Altering houses and small-scale residential development - Ann Bridger

'Altering Houses and Small-scale Residential Development' is a practical guide for home owners and those undertaking residential building projects. It is also useful for students and emerging professionals concerned with the built environment, especially small-scale development procedures.

Undertaking house alterations can be daunting, not least because considerations of cost, design and method can simultaneously demand urgent and careful attention. In addition, there are regulations and the law to be satisfied, contracts to be entered into and a host of potential problems concerned with the form and condition of the building itself. It is a rare building which is not defective in some way, but putting things right can be very satisfying.

The Bridgers' book assumes that many home owners now wish to understand more clearly what goes on when they commission contractors and consultants to convert and adapt their homes. Or course, there are also people who intend to manage a project themselves, while others may undertake work on a DIY basis, and the secret then is getting the right kind of help. This book will be invaluable in either situation because it explains how to perform certain functions yourself, yet clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the professionals who may be needed to help with the processes of buying, altering and selling a house.

The economic factors in development are not overlooked since, for people who wish to develop in order to sell or let property, market conditions will be paramount, as will the forecasting and control of costs. This book provides practical guidance on these matters; it avoids theory, but does suggest further reading. It is also highly illustrated with over 100 illustrations clarifying parts of the text.

The main theme of this book is altering houses but, in practice, the differences between some alterations schemes and building a new house can be relatively small. As a result, much of the material will be useful for those who wish to acquire a plot of land and undertake a modest residential development.

Altering or building houses and selling them can be a complex business, covering a wide range of interrelated factors. This book will make these processes easier.