builder
- ✓Fixed-price quotes — itemised, written, no extras
- ✓Building regs managed — submissions + inspections
- ✓Based in Berkshire — Binfield, RG42
FAQ
Renovations & Refurbishments Questions Answered
How long does a whole house renovation take?
For a 4-bedroom detached 1930s property of approximately 150m², allow 20–26 weeks if scope covers structural alterations, full rewire, full replumb, kitchen and bathrooms. Projects without structural work are shorter — 12–18 weeks. We provide a week-by-week programme before work starts.
Can you live in the house during a whole house renovation?
Possible, but we generally advise against it for a full renovation. The rewire, replumb, and structural stages mean the house will be without services for periods. Most clients who undertake a full renovation rent or stay elsewhere. If budget doesn't allow this, we can phase the work to maintain one liveable floor at a time.
What is the ROI on a whole house renovation in Sunningdale?
Sunningdale is one of Berkshire's premium postcodes (SL5). A well-renovated 1930s detached in Sunningdale typically achieves 15–25% uplift over purchase price after renovation costs. The key is a quality standard that meets the expectations of the Sunningdale buyer — not a builder's spec but a homeowner's finish.
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