Good project management starts before work begins on site.
South Lakes Windows first establishes what is being built and agrees the main specification with the homeowner. This can include the dimensions and layout, roof design, window and door positions, glazing and other important details.
Once the scope of the project is clear, the work can be planned in a logical sequence.
For a home extension, this could involve site preparation and foundations followed by the main structure, roof, windows, doors and internal work. A conservatory project will have its own sequence based on the base, frames, roof and glazing.
Managing these stages as parts of the same project helps ensure that each phase is ready for the work that follows.
Our project management service works closely with our design and build service.
Decisions made during the design stage have a direct effect on construction. A large sliding door needs the correct structural opening. A roof lantern needs to be positioned and sized before the roof is built. Windows need to be planned around the room layout and constructed openings.
Establishing these details early provides the project with a clear specification.
It also gives homeowners an opportunity to review important choices before work reaches the relevant construction stage.
South Lakes Windows can coordinate the transition from design into building work, helping make sure that the agreed specification is followed as the project progresses.
A home extension requires several types of work to take place in the right sequence.
Groundworks and foundations need to be completed before the main structure can be built. Structural openings need to be correctly prepared before windows and doors arrive. Roofing work depends on the supporting structure being ready and built to the required dimensions.
Services and internal work also need to fit around the construction programme.
Our role is to coordinate these stages so that the project progresses logically rather than leaving the homeowner to organise each part independently.
This becomes particularly useful on extensions with large glazed openings or specialist roof features. Measurements and installation requirements need to correspond with the building work if products such as bi-folding doors, sliding doors, skylights or roof lanterns are to fit correctly.
Windows and doors are a major part of many South Lakes Windows projects, particularly where an extension is being designed around natural light and garden access.
Our project management service can coordinate their specification, supply and installation with the wider construction work.
South Lakes Windows supplies UPVC, aluminium and timber windows, with different styles available according to the property and room design.
We can also incorporate French doors, bi-folding doors, sliding doors, lift and slide systems and triple track doors into suitable projects.
Because these products are considered during the design process, the building work can provide the required openings from the start.
Installation can then be scheduled at the appropriate stage of construction, once the structure is ready to receive the windows and doors.
The roof is another part of the project that needs close coordination with the structure below it.
South Lakes Windows can provide several roofing options for extensions and conservatories, depending on the individual design.
For suitable projects, Ultraframe UltraRoof provides an insulated lightweight roof with a tiled external finish.
LivinROOF combines insulated solid roof areas with selected glazed sections, allowing natural light to be introduced in specific positions.
Flat roof projects can incorporate an UltraSKY Lantern or UltraSKY Flat Skylight, while glass roofs can be used for suitable conservatory designs.
Roof dimensions, pitch, drainage and connections with the existing property need to be established before installation.
First-floor windows, gutters and existing eaves can also influence the available roof design. Identifying these factors early helps avoid problems later in the project.
Home improvement projects involve many individual decisions, and it can become difficult to keep track of them if they are made at different stages.
The roof type, frame material, window configuration, door system, glazing and external finishes all need to correspond with the agreed design.
Project management provides a clear structure for these decisions.
South Lakes Windows can establish the specification before ordering the relevant products and beginning each stage of work. Where decisions need to be made during the project, they can be considered in relation to the wider design.
This is particularly important where several products meet within the same part of the building, such as a large glazed door positioned beneath a roof system or windows installed alongside structural sections.
Every property presents different practical considerations.
Access can be straightforward on a detached house with a wide driveway, but considerably more restricted on a terraced property or a house with an enclosed rear garden.
Existing patios, walls, drainage, neighbouring buildings and landscaping can also affect how the work is approached.
Properties in rural areas can present different challenges again, particularly where access for materials or equipment is limited.
South Lakes Windows considers these practical issues when planning the project. Understanding access and site conditions in advance allows the construction programme to reflect the property rather than discovering avoidable restrictions once work has started.
Planning and Building Regulations requirements can form an important part of an extension or conservatory project.
Some projects may fall within permitted development rights if the property and proposed work meet the necessary conditions. Other projects require planning permission.
Listed buildings and properties within conservation areas can require further consideration.
Building Regulations can apply to areas including structure, insulation, glazing, ventilation and drainage. Structural alterations to the existing house may also require calculations and suitable support.
These requirements need to be identified at the appropriate stage so that necessary approvals can be addressed before affected work takes place.
This can be particularly important across Cumbria and the Lake District, where many homes are located within conservation areas or other sensitive settings.
South Lakes Windows can provide project management for different types of home extension.
A kitchen extension might involve structural alterations to create a larger open-plan room, followed by the installation of windows, roof glazing and wide garden doors.
A dining room extension may place greater emphasis on natural light, with a roof lantern or skylight positioned above the main dining area.
A home office extension may require more solid wall space, carefully positioned windows and suitable provision for a permanent working environment.
The requirements change according to the intended use of the room, which is why the project needs to follow the agreed design rather than treating every extension in the same way.
Our project management service can coordinate these requirements from the early design stages through to the completed extension.
New conservatories also require several stages to be coordinated.
The base needs to correspond with the dimensions of the conservatory. Frames need to be accurately positioned before the roof and glazing are fitted. Doors and opening windows need to operate correctly once installation is complete.
South Lakes Windows can manage the design and installation of Victorian, Edwardian, lean-to, gable fronted and other conservatory styles, together with glass, solid, tiled and hybrid roof options.
We can also manage suitable conservatory upgrade projects where an existing structure is receiving replacement windows, doors, glazing or a new roof.
Assessing the existing conservatory first allows us to establish what work is required and how the individual stages should be approached.
For many homeowners, one of the main benefits of professional project management for home extensions and conservatories is having a clear point of contact.
Rather than trying to coordinate individual stages without knowing which work needs to happen first, South Lakes Windows can oversee the project against the agreed design and specification.
This allows questions to be addressed in the context of the complete project. It also means the installation of specialist products such as windows, doors and roof systems can be planned around the construction work required to accommodate them.
The aim is straightforward: to keep the different stages organised and make the process easier for the homeowner to follow.
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We work with homeowners in towns and villages across the region, including:
Cumbria: Barrow-in-Furness, Dalton in Furness, Ulverston, Broughton-in-Furness, Penrith, Keswick, Grasmere, Ambleside, Windermere, Coniston, Hawkshead, Kendal, Natland, Staveley, Tebay, Sedbergh, Arnside, Allithwaite, Grange-over-Sands, Cartmel, Lindale, Levens, Milnthorpe, Heversham, Holme, Witherslack, Dent, Cark and Flookburgh, Newby Bridge.
Lancashire: Preston, Lancaster, Garstang, Morecambe, Heysham, Clitheroe, Ribchester, Poulton-le-Fylde.
North Yorkshire & Border Areas: Settle, Ingleton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Burton-in-Kendal, Burton in Lonsdale, Bentham.
Our experience in extension design, building work, conservatories, windows, doors, glazing and roof systems allows us to coordinate the main elements as one project.
Whether you are planning a new kitchen extension, dining room extension, home office, conservatory or other additional living space, South Lakes Windows can help manage the project from the initial design through to installation.
Contact South Lakes Windows Ltd to arrange a home survey and discuss project management for your planned extension or conservatory. We can review your requirements and provide a no-obligation quotation for the proposed work.
