2008 - Phase One - Cleary Family Home Page

When we bought the bungalow in 2007, we knew there was a need to modernise the house. So, the initial remodeling took place starting in January 2008 with a loft conversion. We also included for kitchen, bathroom, rewire, replacement of the heating system and the adaptation of the roof space (roof void/loft). This was by far the single largest work we had undertaken to the house.

The conversion of the roof space allowed us to utilise the large open space to provide two additional bedrooms, one also included an ensuite.

I used my skill as an Architectural Technician to work on the design with Michele and prepare the plans suitable for Wigan MBC Building Control Department to accept and pass for approval. Wigan was the easy one to get approval off, the difficult decision to get was off my wife Michele. But we got there with some compromise from both sides.

Since buying the house in 2007, we spent time in late 2007 looking for a builder who was not only reasonable with costs but also gave us the confidence to proceed. In the end we decided we would break the works into several projects & we would liaise with the various teams to hopefully get everything completed in one go.

The main building work was undertaken by John Ingram who was a well-established roofer and joiner in Hinley/Hindley Green area and who came highly recommended as he’d previously worked on loft conversions in the area. Work undertaken by John and his team was loft conversion (add new floor, divide roof space to provide two new bedrooms, install velux roof windows), add new staircase, remodel ground floor.

Installation of new heating system and new family bathroom along with ensuite to our bedroom was undertaken by Sean Pulford and his team at S.P Gas North West Ltd. Sean was a friend of my father-in-law and again was well known in the Wigan area. In total there were 11 (yes eleven) radiators fitted along with a new combi boiler.

Electrical work was undertaken by an electrician from Oldham called Adrian Young (A.D.Y Electrics) – the house had a full rewire as the original wiring was nearly 50 years old.

There was a new kitchen fitted too. We again worked with a friend of my father-in-law Len from Rosecourt Furniture in Ince. A kitchen that we hope will be with us for many years.

During the refurbishment we bought new doors. Our friends David & Beverly from Mansfield Soft Furnishings kindly stained and French polished them for us and wow they look great.