Case Studies
For Lindsay & Richard -Wheathampstead
Residential 2-storey side extension and refurbishment.
“We had chosen an architect who knew the local planners and builders, and with his help, we invited three firms to quote. We met each of them, and were clear that we really liked D&B’s approach best. They weren’t the cheapest – or the most expensive – but their quote was a lot clearer than the others, and it was obvious to us very quickly that Ben had a great eye for detail. We found him very easy to talk to, and we felt that he really understood what we were trying to achieve."
“The things that really impressed us were that Ben immediately set up a WhatsApp group so that we could all communicate very easily, and ask any questions on any issues we had. He also provided us with a spreadsheet with a weekly breakdown showing each activity and trade throughout the programme so we were very clear on the order of things. His communication and time management were excellent throughout, and it meant we could plan our input accordingly – choosing, purchasing, clearing rooms etc. The other aspect of the project that sets D&B apart was their ability to find practical, inspired solutions, even when unexpected issues arose during the build. Ben and the whole team went out of their ways to make life as comfortable as possible for us all the way through – and safe for the dog too! For example, when it was time for them to knock through in our bedroom we were reluctant to vacate as our daughter would be in the spare room during her visit from overseas. Even though this wasn’t in Ben’s original plan, he quickly came up with an ingenious solution and partitioned off part of our bedroom, enabling us to sleep in our own bed each night, and allowing our daughter to stay, whilst they continued to work. The team were incredibly polite and hardworking, and we look back with enormous gratitude that we had such a good experience, unlike previous traumas we’d had with other builders!”
“We’ve gone from having a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom house to having a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house. We now have a much bigger master bedroom with an en-suite and a separate walk-in wardrobe. We have a new, fully insulated garage which could, in the future, be converted into an extended living area, and we have a fantastic patio and bin store. D&B have done a wonderful job; it’s now a home we can really enjoy every day.”
“We would have no hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending D&B. They are sticklers for detail, and want everything to be done properly. Almost from the first moment we met Ben, we felt comfortable putting our trust in him, and he did an amazing job in planning and managing the whole project. D&B are exceptional at what they do, and we absolutely made the right choice in using them.”
For Katie Reis - St Albans
Rear extension and internal modifications.
“We’d been locked in during Covid, and agreed that we needed more space to ensure that we didn’t kill each other!!”
“We had an architect, and he put together a tender document which we sent out to maybe eight builders, four of whom replied. Of these, only one gave us a full breakdown of costs. That was Ben. He was also the one who stood out as really understanding what we wanted. When we met with him, he was very personable, and raised issues we hadn’t even considered: not in a salesy way, but just to help us appreciate what was possible, and what some of the challenges might be.”
“They delivered way beyond our expectations. We’d heard nightmare builder stories before, but that definitely wasn’t our experience. We even ended up having additional work done, and creating a whole new bathroom. We had warned out neighbours that there might be disruption from the work we were having done, but in the end, several neighbours sent us messages commenting on how delightful Ben and his team had been! Ben always responded immediately to questions or concerns we had, and when additional work was needed, he always made constructive suggestions on how we could avoid unnecessary costs.”
“Well, firstly, there’s no more talk of murders or even divorce! We have lots of extra space, and now have our dream home. It really means the world to us – we love it. Ben is worth every penny. He’s a great communicator, and we have the highest respect for his whole team. Even our dog loved having them around!”
For A.C. - Redbourn
Completed a side and rear double extension in 2018, then returned in 2023 for a full refurbishment of the rest of the house and small rear extension.
“We have friends in the building trade, and we asked them for recommendations, and they suggested that we speak to Ben. We spoke to him and he came across as genuine , knowledgeable & trustworthy.”
“The work we’ve had done has given us the space we needed, and the house is a much nicer place to live in as a result of the work that Ben and his team carried out. Ben himself was absolutely fantastic; he made sure that they stuck to the budget and timescale we had agreed. Ben and the team always turned up when they said they would, and were meticulous about leaving the house perfectly tidy at the end of each work day.”
“The aren’t necessarily the cheapest, but you definitely get what you pay for. Ben is reliable, personable and professional, so we would not hesitate to recommend his services.”
For Chris Dinwoodie
Full house refurbishment, large rear and side extension.
“We’d lived in the house for over 25 years, and we’d always thought about refurbishing and extending. We knew the house had potential, but never got around to it. Then lockdown happened, and we were bored! So we started looking around and speaking to people about their experiences of working with builders.”
"We were recommended to a great project manager called Debbie Colebourn, and she helped us to specify what we wanted and find the best people for the job. We already had two builders in mind, and Debbie added a third to the mix, and we embarked on a rigorous process of rating them against a range of criteria, including price of course, but also what previous clients of each of the candidates reported in terms of the way they worked, their workmanship and conscientiousness. When we met Ben, he took a very keen interest in the project, and we felt a really positive connection with him from the outset. From memory, he wasn’t the cheapest, but his price was very competitive and we liked him.”
“Everything was done to a good standard and the very few snags were quickly resolved by Debbie. We pressed hard for the project to be completed within the agreed timescale and budget, and Ben and his team did everything possible to make sure we achieved that. We did add a few extra elements to the project, and they accounted for a 2-week overrun on a seven month project. But otherwise, it all ran very smoothly and was a very good experience.”
“Ben employs excellent people and is absolutely trustworthy and diligent. And he and the team clearly gain a great deal of satisfaction from delivering a high quality product. I’d have no hesitation in recommending Ben and his team; it’s made a quite dramatic change to our lives, in a very good way.”
For Marek Kultys - St Albans
Full house refurbishment. Structural alterations internally, moving of bathrooms and creating new ones.
“We needed to renovate our home and reshape the house to give ourselves a better living space.”
“Initially, we just searched online for local builders, and walked around St Albans, making a note of any boards that were displayed outside houses being renovated. We contacted Ben and he came across as being pragmatic – neither pushy nor too passive. He listened carefully to our ideas, and anticipated what we wanted to achieve. He explained the process carefully and clearly, which – as novices – we really appreciated. The time he took to explain things, and the fact that he never tried to push our budget up, gave us a lot of trust and reassurance in him.”
“The work definitely met our expectations, and we were very impressed by the team’s productivity, and their ability to solve any problems they encountered. In the end they brought some reality to our initial brief – which included a suggestion that we would put the kitchen together ourselves – and improved on our ideas. However, we always felt that we were partners in the process, and not just passengers. Now we have a real home we can be proud of, and the place we designed has become a reality.”
“Ben invested a lot of time upfront to help us understand the process and challenges, who to work with, what was needed and what was not needed, all of which helped to make us feel comfortable. This was invaluable for us as we were new to all this. He became our part-time guide and mentor. Ben lives locally and that was a bit factor for us; it reassure us that he wouldn’t simply leave the project unfinished. Finally Ben was always transparent and fair. Our works were 100% to budget, and we were flexible in making it bigger or smaller as needed. Ben is proactive and completely trustworthy. He won’t waste your time, and he gets the job done with a minimum of fuss. He’ll solve problems, even small ones, to make sure you get the best end result.”
For Alison & Dan Smith
A full house refurbishment, plus double storey extension.
“We bought the house but it was in need of modernising throughout – it didn’t look as if anything had been done to it since the 1920s! We also wanted to extend the property to give ourselves more space. Although we already had a very reliable plumber – my dad! – we wanted a builder who could work with him and also oversee the project.”
“We put a note on Facebook asking for recommendations for good local builders, and Ben’s name was put forward by two separate people. In the end, we shortlisted four builders to speak to, and of these, two really stood out as being personable, knowledgeable and competitively priced. However, two things stood out when we spoke to Ben: one was his knowledge of driveways, the other was that he really listened to what we wanted, rather than trying to tell us what we should have – which one of the other candidates did!”
“The most obvious thing is that we can live in the house, and it’s a place we’re really proud of. It looks amazing, and every week we say how much we love it! The quality of the finish is excellent, and little suggestions that Ben made during the build – such as different doors to match our windows – have really enhanced it. We’re really happy with it and we genuinely take pride in it every day.”
“Just go for it!. He’s someone you can really trust, and his whole team are professional, respectful, friendly and tidy. Ben is just a very nice guy, and that counts for a lot, and his partnership with Stevie adds real value to what they do – having two experts on the job means you’re assured of a quality build. My dad – who has been in the building trade for decades – was full of praise for them, and that tells you everything. We would definitely use them again, and we’d have no hesitation in recommending D&B to other people – in fact, we’ve already passed on their details to a couple of neighbours and friends.”