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2
Dec 2024

What is The difference Between a building surveyor and quantity surveyor?

In the dynamic world of build environment and property management, building surveyors and quantity surveyors play crucial yet distinct roles. Whilst their titles might sound similar, their professional responsibilities differ significantly. Building Surveyors: Building surveyors are technical experts dedicated to assessing and improving property conditions. They conduct comprehensive property surveys, including RICS home surveys, identifying potential structural issues and providing expert recommendations for repair, maintenance, and restoration. Their primary focus is evaluating building conditions to ensure safety, functionality, and potential enhancement. They inspect properties meticulously, offering strategic insights into maintaining and improving built environments. Quantity Surveyors: Quantity surveyors serve as […]

29
Nov 2024

Deal or No Deal? Munday + Cramer’s Architectural Black Friday Breakdown!

This year, more than any other, has seen many of us looking forward desperately to the Black Friday sales; a brief respite from the continual economic challenges fired at us throughout the year. Here at Munday + Cramer, we’re no different, and in this blog post, we wanted to explore Black Friday through an architectural lens. Trust us on this one… The Architecture of Retail Spaces For most people, when they see a shopping mall or retail complex, they see a place to snag incredible deals. For architects, however, we see structures, flow, and design potential. How about a minimalist […]

18
Nov 2024

5 Tips on Maintaining Older Buildings

Maintaining and managing older buildings, particularly historic or ageing structures, is crucial for ensuring their safety, longevity, and comfort. This guide breaks down five essential tips for maintaining aged buildings, with a focus on educational institutions and similar facilities. Be mindful of Asbestos Asbestos management is essential for buildings constructed before 2000. This naturally occurring mineral, was used for its fire-resistant and insulating properties in the past, can pose serious health risks if disturbed. Professional surveys are vital to identifing asbestos-containing materials, and an up-to-date asbestos register should be maintained at all times. Only licensed contractors should handle asbestos-related work. […]

How to maintain stained glass windows
8
Nov 2024

Apply These Architectural Design Techniques to Improve Your Designs

As an architect, exploring distinctive design concepts and variations is key to developing your imagination and improving your creative skills. One of the best ways to get inspired is by browsing the designs of famous architects and studying how they approach their architecture. Explore famous architecture: Studying the work of famous architects can influence your perspective on the different elements architecture. Immersing yourself in their designs can spark fresh ideas and challenge your preconceptions. Frank Lloyd Wright’s nature-inspired forms, for example, offer a striking contrast to the clean lines and minimalist elegance of Mies van der Rohe’s modernist masterpieces. By […]

Image of RIBA qualified architects at work
1
Nov 2024

The Next Round of CIF is Here (2025/26)

It is confirmed – the next round of the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) has been announced! CIF (Condition Improvement Fund) offers a lifeline for upgrading and maintaining educational facilities – but with extreme competition and only a third of applications being funded each year, standing out is crucial. Success hinges on crafting proposals that tackle urgent improvements while following the CIF guidance. What is CIF? CIF is a capital fund granted to educational establishments looking to resolve condition-based issues on the school estate, and in lesser numbers, those schools looking to expand their estate. It must be stressed that these […]

24
Oct 2024

Capital Grant to Deliver 300 School-based Nurseries

The Department for Education has launched a new initiative aimed at expanding early years provision across the country. The School-Based Nursery Capital Grant scheme offers eligible primary schools up to £150,000 to convert surplus space into nursery space. The announcement highlighted that the scheme is to support the 2025 scheme to provide 30 hours/week of government funded hours for childcare and early education to working parents. It has been noted that currently that the availability of early years provision is not evenly distributed with the most disadvantaged areas often receiving the least amount of provision. Who Can Apply? The eligibility […]

21
Oct 2024

Here are 5 Top Tips When Viewing a House

Moving to a new home is an exciting but challenging experience. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to buy a second home, it’s crucial to approach the process with care and attention to detail. This guide offers five essential tips to help you make the most of your house-hunting adventure and ensure you’re making a well-informed decision on your new property. Loft Spaces Firstly, don’t underestimate the importance of exploring the loft space during your house viewing. This often-overlooked area can reveal hidden facts about a property’s overall condition and potential. Whilst in the loft pay close attention to […]

Image of RICS accredited surveyors at work.
3
Oct 2024

M+C Raise over £1,000 for Macmillan Coffee Morning

M+C Hosts Record-Breaking Macmillan Coffee Morning Munday + Cramer recently hosted yet another Macmillan Coffee Morning at their South Woodham Ferrers office, raising an impressive £1,023.00 for the cancer support charity—their highest total ever! The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning helps to raise money for cancer patients while also indulging in some beverages. With 9.6 million deaths worldwide each year, cancer ranks as the second most common cause of death. But with early detection, prevention, and treatment, an estimated 3.7 million lives might be saved annually. The success of M+C’s Macmillan Coffee Morning was due a collective effort of the team […]

25
Sep 2024

The benefits of a house extension vs moving house

You have to make a big decision when your current house can no longer accommodate your needs; should you extend it or relocate to a new home? While there are benefits to both alternatives, moving might sometimes be significantly outweighed by the advantages of making changes to your existing home. Cost-Effectiveness Although the initial cost of an extension can be high, it’s typically less expensive than the total cost of moving. The cost of moving can quickly increase when you  take into account stamp duty, relocation expenses, legal fees, and estate agent fees. Furthermore, in the current property market, expanding […]

17
Sep 2024

Future of STEM Education and it’s Importance

You may be asking is STEM education still important in 2024? The answer is simple, even with the raising numbers of technology and engineering jobs, STEM, subjects still hold an importance within the future of the economy. Especially within the built environment where the focus is on sustainability and renewability. It is important to understand that STEM education covers a lot of the fundaments and skills that are needed within the built environment. What does STEM stand for? STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. These subjects strongly emphasis on innovation critical thinking and problem solving skills which are […]