How we work
The Commercial Stage
If you would like to use our services then we hope the following information will give you a helpful guide as to how we work and the various stages we take you through during the process. We have a helpful team of experts at all stages who will help you in order to ensure your purchase of a SIP building is made as simple as possible. At Glosford we only build to your Architects Design drawings, who we can assist with specific SIPS detailing if they haven’t worked with SIP Builds before.
Enquiry Stage
Enquiry
Stage
You email us your enquiry with drawings in a scalable PDF format. These can be planning drawings as long as we have elevations*. We then email you back to acknowledge your enquiry and give an estimate as to when you should receive your quotation.
* Plans and site layout
Quotation Stage
Quotation
Stage
Generally 2 weeks
Our Quotation will be fully detailed showing all inclusions and exclusions we have considered. We will also include a structural schematic to support the information provided which can be used by your Architect as a guide on wall thicknesses, floor joist depths and general specification.
Order Placed
Order
Placed
Once we receive your instructions to proceed, which can be a simple phone call or email, we will then send you our Request For Information Form (RFI). Please fill this out at your earliest convenience and return to us via email.
We will then raise all standard documentation detailing the terms of the agreement between us. This will provide helpful information on what is required from you, our provisional start date and all our internal contacts.
At this stage we will request a deposit payment and inform you of the other stage payments that we will require through to Handover.
Pre-Start Customer Meeting
Pre-Start
Customer Meeting
Our commercial and project management team will contact you to arrange a pre-start meeting either in person at a location to suit you or online subject to your preferences. We can then answer all your queries on project specifics such as drawing requirements, access, timing, our process going forward and ultimately when the installation of your SIP building can commence. We will also discuss potential value engineering and buildability suggestions to aid your design process.
Following this meeting we will await the fully detailed architects drawings before we can move to the next stages. During the meeting our commercial team will also advise whether any cost variations are likely if the designs are going to be altered, our up-front approach sets us apart from our competitors.
Initial Site Visit
Initial
Site Visit
Following the pre-start meeting we will arrange a site visit with one of our site supervisors if required to view and discuss any access constraints or buildability concerns.
The Design for Manufacture Stage
In order for us to manufacture all the components in our scope of works we will need you or your Architect to provide construction ready drawings, detailing the walls and roofs SIP Panels in detailed sections and plans, these will be required in DWG (CAD) format. We also require Window and Door schedules for us to create the exact openings required – all this will have been clarified at our pre-start meeting. During this stage our Project Manager will keep in regular contact with you to check how you are progressing with your site preparations and foundations.
Engineering Stage
Engineering
Stage
2 weeks
Once we receive your final Architects CAD drawings we will instruct our engineers to produce the loading information for you to design your foundations prior to starting the groundworks. We then conduct an initial engineering review looking at the best options to progress.
Our engineers will also provide full structural calculations at a later stage for you to submit to Building Control if required.
Design for Manufacture
Design for
Manufacture
6-8 weeks
We will appoint one of our CAD Technicians to detail your project and prepare all the necessary manufacturing information needed to
produce your SIP building.
You will be provided with a set of General Arrangement drawings which you can check and approve as a key stage in the process. We work with your design team regarding any variations/alterations that ensue from the process.
Approval Stage
Approval
Stage
Approx 1 week
(Prior to Manufacture)
Our drawings will show the SIP plans, sections and elevations which we have developed from your Architects drawings for you to check and confirm acceptance so we can begin the manufacturing process.
Once confirmation is received we will also send a site specific scaffold plan to enable you to organise suitable scaffold arrangements.
Manufacture Stage
Manufacture
Stage
All components are manufactured at our works including floors and internal partitions. We will order any project specific Steel or Glulam to be delivered in to us for processing ready for despatch.
The Build Stage
We only use Kingspan Approved SIP Installers to erect your SIP building. The Subcontractors work exclusively for us, so your build will be carried out seamlessly to the shortest timescale. We will require a full perimeter scaffold to be in place with the relevant Blockwork Upstands in position ready to receive our soleplates. All this will be communicated to at point of order and throughout the design process as necessary.
Site Visit Stage
Site Visit
Stage
We will re-visit site to check with you on progress and to ensure the site is going to be ready for us to commence work as agreed.
Installation of SIP
Installation
of SIP
Approximately 2-3 weeks for average dwelling
3-4 SIPS Erectors will be in attendance, generally using a City Crane to offload vehicles and install the SIPS. Welfare will need to be provided and
each of our installation gangs have a supervisor to accord with current Site Health and Safety Legislation.
Completion on Site
Completion
on Site
Handover Stage
Once we have completed our works and wrapped the building in breather paper for weather protection we will meet you on site to conduct a standard handover procedure to ensure complete customer satisfaction.
Final Stage
Final
Stage
We will send our final invoice for payment.
The project Operation and Maintenance (O&M ) Manual, with our Completion Certificate will be forwarded to you once we have received copies of all relevant information, usually within a few weeks of completing works on site.