Project FH - Case Study

Furze Hill Farm (FH)

LOCATION
Churt, Surrey

PROJECT TYPE
Redevelopment, Refurbishment, Extension

DURATION
9 months

SIZE
236 Sqm, 2540 sq ft

CONTRACT TYPE
Design & Build

PROJECT TEAM
Architect - MCA Architecture

Interior Designer - PELHAM & Co.

Arborists - Mark Welby

We transformed a small, neglected bungalow into a modern, spacious family home.

The project began with a comprehensive strip-out, carefully retaining select key structural walls and the central chimney breast to preserve elements of the original character.

Our team reimagined the entire space, installing a brand-new roof and a modern damp-proof course, while completely redesigning both the interiors and exteriors to exceed today’s building standards.

Every detail from bespoke cabinetry to custom woodwork was crafted in-house by our talented joinery designer and skilled manufacturing team, blending timeless craftsmanship with innovative design to create a home that is both beautiful and built to last.

Furze Hill Farm transformed into a modern family home, Churt, Surrey

Challenge Pre-works elevations

Furze Hill Farm bungalow before redevelopment, Churt, Surrey

Pre-works Aerial views

Aerial view of a backyard featuring a brick house with a pitched roof, trees, a lawn, and a parking area with three cars. There is a white canopy and piles of construction materials visible.

Aerial view of a backyard with a house, a small shed, a large tree, a trampoline, and a basketball hoop on a sunny day.

An aerial view of a house with a dark, weathered roof, a small extension, and surrounding greenery. There's a dirt driveway, trees, a picnic table under a canopy, a yard with mowed grass, and a fenced area with garden beds.

A backyard with a grassy field, a small soccer goal, and a basketball hoop under a tree. There is a house with a shingled roof in the background, surrounded by trees and construction materials.

Post strip-out elevations

Living room undergoing renovation with exposed flooring, a fireplace, a black leather couch, and construction materials near the window.

Interior of a house under renovation with exposed wall framing, construction tools, and unfinished flooring.

Interior of a room under renovation with exposed ceiling beams, construction supports, and partially demolished walls. Construction tools and materials are scattered around.

Interior of a house undergoing renovation, with exposed ceiling beams, construction materials, and scaffolding.

3D Scan

Aerial view of a house layout showing rooms labeled as Bedroom 3, Bedroom 2, Master bedroom, Kitchen, Lounge, 2nd reception room, two bathrooms, utility room, with surrounding green yard and outdoor areas.

Floor plan of a house showing various rooms labeled as bedrooms, living rooms, a hallway, a kitchen, laundry room, and bathrooms.

In-house 3D scanning technology was utilised throughout the project, from the initial strip-out stage through to completion of the works. This provided an accurate digital record of existing conditions and completed construction, facilitating effective coordination between project stakeholders and maintaining a comprehensive visual record of site conditions before, during, and after the works.

3D Scan

A 3D floor plan of a house with labeled rooms including master bedroom, second reception room, two bathrooms, kitchen, lounge, utility room, and bedrooms 2 and 3, with an outdoor area featuring a lawn and a swing set.

3D floor plan of a house showing multiple rooms, including bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, entrance, and hallway, with labels for each space.

In-house 3D scanning technology was utilised throughout the project, from the initial strip-out stage through to completion of the works. This provided an accurate digital record of existing conditions and completed construction, facilitating effective coordination between project stakeholders and maintaining a comprehensive visual record of site conditions before, during, and after the works.

70% Demolition works

View of a partially constructed house with an unfinished brick chimney on a construction site. The area is messy with construction materials, Tools, and debris. The house has white walls and large windows, and surrounding trees can be seen in the background.

A house under construction with partially built brick walls, construction tools, and materials in the yard, surrounded by trees and a wooden fence.

70% Demolition works

A house under construction with partially built brick and white walls, construction tools, scaffolding, and a large tree in the background on a sunny day.

Due to the site's location within a conservation area, careful planning and a well-defined construction sequence were essential throughout the project. Initial works comprised the complete strip-out of the existing building, followed by the removal of the existing roof structure and ground floor slab. Redundant external doors were subsequently removed to enable the reconfigured layout and construction of the new extension.

New Walls

Construction site with partially built brick walls, a worker in a yellow safety vest and white helmet, surrounded by building materials, wood planks, and equipment, with trees and cloudy sky in the background.

A construction worker wearing a white safety helmet and a high-visibility vest is working on building a block wall. The workspace includes scattered construction materials including blocks and scaffolding.

Following the strip-out and demolition works, new internal and external walls were constructed in accordance with the approved drawings to establish the proposed layout. A new external cavity wall system was installed on the existing building, enhancing the thermal efficiency of the building envelope and bringing the structure into line with modern construction standards and current Building Regulations.

Drainage Works

Installation of underground plumbing pipes at a construction site with exposed soil and a black underground utility box.

Construction site with exposed brick walls of a building, construction pipes laid on the ground, and construction equipment such as a small excavator. The building appears to be under renovation or expansion.

New below-ground drainage infrastructure was installed as part of the groundworks package to serve the proposed kitchen, utility, bathroom, and en-suite areas. All drainage works were completed in accordance with the approved design, including pipework installation, falls, inspection chambers, and connections to the existing drainage network where required.

Reduce Waste

A construction site with piles of bricks and slate, scaffolding on the right, green trees in the background, and a soccer goal in the distance.

Construction site featuring brick walls in progress, dirt and rubble on the ground, and unfinished doorways.

Construction site with partially built brick and concrete walls, construction equipment, and scattered debris.

Following completion of the below-ground drainage works, a new sub-base was formed using a combination of crushed concrete recovered from site demolition works and new hardcore, providing a sustainable solution while achieving the required formation levels.

DPM

Construction site with exposed brick and concrete block walls, a small window, black plastic sheeting, and a blue tarp on the ground. Trees in the background.

Construction site with brickwork and steel reinforcement grid for a building's foundation, with some wood and plastic sheets, under a partly cloudy sky with trees in the background.

The sub-base was compacted in accordance with the project specifications before installing a damp-proof membrane (DPM) throughout the ground-floor footprint to provide moisture protection.

Concrete Slab

Construction site with partially built walls and a concrete floor, with water on the ground reflecting the structure, green trees in the background, and a cloudy sky overhead.

Interior of a building under construction with concrete floor, unfinished brick walls, and construction barriers on both sides.

A reinforced concrete floor slab was then poured, levelled, and finished in accordance with the structural design and project specifications.

External cavity insulation

Construction site with insulation panels on a wall, construction tools, and materials like cinder blocks, dirt, and a wheelbarrow, with trees and parked vehicles in the background.

Construction site for a residential building, showing brick walls, scaffolding, and building materials like cement bags and bricks. Trees are in the background.

New cavity insulation was installed throughout the development. Retained existing walls were upgraded by injecting cavity wall insulation and installing PIR insulation, improving the building's thermal efficiency and enhancing compliance with current Building Regulations.

External brickworks

A partially constructed brick building with a window opening, scaffolding, and construction tools in a backyard with a wooden fence and trees.

Brick wall under construction with window openings and wooden supports

New external wall constructions were rebuilt using reclaimed bricks selected to match the existing masonry. Retained external walls were finished with matching brick slip cladding, ensuring a consistent external appearance while preserving the building's character and meeting the aesthetic requirements of the conservation area.

Structural Highlights

Construction site with wooden framework for a building, construction worker working, portable toilet on the right, tools and materials scattered around, surrounded by green trees and bushes.

A house under construction showing wooden roof trusses and framing, with a background of green trees and a lush yard.

Comprehensive structural steelwork was installed throughout the building to provide support for the reconfigured layout, new structural openings, and roof construction. Upon completion of the steelwork, a new timber roof structure was erected and secured in accordance with the structural engineer’s design and project specifications.

Structural Highlights

Construction site showing wooden roof framing supported by concrete block walls with scaffolding and construction materials around.

Wooden roof framework under construction with roof rafters and some brick walls visible, surrounded by trees at sunset.

Internally, the proposed layout incorporated vaulted ceilings throughout the principal living spaces. The timber roof structure was therefore designed and constructed to achieve the required vaulted profiles.

Structural Highlights

Partial roof construction site with a brick chimney, wooden framing, and a clear sky with some clouds and trees in the background.

Roof under construction with black slate tiles, wooden framing, a skylight, and scaffolding, surrounded by trees and greenery.

A person working on installing a roof with gray shingles, with a ladder and house windows visible, trees in the background, and a bright sky.

Once the roof structure was complete, the roof covering was installed with clay tiles to match the approved design. This completed the external envelope and made the building weathertight, enabling the progression of internal works and building services installations.

Structural Highlights

A house under construction with a slate roof, skylights, and a brick chimney surrounded by trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Roof with dark slate tiles, skylights, and a brick chimney with two flues. Trees and a partly cloudy sky are visible in the background.

Newly constructed house with slate roof, brick exterior, skylights, and surrounded by trees under a partly cloudy sky.

View of a house roof with blue tiles and skylights, surrounded by green trees and a partly cloudy sky.

The central section of the building comprised a flat roof structure incorporating new glazed roof lanterns located directly above the dining area. The roof build-up was designed to achieve the required thermal and weatherproofing performance while introducing significant levels of natural light into the heart of the property.

Transformation Watertight

Interior of a house under construction with exposed wooden roof structure, skylights, and unfinished flooring, with work tools and materials scattered around.

Interior view of a construction site for a building, showing wooden framing, a large skylight window, and construction materials and tools scattered around.

The completed building envelope provided a fully weathertight structure, with new rooflights and skylights installed throughout to introduce natural light into all areas of the property. This approach enhanced the sense of space and connectivity within the home, creating bright, open, and energy-efficient living environments

Transformation Internal roof insulation

Construction site ceiling with insulation installed, exposed wooden framing, and a skylight window. Brick wall and construction supports visible.

Interior view of a building under construction with exposed wooden framing, insulation, and drywall. Tools and materials are scattered around, indicating ongoing work.

Following the installation of the roof insulation, all vaulted ceiling areas were prepared for dry lining. This stage completed the thermal envelope within the roof structure and enabled the progression of first-fix services, plasterboarding, and internal finishing works.

Transformation internal: partitioning and 1st fix M&E

Construction site with unfinished walls, exposed studs, and tools on work tables.

Internal stud partition walls were erected throughout the development to create the revised room layouts and define individual living spaces. The partitions were constructed to integrate seamlessly with the building services and architectural design, delivering a functional and efficient internal arrangement.

Transformation Floor insulation and 1st fix M&E

Construction site with flooring covered in silver insulation material and partially built walls made of bricks, cinder blocks, and wood framing, with construction tools and materials scattered around.

Construction site with exposed electrical wiring, gray pipes, and a partially built wall with cinder blocks.

First-fix mechanical and electrical services were installed throughout the development, including plumbing, heating, ventilation, power, and lighting infrastructure. Floor insulation was subsequently installed across the ground-floor areas in preparation for screed application, ensuring compliance with the project's thermal performance requirements and providing a level base for the finished floor build-up.

Transformation Screed

Construction site with exposed wooden framing, a brick wall, and a dirt floor covered with green plastic sheeting. Construction tools and supplies are scattered around, with hanging lights providing illumination.

Interior of a room under construction with exposed wall framing, electrical wires hanging, and skylights in the ceiling.

A new screed was installed across the ground floor areas in accordance with the project specification, providing a durable and level substrate for the final floor finishes. The screed was allowed to cure for the required period before the commencement of second-fix and finishing works.

Transformation Dry lining

Interior of a house under renovation, with drywall partially installed on ceiling and walls, construction materials, ladders, and tools scattered throughout the room.

Construction site with drywall sheets stacked on the floor, exposed brick wall, and ceiling with insulation and an attic vent.

Dry lining works were then completed throughout the building within a clean and weathertight environment. This stage prepared the walls and ceilings for plastering, decoration, and the installation of final finishes.

Transformation Fireplace feature

Interior of a house under renovation showing drywall installation, a partially built brick fireplace, construction tools, and building supplies like bags of cement or mortar and electrical wiring.

Interior of a building under renovation with a brick chimney, ladders, construction materials, and partially installed drywall.

The original chimney breast was retained as part of the redevelopment and finished with matching brick slip cladding. This approach preserved a key feature of the existing building while ensuring it integrated seamlessly with the new internal envelope and overall design aesthetic.

Transformation Plastering

A room under construction with unfinished walls, exposed wiring hanging from the ceiling, and a large skylight window letting in natural light. Piles of flooring materials and tools are on the floor.

An unfinished room under construction with a wheelbarrow and a window on a sloped ceiling. The walls are unpainted, and there is a small opening in one wall. Construction materials and tools are visible.

Following completion of the dry lining works, plastering was carried out throughout the building. All walls and ceilings were skim-finished to achieve the required surface quality, providing a consistent finish suitable for decoration and subsequent second-fix installations.

Transformation Woodflooring

An unfinished room under renovation with exposed wall framing, ceiling window, construction tools, and materials scattered on the floor.

An interior room under renovation with partially finished flooring, unfinished walls with wires hanging, construction tools, boxes, and construction materials scattered around.

Hardwood flooring was subsequently laid in a chevron pattern, providing a high qaulity finish through the internal space.

Transformation Windows

Construction workers installing flooring inside a building, with a view of trees and parked cars outside.

Interior shot of a room under construction, featuring a large triangular window with three sections, overlooking a backyard with trees, shrubs, and a parked truck.

Interior room under renovation with workers installing large windows, construction tools, and wiring.

New windows and doors were installed throughout the building, completing the external envelope and contributing to the overall thermal efficiency and airtightness of the structure.

Transformation Joinery

Two people working on kitchen cabinet installation in a room with a vaulted ceiling and skylight. The kitchen has light green cabinets, a wooden countertop, various tools, and construction materials on the island and in the workspace.

Bespoke joinery elements, including the kitchen, internal doors, architraves, and skirting boards, were designed, manufactured, and installed by our in-house team, ensuring consistent craftsmanship and attention to detail throughout the project.

Structural Garage works

A construction site in a backyard with a dirt ground, showing installed concrete footings with rebar sticking out, construction tools, and a parked blue car, with trees and bushes in the background.

Construction site with exposed concrete foundation and steel reinforcement, surrounding dirt piles, construction tools, and equipment, with a grassy area and trees in the background.

A house under construction with an outdoor yard, surrounded by trees, and a clear blue sky.

A construction site showing a freshly poured concrete slab with wooden forms and rebar. In the background, there are trees, a small wooden shed, and a grassy yard with a black metal structure, a wheelbarrow, a small ride-on excavator, and a wheelbarrow with soil, indicating ongoing construction work.

Upon completion of the principal building works, attention turned to the immediate external landscaping and the construction of the new connecting garage, which was subject to a separate planning application and received approval during the project.

The initial phase of the garage construction involved forming the substructure. Due to the ground conditions and structural requirements, piled foundations were installed to provide support for the new slab. Once the piling works were completed, the reinforced concrete slab foundation was formed and poured, creating a stable base for the subsequent timber-framed structure.

Structural Garage works

Construction site in backyard with foundation and partially built brick wall, tools, and construction materials, surrounded by green trees and a blue sky.

Construction worker in safety helmet and vest building a wooden structure for a house outdoors on a sunny day.

Construction workers building a wooden structure in a backyard with trees and a grassy lawn, under a bright blue sky.

Construction site with a partially built house structure, a worker on the roof, and a ladder leaning against the building. Exterior walls of a finished brick house are visible.

A bespoke timber-framed structure was constructed to form the walls and roof of the new garage building.

Structural Garage works

Interior view of a house under construction with exposed wooden framing and three workers wearing safety helmets. Construction tools and materials are visible, including a yellow bucket and plumbing pipes, with a large window opening in the background.

Inside view of a house under construction showing exposed plumbing and electrical wiring, with an unfinished doorway and framing for walls and ceiling.

Construction site showing wooden framing, exposed beams, and concrete foundation with rebar mesh. There are tools and clothing hanging, and a window opening with view of trees and greenery outside.

Construction of a wooden garage or shed with framing and insulation materials in place, view through open doorway toward green lawn and trees outside.

The layout incorporated a dedicated plant room to house the property's building services infrastructure, with the structure designed to facilitate the installation of all associated mechanical and electrical services. The external envelope was subsequently completed, creating a robust and thermally efficient ancillary building that complemented the main residence.

Structural Landscape

Construction site in front of a brick house with large windows, where a small excavator is moving dirt, and construction materials and debris are scattered around.

Backyard with a landscaped stone pathway, a dirt area with young plants, a stone border, outdoor furniture, a small shed, a blue exercise ball, a basketball hoop, and trees and grass in the background.

A backyard under construction with a small excavator and a partially finished gravel yard. There are trees on the left and a house with large windows on the right.

Two people laying down large stone tiles on a patio or walkway in a backyard with a shed, trees, and a grassy field with outdoor sports goals in the background.

Following completion of the garage building, the final phase of the project focused on the external landscaping works. A new driveway and parking area were constructed on a prepared hardcore foundation and finished with a pale cream and buff limestone aggregate, providing a durable surface that complemented the development's architectural character.

New limestone patios and landscaped outdoor living areas were then formed, creating a seamless connection between the house and garden. These spaces were carefully designed to maximise enjoyment of the external environment and provide functional, high-quality areas for relaxation, dining, and entertaining.

The Result Facade

Pelham & Co. full rebuild, Furze Hill Farm, Churt, Surrey. Exterior of the transformed family home.

Front

Pelham & Co. full rebuild, Furze Hill Farm, Churt, Surrey. New roof and exterior redesign completed at the property.

Back

Transformation External Before and After

Single-story brick house with multiple windows, a sloped roof, a radio antenna, surrounded by trees, a gravel driveway in foreground, and a lawn with bushes.

Pelham & Co. full rebuild, Furze Hill Farm, Churt, Surrey. Finished interior of the redeveloped family home.

Pelham & Co. full rebuild, Furze Hill Farm, Churt, Surrey. Bespoke in house joinery and cabinetry within the finished interior.

The Result Internal

Bright dining room with a large window, wooden table, six beige chairs, a sofa with pillows, and skylights on the ceiling.

Open-concept living room with large windows, skylights, and modern furniture, including a dining table, sofa, and armchairs, with a view of the kitchen in the background.

Bright kitchen with white cabinets, large windows, and a kitchen island with three orange chairs. Decor includes potted plants and kitchen essentials.

Spacious modern living room with skylights, a brick fireplace, dining table with pastel chairs, sofa with colorful pillows, and framed artwork.

The Result Internal

Bright open-concept living space with a kitchen and sitting area, featuring skylights, white cabinetry, a brick accent wall, and large windows with outdoor views.

Bright modern kitchen with high ceilings, skylights, white cabinetry, a large island with a plant, and large windows showing trees outside.

Bathroom with green tiled walls, white bathtub, vanity with marble top, oval mirror with black beaded frame, window, pink towels, potted plant, and modern flush buttons on white wall.