A traditional brick-built cottage occupied for more than 40 years by the same tenants has been given a sympathetic makeover to create an energy-efficient and comfortable family home.

A change of tenancy provided the opportunity for the Estate’s Maintenance Team and a team of contractors to strip out the property and undertake significant improvements, raising the Energy Performance Certificate Rating from an F to a C. 

Number 43 Chalkpit Cottage is a semi-detached home that had been extended over time and well looked after by the previous tenants, who recently moved out. Steve Forster, our Assistant Building Surveyor said: “There are some works that are really only practical to carry out when a property is vacant, and this presented the opportunity to do so here.”

Once the Maintenance Team had taken the interior cottage back to its external walls contractors B and D Gordons Ltd moved in with a range of subcontractors to make repairs and improvements. 

The work involved almost every part of the property from the floors, which were dug out to install underfloor heating, to the roof, which was repaired and re-tiled with traditional clay tiles to match the majority of properties across the Englefield Estate.

Steve explained that every major renovation project can reveal unforeseen issues. In the case of 43 Chalkpit Cottage a kitchen wall had to be rebuilt and a wall on the first floor removed to enable a new first floor bathroom to be installed. 

The property was also completely rewired to meet modern standards, an air source heat pump was installed with underfloor heating and zonal controls, while insulation was dramatically upgraded to walls and roof space to include 400mm of loft insulation. 

The property had previously been heated using an oil-fired boiler fed by an oil tank, both of which were removed.

“A key improvement was the redesign of the upstairs layout to facilitate a new bathroom upstairs,” Steve added. “This involved cutting a new window into the brickwork as well as allowing for mechanical extraction.   The original bathroom was retained as a cloakroom/utility room.” 

Special care was taken to maintain the property’s appearance through the use of traditional materials, including a Flemish brick bond to match the wall that was taken down and arched brickwork over the new bathroom window. A new kitchen by Howdens was fitted and space provided for domestic appliances.

The refurbishment was carried out as part of a regular programme of work on properties across the Estate.  Duncan Rands, our Buildings Manager said: “Each property is dealt with on an individual basis, depending on the amount of work that is required. Some properties may only require a light refurbishment, while others such as this one will require more work.”

He said he and the team were proud of what had been achieved. “We have created a modern family home, factoring a lot of unforeseen challenges which have required flexibility on behalf of the estate and the contractors. The goals of achieving the improved energy performance have been delivered and the new tenants will have a fantastic property.”