Oxfordshire building firm scoops best Bathroom award
Oxfordshire building firm Apli Construction Limited from Witney has beaten builders across the UK to scoop the award for the best Kitchen in the prestigious Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) Master Builder Awards 2019. These awards are designed to celebrate the nation’s best builders and the winners have just been announced in front of a packed audience at a ceremony in London.
Nick Knowles, TV presenter and building enthusiast, handed the best Bathroom award to the company for work carried out on an outstanding bathroom.
The client asked Apli Construction to construct a new bespoke bathroom, using a modest budget, in a ground floor flat in the centre of Oxford. They had been struggling to find a builder who could design as well as undertake the project and the team stepped up to the plate to deliver a dream bathroom.
Apli Construction was able to completely change the layout of the room and provide a stunning bathroom without it looking like an out-of-the-box build. The brief was to include a shower and bath and to include an element of natural wood in the design, which the team were able to do using a local reclamation charity.
The integration of wood and tile on the walls makes this room truly unique and the care taken over the craftmanship has meant that the tiling is of the highest standard. The mix of natural elements with warm brassware is inspired and gives the room its own identity in the Oxfordshire flat.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “This was a unanimous decision among the judges. The bathroom is an outstanding result, given a relatively modest budget and the builder had complete trust of client. It’s a well-deserved win for Apli Construction.”
June 2019 – Apli Construction win Jack FM Brick Awards Bathroom Category
Witney based building firm Apli Construction has triumphed for a second year running in the Jack FM Brick Awards, taking the prize for Bathroom of the Year. In addition, they were finalists in the Kitchen of the Year, Carpenter of the Year and Apprentice of the Year categories!
April 2019 – Apli Construction win FMB Southern Counties Master Builder Award Bathroom Category
Witney based building firm Apli Construction has scooped a prestigious Master Builder Award, taking the prize for best Bathroom project in the Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) Southern Counties region awards.
Since 1999, the Master Builder Awards has been a flagship for high-quality building work, showcasing examples of fantastic craftsmanship, exceptional customer service and building excellence. Organised by the FMB, the awards programme is unique in that any project entered by the builder must be backed up by the customer – giving clients the opportunity to support those building companies that have delivered exceptional results. The awards programme recognises the hard work and contribution that small and medium-sized (SME) building firms make to the UK construction industry.
Apli Construction took the prize for a striking contemporary bathroom designed for a client in the centre of Oxford. The team used brass fittings to add style and luxury to the room, while a design using black and grey tiles gave visual drama to the modest space.
The brief also called for an element of natural wood and, approaching the brief with some creativity, the team opted to use reclaimed wood from a local charity shop, executing the job perfectly while maximising the budget available. Judges were impressed with the work stating that the bathroom is outstanding, given a relatively modest budget; Apli Construction had the complete trust of the client who now has a truly unique bathroom.
Apli Construction was selected by the judges to win the Southern Counties region award, which was presented at a gala dinner hosted at Oxford Belfry, Milton Common, Thame on Friday 5thApril. The firm will now go through to compete in the national finals for the chance to win the UK category title. The national ceremony will be held at the InterContinental Hotel, Park Lane, London on 20thSeptember.
Phil Hodge, FMB South Director, said: “The Master Builder Awards give the FMB the opportunity to celebrate a job well done and for clients to say thank you to their builders. For the construction industry, it is an opportunity to celebrate all that is good about small local building firms and their contribution to the UK economy.
“Time and time again, we have been impressed with just how far these builders will go to ensure their client is happy. It is this dedication that we want to celebrate. Apli Construction should feel justly proud of their achievement in winning and we wish the firm every success in the national competition.”
If Apli Construction wins the overall national Master Builder Awards title, selected from all national category winners, the firm will drive away with a new Isuzu D-Max Utah Pick Up truck worth more than £30,000. The company’s client will also receive a cheque for £1,000 for their efforts.
March 2018 – Apli Construction are now able to offer Venetian Plastering
Venetian plastering (also known as Polished Plastering) can be used to produce a depth of colour and texture for either a contemporary or classic feel. Venetian plastering is fully waterproof and can be applied in areas such as the kitchen and bathroom, including inside a shower cubicle.
Due to the natural properties of the material used, it is both non-allergenic and non-toxic and, furthermore, it can prevent the build-up of mould, mildew and bacteria.
A variety of techniques can be used so you can achieve the exact look and feel you want.
5 July 2017 – Interesting research from the FMB which reveals a four month wait for good builders
Home owners should book in their builder at least four months before their project begins or risk working with a cowboy, new research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has revealed.
The research also shows that an alarming number of consumers don’t ask their builders for essentials such as a contract or references when embarking upon a major piece of building work.
Key statistics from the research show:
More than 40% of builders need at least four months’ notice from consumers who want to hire their firm;
90% of builders say that the majority of home owners do not ask for a written contract;
80% of builders report that most consumers do not ask for an agreed payment schedule;
Fewer than 10% of builders say that clients normally request to see vital insurance policies such as public liability or employer’s liability insurance
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “If a builder is free to start work tomorrow, alarm bells should ring. Demand for building work is incredibly high at the moment and it should be no surprise that almost one in two builders need to be contacted at least four months in advance of when a client is looking to start a home improvement project. The workloads of builders have been rising steadily over the past two years and there’s no shortage of work. That’s why we’re urging home owners who are keen to crack on with their build or renovation projects to start getting in touch with prospective builders as soon as possible. Otherwise, they risk disappointment delaying their projects or worse still, working with a dodgy builder. So many building horror stories start with a client approaching a builder who’s free to start work sooner than the more professional builder who is really busy.”
Berry concluded: “There are also indications that home owners are leaving themselves vulnerable to problems in terms of how they approach their building work. The vast majority of builders say that most clients fail to ask for references and even fewer ask for a written contract on their work. There is a similar trend when it comes to asking for critical things like an agreed payment schedule and key warranties on work, as well as checking whether the builder has any external accreditation or recognition from professional trade association like the FMB. These protections really are essential to helping clients weed out the cowboys and mitigate against any issues that could crop up during the build. A quality builder will insist on these things and if they don’t, consumers ought to question why.”
