Earl & Calam Design and Build Ltd

Name: Earl & Calam Design and Build Ltd
Telephone: 07730 531420
Rating: 4.9

16 Reviews

Design & Build

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Locally owned

SE London's Design & Build Experts | Putting the Client First

We are a small, friendly Design & Build contractor who passionately believe that by taking the time to understand your requirements and budget we offer the best possible results for you and your home. With over 15 years' experience building residential refurbishments, extensions and loft conversions in London and surrounding counties, we are a committed and trusted team who have the experience and expertise required to deliver your project to the highest standard. Peter and Nik are the founders and the core of Earl & Calam Builders. Following a degree in Architectural Engineering Nik has worked in both design and project management in London's residential sector. His talent for elegant design, attention to detail and finding practical, cost-effective solutions sits alongside his role at Earl & Calam as project manager and client liaison. Having trained as a carpenter Peter has worked as a site manager for some of the most prestigious residential contractors in London. He brings this wealth of invaluable expert knowledge to provide hands-on construction and site management for all of Earl & Calam's projects. We combine this experience and expertise to put your needs and your budget first. We will be happy to book in a commitment-free visit to your property to meet with you and listen to your project requirements, your wishlist, ideas and expectations. From there we produce a budget cost to help you decide where and how your budget is used to best effect. We believe that transparency and good communication from the outset allow you to make informed choices with realistic expectations about how to get the most from your resources. As a Design & Build contractor our combination of in-house design services can range from drawing and submitting your planning application, obtaining structural calculations for Building Regulations approval, right through to detailed design for your new kitchen or bathroom. We provide a friendly, professional and personal service to help support and guide you through the whole process. From concept to delivery we are at all times working to help you get the most from your home.

Awards

Federation of Master Builders

30 Projects

Photo of a large and white traditional render semi-detached house in London with three floors, a pitched roof, a tiled roof and a red roof.

SW16 Energy Efficiency upgrade and full Refurb

Medium sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen/diner in London with a submerged sink, louvered cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz worktops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, a breakfast bar, brown floors and white worktops.

Featured Review

Matthew Pencharz

Their attention to detail is fantastic and will talk you through any decisions carefully. We were particularly impressed with the design process, their thinking through of tricky problemsRead Full Review

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16 Reviews for Earl & Calam Design and Build Ltd

Newest first

4.9|16 reviews

Work Quality

5.0

Communication

5.0

Value

4.6

Chris and Mary Gordon-Smith

Earl and Calam have done a great job insulating the floor at the front of our 1905 four bedroom terraced house. This is the first part of a retrofitting project to reduce the house's carbon footprint. We hope to agree further work on the project with Nik (the managing director). From the outset Nik has taken a 'whole house' approach in which each part of the work fits into an overall plan. He explained the options for insulation and answered all our questions. It was evident that he had a great deal of experience and knowledge, and this helped in giving us confidence to go ahead. Nik's price for the floor work looked high initially. We discussed it with him in detail. This convinced us that the approach he was proposing would lead to a higher quality outcome and so we went ahead with it. Now that we have seen the level of effort, knowledge and commitment from the whole team that went into achieving this outcome we can see why the price was higher than we initially expected. One benefit of Nik's collaborative / explanatory approach was evident when, following discussion, it became clear that a design change was needed. It turned out that Nik had been misadvised over one aspect of the way membranes should be installed. Identifying this early meant that it didn't become a serious problem. Nik dealt with issues that came up without allowing the quality or effectiveness of the end product to be reduced. There was a supply problem obtaining insulation material at the originally agreed thickness. Nik dealt with this by finding and fitting slightly thicker insulation. So rather than compromising in some way, he delivered a better outcome than promised at no extra cost. It took longer than expected for the floor work to start, but once started it was completed on time. In summary: Earl and Calam have done a great job. Nik and his team clearly care about delivering a quality outcome and have the knowledge, experience and commitment to do so.

13 June, 2023

HU-449949315

Do you want a Builder who you can trust, is nice to work with , takes pride in their work and solves problems? Nik and his excellent team have transformed our dark damp Victorian semi detached house into a warm dry light- filled home. Nik was very realistic from the initial design and planning stage about what was possible and what it would cost. As the project involved complete renovation of the property there were some unexpected additional works but Nik was always positive about how to deal with these issues without affecting the budget too much. At his suggestion we insulated the outside of the house ( solid walls ) making a big difference to the property. We felt that we could rely on his opinion or suggestions for flooring, tiles fixtures/ fittings etc and when a black bathroom washstand proved impossible to source Peter built one from scratch. It is much admired ! The work was fully costed and invoiced as the various stages were completed. The project took much longer than expected, although there were additional works and it was carried out during the pandemic. Thank you Nik for giving us the confidence to go ahead with this much needed renovation.

2 December, 2021

robinjackmartin

We wanted a big extension at the back of our house for a kitchen, dining, and family area. Planning permission for a 5m extension was rejected, and the planners told us we wouldn't be able to go beyond 3.5m. However, Nik worked with our neighbours to find a creative design solution, addressing their concerns about blocking out light while still giving us the extra space we wanted. This was agreed and accepted under permitted development rights. Earl and Calam transformed our house against the odds, and have given us a wonderful kitchen and living space for the whole family to enjoy.

30 November, 2021

Kim Hill

We moved into our new house in mid-December, it was a bitterly cold day outside and not much warmer inside! 24 hours later our smart meter informed us we’d spent £15 to go from very cold to cold. We knew straight away that insulation and efficiency would be top priority for the upcoming renovation. In addition, we wanted to create an inviting open plan space with better connection to the garden, extend into the loft, and fully modernise throughout the house including redecoration, kitchen and bathrooms. We interviewed around a dozen building professionals for the job, but almost immediately we knew that Earl & Calam Design & Build would be the right team for the job. It was obvious straight away that Nik & Pete had thoroughly read our design brief, understood what we were trying to do and had the appropriate knowledge and skills to not only implement our ideas, but also to challenge them, improve on them and suggest a multitude of new ideas we hadn’t considered. During the planning stage and in every meeting we had with the guys, their genuine enthusiasm for the project was evident. They presented many different options for each part of the house, internal and external, explaining the cost and benefit of each in detail allowing us to make informed choices without forcing suggestions on us. Now the building is complete, the transformation is amazing and stunning both inside and out. Our energy bills are a fraction of the cost they were 12 months ago, and the house always feel warm and cosy despite being a large five-bedroom semi-detached. We can’t thank Earl & Calam enough for all their help and hard work throughout the project.

5 February, 2021

Comment from Earl & Calam Design and Build Ltd:

Thanks for the review guys and for all the heating data. Amazing! Was great that we won 2 Master Builders award for your place. Lovely to see Shaka enjoying his house so much.
All the best.
Nik

HU-107326224

Nik and Pete were brilliant at guiding us through the process of planning, designing and building our wonderful two storey extension. They looked after the whole job and managed to plan the project around us living at home at the same time. Nik, knows the trade inside-out which is invaluable when it comes to key decisions, like making planning applications, or up-to-date advice on new types of energy efficient materials. Whole heartedly recommended.

11 January, 2021

Comment from Earl & Calam Design and Build Ltd:

Hi,
Thanks for the review.
Its great to see the family growing in to the space.
The yellow worktops set the whole room off!
All the best.
Nik

Matthew Pencharz

E&C completed a side return on our Victorian property Spring - Autumn 2019. Their attention to detail is fantastic and will talk you through any decisions carefully. We were particularly impressed with the design process, their thinking through of tricky problems and one particular design alteration mid-build, which had a marginal cost increase but transformational in appearance. Clients are not going to discover disastrous things happening after the event. There are also no nasty budget surprises during the build. And if that means it's slow - then that's a fair pay-off. Having builders in the house for months is a traumatic experience. E&C really do minimise that pain and are completely trustworthy. If quality, honesty and attention to detail matter to you over speed then they are the builders for you.

11 September, 2019

Comment from Earl & Calam Design and Build Ltd:

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for taking the time to review us we really appreciate it.
And thanks for going with the floor, it makes the space.
Enjoy.

HU-502614460

Earl & Calam Builders built us a new kitchen diner, which included gutting what used to be there, taking down a wall, some structural work and a full refit. Their work was of a very high standard from the start. Nik made sure the plans were as slick and smart as they could be, maximising space and creating nice long lines. They paid excellent attention to detail. Nothing was too much trouble and communication was easy throughout. And the team were very nice to have in the house: friendly, trustworthy and helpful. We highly recommend them!

24 August, 2019

Sacha Manson-Smith

Earl and Calam did a really nice job on our renovation. Nik spent a lot of time at the start taking us through different options and had some great ideas. The team looked after our property well and lent us an oven while our kitchen was out of action, which was very helpful. The work came in on budget and was of a very high quality - we were really happy with the outcome. Communications could have been better and times and the work took twice as long as initially due to reduced manpower. However we were on a particularly tight timetable and most of it was done by the expected end date. We’d recommend Earl and Calam for renovations, particularly if you want the personal touch.

31 March, 2019

User

I can't speak highly enough of E and C's work. From the the start I felt I was in safe hands. I had quite an extensive flat refit after a burst water main affected the area and I was kept abreast of work at all points and the workmanship of his team is brilliant in all areas. Nick was always available to answer any questions and made a very stressful situation a lot easier. I can't speak highly enough of their work.

23 February, 2018Last modified:18 April, 2024

nicolatownsend

Great workmanship and came in on budget. The team were very professional and happy to help. Nothing was too much bother. Very happy with the end result.

23 February, 2018

roseyjeffery

We found all at Earl and Calam to be highly professional. The provided an accurate and detailed quote at the start. They have lots of good ideas to help meet your requirements in the most cost effective manner. All the contractors they employ are top quality and trustworthy. We are incredibly happy with the work they have completed. 5 stars just missed as we would have loved the project to have been finished slightly more quickly!

25 October, 2017

Polly Roberts

Nik and his team have been a pleasure to work with throughout. Nik is extremely good at being upfront about costs, delivering on time and is extremely reliable. I would have (and indeed have had) no reservations about recommending his workmanship highly to others. The attention to detail is amazing and he is full of good ideas and suggestions that have really made the end result individual to us. The work Nik has done for us has been done in tranches, as agreed, and the kitchen portion has been completed for around 2.5 years ago and I am still completely happy with it. It is rare to find someone who is such a pleasure to work with and in whom you have total trust that the end result will be to the highest standards and who really invests in the end vision of his clients. The works Earl and Calam carried out for us where - Gutting and damp proofing our lower ground floor, putting in a new kitchen, some structural works including taking back an archway. Laying new stone flooring in lower ground floor, laying new timber flooring in hallway, rebuilding staircase, reconfiguring front garden to include levelling and building a new storage cupboard, laying natural stone over top. Decorating house throughout, overseeing new electrical points throughout and the installation of a wireless alarm system and building additional storage.

17 May, 2017

Mark C

We used Earl and Calam for a kitchen / conservatory extension. Not a simple job, but they responded excellently to the various challenges - consequences of previous work being carried out less well than it should have been. Nothing was too much of a problem and the work has been carried out to a very high standard. We are absolutely delighted with the results. At the start of the job E&C installed a temporary kitchen in our living room and then ensured we were isolated from the building site. It worked extremely well and meant that we could carry on living reasonably comfortably and with limited disruption. They kept mess to a minimum. All of this attention to detail meant that the inevitable delays (caused in large part by uncovering additional work that needed doing) were well managed and much less troubling than they otherwise would have been. I would wholeheartedly recommend these guys. Work carried out: remove existing kitchen, take down wall and steel joist, install new longer joist, dig foundations and build new external walls, extend conservatory roof (great craftsmanship), install underfloor heating, lay wood floor, install new kitchen, fit wiring and lights, build new patio.

9 January, 2017

maureenjohn88

Our kitchen is superb and we have found Earl and Calam to be very professional and everyone involved have been a pleasure to have around. They were courteous, helpful and polite and very well organised. If you have to have builders in your home, these are the people you can trust.

4 January, 2017

matt_hazardmedia

We bought a well priced but run down Edwardian property in South London which required major refurbishment . We needed a new kitchen and bathroom to be designed and built from scratch, new flooring throughout, as well as rewiring, replacement central heating and extensive redecoration including new doors and a refitted basement room and staircase. Earl and Calam were fantastic throughout the entire process and advised on costs, materials, planning and design, and managed all aspects of the job very smoothly, including electricians, plumbers, floor specialists, carpenters, decorators, carpet fitters, plasterers and tilers as well as remodelling two entire new rooms. They made sure all the work was done to an exceptionally high standard and that everything complemented the period and style of the house. The whole refurbishment was done on time and on budget and we are delighted with the quality of the results. Highly recommended.

27 December, 2016

Jessica Sebag-Montefiore

We had an extension made in 2008 and all our bathrooms were remodelled. New wires and plumbing on large parts of the house and a new heatingsystem . The previous foundations on the existing extension had to beredug ( deeper ). Earl & Calam did a highly professional job and the standard of work was very high and above all the quality. It has really 8 years later stood the test of time. Throughout the process the communication was good, when a problem arose ( as it does when doing massive buildingwork) a solution was found. The carpentry skills were to a high standard and their contacts in subcontracting other skilled professionals were good too so the plumber was great, the decorator, the specialist flooring guys. Not only did they do an amazing job with my stone floor but I had this beautiful reclaimed herring bone parquet flooring that arrived in dirty minute pieces that were later magically transformed into my beautiful polished floor. They are great with smart storage solutions. One of the bathrooms the architect had designed but the other one Earl& Calam designed for me and it is great. Would def recommend and use again

27 December, 2016

Comment from Earl & Calam Design and Build Ltd:

Hi Jessica,

Thanks for the review, it was lovely working with your family and nice to see how it looks 8 years later. The reclaimed herring bone parquet and Basalt stone floor have aged well, its part of the joy of our business working with all these great crafts people. Happy to be of service.

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Business Details

Business Name

Earl & Calam Design and Build Ltd

Phone Number

07730 531420

Website

earlandcalamdesignandbuild.houzzsite.com

Address

Croydon, Greater London CR9 1DF
United Kingdom

Typical Job Cost

£150,000 - 700,000

We limit ourselves to around eight projects a year, generally ranging from £150K to £700K, as experience has shown that this enables us to provide the best level of service to our clients, building trusting relationships and maintaining our integrity.

Followers

127 Followers

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Services Provided

Home Renovation

House Extensions

Custom Build Homes

Complete Kitchen Renovation

Loft Conversion

Architectural Design

Project Management

Complete Bathroom Renovation

House Plans

Design Consultation

House Restoration

Bathroom Design

Kitchen Design

Architectural Drawings

Space Planning

Floor Plans

Building Design

Loft Restoration

Building Conservation

Sustainable Design

3D Rendering

Structural Engineering

Eco Homes

Foundations Construction

Home Cinema Design

Passive Houses

Drafting

Decking Installation

Home Office Design & Construction

Hardwood Flooring Installation

Architectural Services

Bathroom Design and Installation

Bathroom Renovation

Custom Cabinets

Custom Homes

Deck Building

Flooring Installation

Kitchen Renovation

Remodeling

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Areas Served

Balham

Brixton

Bromley

Croydon

Crystal palace

east london

Lambeth

Lambeth North

Lewisham

North Kent

Putney Heath

South East London

South West London

Southwark

Wandsworth

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Credentials

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4 Ideabooks

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76 Comments

Commented: Open plan conservatory adviceWe have worked on a few properties that have had no door between the conservatory and the house. Most of them have had the problem that they are too cold in the winter and have meant its hard ( expens...

16 December, 2024 in Design Dilemma

Commented: Hallway rug layoutSo I am guessing your door matt is in the vestibule with shoes. How about multi coloured hexagonal modular rugs . Or any modular carpet you like. You could design these to create different feeling an...

14 December, 2024 in Design Dilemma

Commented: Move Washing machine in kitchenI like Jonathan's Idea. Lifestyle kitchen are spot on with their advice.

10 December, 2024

Commented: What to do with middle room!We generally incorporate the middle room in to the new spaces, as they other wise become a hall. Can you increase the kitchen in to that room and make it a kitchen diner?

25 July, 2024 in Design Dilemma

Commented: Is anyone renovating and not knocking walls?That looks like a great space to open up by removing some wall or bits of wall. Especially as you have a separate lounge.

20 November, 2023 in Design Dilemma

Commented: Advice on windows for mid century renovationI agree and would simplify, make things less busy and calmer. We have worked on Mid-century properties where we have directly copied the configuration with fixed panels below using Origin Aluminium do...

20 November, 2023 in Design Dilemma

Earl & Calam Design and Build Ltd