Who we are
A Guildford building firm, doing it the old way
Bell & Collier Construction builds and renovates homes across Guildford and Surrey. We are not a big outfit and we are not trying to be.
About us
Built on reputation, not advertising
Bell & Collier Construction Ltd is a building contractor based on Sheepfold Road in Guildford. We build extensions, convert lofts and garages, carry out structural alterations, renovate houses from top to bottom and build individual new homes.
Most of our work comes from recommendation. Somebody sees a job we did in their road, asks the owner who did it, and calls us. That is a slower way to grow a business than buying leads, and it means the quality of the last job decides whether there is a next one.
We keep the core trades in house so the same faces are on your site throughout. Where a job needs a specialist, a structural engineer or a particular roofing detail, we bring in someone we have worked with for years rather than whoever is cheapest that week.
How we work
Six things we will not compromise on
None of this is remarkable. It is just what a builder should do, and the reason people keep recommending us is that it is rarer than it should be.
One team, start to finish
The people who start your job are the people who finish it. No handing the site to whoever is free that week, and no gap where nobody turns up because two firms are waiting on each other.
A quote you can actually read
Itemised, in writing, so you can see what each part costs and decide what matters. If something changes we price it before we do it, not after.
Straight answers
If your idea will not get planning permission, or the loft is not tall enough, or the cheaper option is the better one, we will say so. It costs us the odd job and it is still the right way to work.
Signed off properly
Building control approval, inspections at the right stages, and the completion certificate in your hands at the end. It is the paperwork your buyer's solicitor will ask for one day.
A tidy site
Sheeted, swept and made safe at the end of each day. You are living next to it, and so are your neighbours.
We stand behind it
We come back and fix things. Most of our work comes from people who saw a job we did down the road, which only happens if the last client is still happy a year later.
The details
Who you are dealing with
We think you should be able to check up on a builder before you let them start knocking holes in your house. Here is everything you need to do that.
- Registered name
- Bell & Collier Construction Ltd
- Company number
- 14131831, registered in England and Wales
- Registered office
- 70 Sheepfold Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 9TU
- Telephone
- 07584 678280 / 07725 914955
- Insurance
- Public liability cover in place. We will send the certificate before you appoint us.
Client reviews
The project included adding a carport, extending the front of the house, and enlarging a bedroom to the front of the property. Everything was completed to a high standard, and the craftsmanship speaks for itself. The team was professional and friendly and kept the site clean throughout. Communication was excellent, we were always kept in the loop.
Rated 4.8 on GoogleRead our Google reviews
How it works
Simple, start to finish
Most of the stress in building work comes from not knowing what happens next. Pick a stage below and see exactly what happens, what we need from you, and how long it takes.
Hover or tap a stage
First visit
We walk round the property with you, take a proper look at what you have got, and talk through what you want to do. If something will not work, or there is a cheaper way to get most of what you are after, this is when we say so. We measure up and take photographs so we can price the job accurately.
- What we need from you
- Nothing to prepare. Show us round and tell us what you have in mind, even if it is only a rough idea.
- How long it takes
- About an hour, usually within a week of you calling.
Drawings and approvals
We check the constraints on your specific address, conservation area, listing, green belt, protected trees, and tell you whether the job is permitted development, prior approval or a full application. We work alongside your architect and structural engineer, or introduce you to people we have used for years. We handle the building control side.
- What we need from you
- Decide how far you want to take the scheme, then sign off the drawings once you are happy.
- How long it takes
- Permitted development can be a few weeks. A full application usually takes around eight weeks from validation, longer in a conservation area.
A written quote
You get a written, itemised quote setting out what each part of the job costs, so you can see where the money goes and decide what matters to you. No vague day rates, and no single lump sum with nothing behind it. If we can see a genuine unknown, a wall we cannot look behind or ground we have not dug, we tell you and we agree how it will be handled rather than burying it.
- What we need from you
- Read it, ask about anything that is not clear, and tell us what you would like adjusted.
- How long it takes
- Usually within a week or two of the drawings being finalised.
The build
The same team is on your job from the first day to the last, with one person you can ring. We set up properly, protect your drive and garden, and keep the site swept and safe each evening. You always know what is happening the following week, and where we are building near a boundary we serve the party wall notices in good time.
- What we need from you
- Choose kitchens, tiles, sanitaryware and finishes when we ask. We flag each decision deadline well in advance so nothing holds the job up.
- How long it takes
- Roughly 12 to 16 weeks on site for a typical single storey rear extension. Loft conversions are usually 8 to 12 weeks.
Sign off and handover
Building control inspects at the right stages and issues the completion certificate, which we hand to you. Keep it safe, because your buyer's solicitor will ask for it one day. We walk round the finished work with you, write down anything that needs putting right, and come back and do it.
- What we need from you
- Walk round with us and point out anything you are not happy with. We would much rather hear it now than a year later.
- How long it takes
- A few days at the end, with the certificate following afterwards.
What we do, and where
Guildford and the villages around it
We build extensions, convert lofts and garages, carry out structural work, renovate whole houses and build new homes, across Guildford and the villages around it. If you are within about half an hour of us, ask.
Guildford
GU1 · GU2 · GU3 · GU4
Merrow
GU1 · GU4
Burpham
GU1 · GU4
East Horsley
KT24
Godalming
GU7 · GU8
Bramley
GU5
Albury
GU5
Woking
GU21 · GU22
Farnham
GU9 · GU10
Cranleigh
GU6
Shalford
GU4
Wonersh
GU5
West Horsley
KT24
Not on the list?
Ask us anywayRather talk it through?
07584 678280Want to see the work first?
Recent projectsWant to talk to someone who has actually built one?
Ask us for references. We are happy to put you in touch with people whose houses we have worked on, so you can hear it from them rather than from us.
Get in touch
Thinking about a project?
Tell us roughly what you have in mind and we will come and look at it. Free quotes across Guildford and Surrey, with no obligation and no sales visit.