Renovations & Restorations

Our client found our website on Google.  We were instructed to complete a small job.  Following this they asked us to renovate the downstairs and garden area of their property.  This included internally a new kitchen, utility room and dog wash room together bi fold doors from IQ glass. Externally, new pathways and steps constructed and build, porcelain and Cinder planks throughout, hot tub and sauna area, supplying and installing Gabion Baskets and constructing new block curvature walls all stone faced with Trevillet Natural Stone which was locally sourced from Trevillet Quarry.

This project came as a recommendation from a previous client.  We were asked to carryout general alterations – new kitchen and utility, handmade wardrobes and cupboards to several rooms, new serving hatch aperture between kitchen/lounge, new porcelain tiles throughout, electrical and plumbing work.

We have been instructed to rebuild the gable end, external chimney in an old cob cottage which collapsed in Fraddon, Cornwall.  A crack appeared and within two hours the whole gable chimney breast and chimney collapsed.  A1 Complete Builders Ltd have rebuilt the whole gable using around a thousand cob blocks supplied by Cornish Lime.  We also rebuilt the chimney and lime plastered using St - Astiers N.H.L 2 mixed with C.L.S 30 and 35.

A1 Complete Builders have been recommended by Mr Phil Northey of Tecbuild to undertake some remedial works to a damp property.

Surface condensation is by far the most frequently encountered form of dampness in buildings and generally it is the most easily recognised with visual signs of mould grown in the main living room and solid walls construction. The temperature at which air can no longer hold excess water vapour is know as the Dew Point, surface condensation is thus formed when moist laden air comes into contact with cold surfaces which then becomes cooled. If cooled far enough it reaches the dew point temperature and the water vapour is released as condensation and associated black mould growth. Therefore, remedial works will have to be carried out IWI Insulation on living room walls (Isotherm or Marmox Board) and re-skim plus decoration on Anti-mould emulsion, installation of a Positive Input Ventilation (PVP) into the existing loft space and the use of Dryseal Water Repellence on existing stone/render from wall externally.

• Prepare walls ready to install 1.W.1 Wykamo Thermal Internal Eco System
• Wash all affected walls with a Wykamo Mould Removal Eradication Kit
• Mix and lay on walls a Iso-Therm Bond Adhesive. Once cut to size lay on the thin internal insulation and damp control (TWI) system ready to skim plaster over

Result is NO MORE BLACK MOULD!

Grade 2, listed building in Perranuthnoe where (wood wool board) replaces a lath lime plaster ceilings. Wood wool board fixed in place followed by 20mm lime Renovation plaster applied with a mesh bedded in and finished with a C.L.M 66 ready mixed lime plaster

A1 Complete Builders have been instructed to convert a cob barn and build a timber frame kitchen extension at St Allen, Near Trispen. This barn was formally a cow shed and is being converted using traditional materials to include cob blocks and lime.

A1 complete builders have been instructed to restore this cottage to its former glory adding a rear two story extension in 2022.

A1 complete builders have been instructed to restore Goldmartyn to its former glory adding a rear extension.

Recently acquired property in St. Erme under Alteration and Extension being built.

A1 complete builders have been instructed to remove concrete Render and replace with Lime.

Internal and External Restoration work undertaken to Georgian 1830s property. A1 complete builders instructed to remove concrete Render from all External stone walks and replace with Lime & remove gypsum plaster from internal walls and also replace with Lime.

A1 complete builders have been instructed by Robert shaw Architects to undertake the Restoration of this 700 hundred year old church creating bat crawl ways.

A1 Complete Builders have been recommended and instructed to undertake a flat Renovation in Porthleven in 2021.

A1 complete builders have been instructed by RTP Surveyors to undertake a large Renovation project in Mawnan Smith

View 360 Tour - BEFORE Refurbishment

A1 Complete Builders was highly recommended to undertake a Renovation of an old farm house now split and build a new kitchen Extension. Longdowns, Nr Falmouth

New small commercial project for Micheal spires jewellers Truro. A1 complete builders recommended and instructed to carry out internal works. Break through a cob stone wall and fitting of a Steel structure through to the new premises

Clients have instructed A1 complete builders to remove old pebble dash render and fix composite cladding to first flood elevation and re-render ground floor.

A1 complete builders have been asked by our long standing clients to renovate another property similar specification to Mott house.

Completely ripping out and then renovating to a high standard throughout.

Full Electrical and plumbing installation. All walls either lined with Wedi board and stone walls. Lime plastered using St-Astiets 3.5 with C.L.S sand.

A1 Complete Builders Ltd was instructed to undertake a small restoration project for our clients on a converted chapel.

The work scope involved removing cement render from the rear elevation and put back in lime render restoring to its former glory using St-Astiers 3.5 N.H.L Lime mix.

A1 complete builders have been instructed to undertake a full refurbishment on a client's property in Porthleven. Extensive work is underway to create a more contemporary look to the property that sits on the edge of Clift Road, a prime spot over looking the beach front. Work to include a complete rewire and a complete new heating system. New balcony and glass balustrade. New kitchen and bathrooms.

Duration of time on site 4 months

View 360 Panorama of house at the start of the renovation work

A1 have been instructed to undertake renovation works on Polsue Cottage at Point near Devoran. Removal of sand and cement from cob walls and re-plaster using the correct material (lime plaster)

Grade 2 Listed Building - 2018

A1 Complete Builders have won a new contract to under take a complete refurbishment of The Old Rectory Grade 11 listed near Lerryn. Our clients have purchased this property and we will be undertaking extensive works to include new in period features and restoration work.

Work includes upgrading the walls and improving the 'U Value' by using a woodwool board on top of fixed batons. Mesh is then embedded onto the lightweight board followed by a layer of lightweight cornerstone insulating plaster. The top coat is applied using a layer of CLM 66.

Four new bathrooms/en-suites will also be undertaken, A new hand made kitchen will be installed. Plumbing undertaken by Ollies Plumbing and heating. Electrics by York Electrics.

All other work carried out by A1 Complete Builders.

Project complete! - View 360 degree panoramas here

This project is two cottages, 'Upalong and Downalong' owned by the same family for 3 generations.

We are completely gutting the properties and upgrading all electrics, heating, insulation, damp proof floorings and new kitchens and bathrooms.

Lime plastering to walls and new upgraded ceilings throughout.

All Exterior walls have been Sand Blasted to remove old flaking paint enabling us to get back to a sound surface in order to repaint using Beeks Breathable paint. All interior and exterior to be painted.

All work carried out under a J.C.T Contract and overseen by Cockram Surveyors.

We have been instructed to renovate this charming Cob Cottage in Trencreek, Newquay. 

Sand and Cement applied over the years and now severe damp problems and render blown and cracked in various areas. Once the cement based render was removed it was evident that most wood lintels were rotten and had to be replaced, again once the moisture is locked in wood will decay and rot eventually also causing the cob to collapse.

Various areas needed some T.L.C and cob stitching together and a mesh over lay to prevent further cracking.

St Astier N.H.L 2 mixed with C.L.S 28 in first scatt and C.L.S 30 for dubbing coats followed by C.L.S 33 for top coat.

A1 Complete Builders have been Instructed by J.L.A Engineering to Demolish a former thatch farm house destroyed by a fire lit in the lounge and causing huge damage in this case to the main structure.

J.L.A Engineering have sympathetically designed a four bed two storey building with some salvaged materials ie original slate flooring.

The thatch will be replaced with a natural slate roof.

The new property will benefit from underfloor heating run by an air source heat type system feeding bathrooms ground and 1^st floor, underfloor heating and 1^st floor radiators.

Duration of time on site: 6 months

When approached by the Diocese member of Kenwyn church to undertake repairs we was delighted as we have a keen interest in Restoration work.

This fascinating 15^th Century houses a peal of eight huge bells all in superb working order suspended 50 foot up the Tower.

Also an impressive tiny solid granite spiral stair reaching from the bottom to the top.

The church received a full restoration between 1820 - 1862, We have been instructed by Diocese to erect scaffolding 80ft up the clock face and suspend around one pinnacle in need of urgent repair.

The clock face has also been removed and fully restored and painted.

We undertake our work very sympathetically and our highly skilled craftsmen take great care in their work.

The pinnacle has been dismantled and rebuilt with steel dowels being resin anchored into pinnacle stones and relayed in a bed of St Astiers Lime mixed with C.L.S 30 and a Prompt.

All internal walls have been manually raked out and re-pointed with St Astiers 3.5 Lime Mixed with a C.L.S 30 grit sand.

All work under the supervision of Roger Shaw Architects.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A1 Complete Builders awarded this contract for our knowledge and expertise in building with Cob.

This charming cob cottage will receive a full transformation and the benefit of added side and rear L shape extensions, adding an en-suite bedroom, utility, study, dressing room and family bathroom.

Cob walls cut away to open two rooms also an opening made through the cob on the first floor to gain access to the new dressing room. We will also be installing a  full central heating system fed by mains gas and a full rewire carried out by York Electrics.

All walls in the main cottage will be stripped from its cement render applied together with chicken mesh nailed through the cob, clearly this work was undertaken by an incompetent person and just for good measure the exterior walls are plastered in the same manner.

Existing garage removed and a new one built in its new position. All new wood sash windows supplied by Charlestown Joinery and rear powder coated bifold installed.

Duration of time on site - 5 months[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image="3273" img_size="large" add_caption="yes" onclick="link_image"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

After extensive work completed by A1 Complete Builders the Clients decided to use our services once more to do various external works to include, excavation works by digger to the garden area and build block and brick retaining walls surrounding their property, extend the garage but also remove the flat roof and build a new vaulted pitch roof over then to reconfiguration the internal layout.

The back of the cottage also had sand and cement render on which we removed and applied lime putty render to these walls to include the garage and retaining walls.

Once we remove approximately 120 tons of sub soil from the side of the garage we then prepared to block pave the whole area to enable more parking.

D.J. Newman supplied solid oak doors and solid oak gates also fitted by our carpenter/joiner onsite.

Duration of time on site 7 weeks

A1 Complete was awarded this project by existing clients whom we work with on other properties they own in and around Cornwall.
Our work on this particular Project involved creating a new master en-suite bedroom from what was a cupboard/storage room.
Removing small windows and creating a more postcard picture window looking down over Moushole Harbour.

Various other internal work also completed to the satisfaction of our Clients.

Duration of time on Site: 5 weeks

A1 Complete Builders have been awarded a contract in South Tehidy to Renovate a 18th Century  former Pilchards house also extend the kitchen area and convert the Loft space to include a roof dormer.

This property has been in the same family for three generations being bought originally for a sum of £22,000.00, recently sold for over £400,000.

A1 will convert the loft space to create a ensuite bedroom cutting into the rear roof and build a dormer over the new stairwell.

The first floor will benefit from a second new ensuite linked to the master bedroom also the removal of all plaster lath ceilings throughout and floors to the ground floor, installing new D.P.M membranes.

A ground source heating system is being installed to service the three bathrooms and under floor heating installation. There will also be a complete new up to date electrical Installation and alarm system.

The property will also benefit from an extended kitchen area and upgrading of the rear roof.

Duration of time on site: 5 months