2023 Master Builder Awards

Described by his manager as ‘an ordinary boy applying himself rather extraordinarily’, Jordan has impressed his employer at Bluestone Builders Ltd from day one, having never been late and maintaining a pleasant manner and fine work ethic.

Having achieved qualifications in joinery, carpentry and joinery and site carpentry, he has gone on to apply his knowledge on site with exceptional attention to detail, and is now trusted to take on and complete projects well beyond the scope of his current learning program. He has shown ambition and intrapersonal intelligence beyond his years, with a ‘can-do’ attitude to all the challenges that come his way.

The judges were impressed by Jordan’s positive approach, recognising him as an ‘asset to [his] employer’ and a ‘very good role model’.

Find out more about Bluestone Builders Ltd.

For their winning project, Excel Home Design Ltd’s brief was to create a luxury family bathroom that’s practical and easy to maintain.

The challenge lay in the roof. Their clients had one 'must have' request, which was for plenty of natural light, but the existing space was only lit by one small roof window. To bring in light, Excel installed two large VELUX windows, complimented by an LED lighting system providing subtle downlighting. The judges commented that the roof space is ‘stunning and perfectly delivered’ adding that, ‘creating the vaulted ceiling (especially as a late change) would have been tough, but really added to the space’. Elsewhere, sleek, bespoke cabinetry and concealed plumbing keeps visual clutter at bay and provides a sense of space.

Excel have honed their project management processes over a number of years. A valuable part of that is building relationships with the communities in which they work, keeping neighbours updated, and demonstrating respect and courtesy to people who might be affected by their work, managing any issues like rubbish removal and the impact of deliveries.

Their clients commented that ‘every worker on the team showed respect, professionalism and above all, friendliness.’

Find out more about Excel Home Design Ltd.

With a view to tackling the skills crisis in UK construction, ASD Build Ltd has invested in its workforce as part of an approach designed to create a committed workforce for the long term.

They now have a trusted cohort of talented tradespeople which has enabled them to react quickly and responsibly to the varied challenges the industry has faced in recent years. They also engage with local apprenticeship providers and universities to source up-and-coming talent and provide robust training plans designed to help them realise their potential in the trades.

Their investment in people has helped secure more clients across Wales in the Residential Social Housing sector, whilst also expanding into Nottingham, England. In 2023, the company has secured seven years' worth of work with a value of more than £100 million, ensuring that exciting times lie ahead for this dynamic building firm.

The judges were impressed with ASD's ambitious growth plans and the effective management practices that have helped them grow and develop to reach more clients and deliver larger projects.

Find out more about ASD Build Ltd.

The client who nominated our Heavenly Builder of the Year for Wales, Excel Home Design Ltd, said that the Excel team had been able to give them the ‘wow’ factor they’d always dreamed of. The judges commented: 'This builder goes beyond just delivering the project and strives for excellence.'

Their client had struggled with architects and builders during the early planning stages of their project, and was relieved to find support from Excel. They were able to smooth the process at every stage, from design and planning, through to building control – even helping to choose the fixtures and fittings. The judges praised their project management skills, which shone through in their consistently high standards.

This approach of care and consideration goes beyond the building site. The Excel team have a commitment to the local community too – providing sponsorship for local youth sports teams, as well as undertaking the renovation of a chapel, lauded as ‘magnificent’ by local residents. They also give back to the industry, with a commitment to training and mentorship that goes above and beyond for the apprentices working under their wing. The judges commented that this sets an example for raising standards in the industry.

Find out more about Excel Home Design Ltd.

Situated in the midst of the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, this project saw Roberts Construction take on the task of creating a forever home for longstanding client, where their autistic son could grow and play in safety and comfort.

Initial plans to incorporate the existing stone barn structure into the home were scuppered when it was deemed structurally unsound. Nonetheless, this Master Builder worked hard to salvage stone and other materials from its demolition, before recreating its features in a new building using modern building practices whilst maintaining its original aesthetic.

The new home is packed with sustainable technology such as a ground source heat pump, PV panels and solar thermal devices. Great attention to detail has been paid whilst applying the older trades too, with the stonework showcasing spectacular skill on the part of this builder.

The client stated ‘the final build can only be described as a triumph and has been created with passion, care and attention to detail that stands proud’, and the judges praised the builder’s support and advice to the client during the difficult lockdown periods that beset this build.

Find out more about Roberts Construction.

For their winning project, the Excel Home Design Ltd team worked with their client to design a light and spacious kitchen that accommodates the future mobility requirements of a family member who has Alzheimer's.

Made to measure kitchen cabinets provide ample storage, with a central island at the heart of the kitchen. Light quartz worktops and large scale flooring tiles provide a sense of space and natural light floods the room, with a bespoke lighting system providing illumination to set the mood after dark.

Clear communication helped to deliver the project on time, with daily and weekly meetings with the clients and stakeholders to review progress and scope what needed to be achieved. This gave the team a clear idea of direction, as well as the motivation to deliver amazing results, which speak for themselves. The judges lauded the ‘beautifully finished and excellent design’ along with the ‘superb workmanship and detailing.’

Their happy client said: ‘Thank you so very much Excel Homes, everybody that has visited since we moved in has commented on the excellent quality and workmanship of our new home.’

Find out more about Excel Home Design Ltd.

The renovation of this 16th Century, Grade II Listed farmhouse and the surrounding outbuildings has produced a truly unique result replete with custom features.

The Just Lime team have implemented a slate roof using premium grade Welsh slate from Cwt Y Bugail and reinstated the chimney with a modern twist: using Welsh stone from Forest of Dean. Internal joinery projects included substantial work on the front door and some internal doors, and spectacular oak panelling - all of which were hand crafted and finished with blacksmith forged ironmongery.

The judges described the work as an ‘absolute triumph of saving a unique and historic property done with a level of skill, craftsmanship and attention to detail which will ensure it thrives way into the future' and a 'beautiful restoration taking a conservation approach using traditional/local materials and craftmanship'.

Find out more about Just Lime Ltd.

The judges praised the ‘sympathetic and visually breath-taking restoration’ of this Grade II listed townhouse, perched on the clifftops of the historic town of Tenby. The client’s vision was to fully upgrade the property, with the new kitchen moving into what was previously a sitting room to take full advantage of panoramic sea views. The Carreg team also installed new bathrooms and brought the dilapidated basement vaults back into use – now a light, bright and creative space for the owners.

The precarious location meant that specialist rock anchoring and stainless steel grade netting needed to be secured to the cliff face beneath the property to safeguard people using the beach below.

A key component of this work involved the installation of new plumbing and electrical services and in particular a new air source heat pump providing underfloor heating to the new conservatory – the installation being concealed to preserve the period look of the property.

The judges liked Carreg’s use of a dedicated web app to keep the client in the loop and commented that, 'it is clear that the company was the driving force behind this long and tricky project, and had the experience and skill to bring all the parties involved together.’

Find out more about Carreg Construction Ltd.

First developed by Lord Henry of Bath in the 1800s as a music venue and dance hall, this historic property in Carmarthen has had a raft of unique features lovingly restored to their former glory.

A bespoke curved oak staircase has been brought in, and the upstairs dancehall has been retained as an open-plan living space. Stonework throughout the property has been restored and several new window openings respectfully formed, including a feature oak double-height screen entrance. Original timber doors and windows have been reconstructed using energy-efficient timber joinery, and oak herringbone flooring has been installed to wonderful effect.

The client stated ‘Lord Henry of Bath would be proud of the completed build, and we believe we could have never achieved this without Wyn’s approach, expertise and passion to deliver our dream home’. The judges praised this builder’s collaborative approach to project management, bringing together local expertise with excellent stakeholder co-ordination.

Find out more about Wyn Davies Building & Roofing Contractor.

Excel Home Design Lid delivered an outstanding result with this winning kitchen project, where the concept was to create an open plan living space that flows seamlessly into a new kitchen extension and patio.

Excel installed a large lantern roof and Crittal-style glazing to let natural light flood into the space. But with such a large expanse of glazing, care was taken to place an emphasis on energy efficiency and creating a comfortable living environment.

The biggest challenge of the build was the limited access to the site. The team needed to dig deep foundations due to building regulations, but with no access for a dumper truck, this could prove to be very labour intensive. To overcome the issue, the team used two mini-dumper trucks, with three operatives receiving training specifically for this task.

The judges commented ‘The company and particularly the project manager were at the core of this project, not only making suggestions to the clients based on their experience but also communicating regularly to help them feel supported through the whole process and it appears it was a seamless one’

The owners added: ‘Ni allwn ganmol Russell a’i dîm o weithwyr mwy am gwblhau'r estyniad i’r gegin/ystafell . Roedd y gweithwyr yn frwd ac yn brydlon ac yn broffesiynol dros ben. Fel pobl brysur nid oedd amser gennym i drefnu gweithwyr gwahanol i ymweld â’r safle. Roedd Russell wedi trefnu popeth ac felly roedd y broses yn llyfn.’

(We cannot praise Russell and his staff more for completing the kitchen/living room extension. The workers were enthusiastic, prompt and extremely professional. As busy people we didn't have time to organise different workers to visit the site. Russell had organised everything and therefore made the process smooth.)

Find out more about Excel Home Design Ltd.

Taking on the demolition of a 1930s bungalow and the subsequent construction of a future-proof, modern family home, the MJ Construction team have taken care to minimise the use of environmentally unfriendly cellulose insulation, opting for eco-friendly mineral wool alternatives and increased the thickness of the wall cavities to facilitate its use.

They have also incorporated specialist insulation to the footing of the building to mitigate any thermal losses into the ground, and installed a heat recovery system which recycles excess heat from higher levels of the building and recycles the air throughout the property.

An HEPA air purifying filter has been installed to reduce pollen and dust allergen, and underfloor heating has been fitted to both the upper and lower floors, as well as being integrated into a liquid screed, which acts as one thermal mass.

The new home is also served by a 12KW Vaillant air-source heat pump, and single-phase car charging points.

The judges were impressed by the sustainability features of the new home, and praised the project management practices employed by this Master Builder.

Find out more about MJ Construction.