A garden room and landscape specialist has overcome a challenging sloped location and ever-changing brief to scoop a top industry award for the design and build of an outstanding office space packed with creature comforts.

Oakston Solutions Limited picked up the accolade at the Federation of Master Builders’ National Master Builder Awards, which were hosted online on September 24th by TV presenter and all-round building enthusiast Nick Knowles.

The awards recognise building excellence, quality craftsmanship, and exceptional customer service, and are run by the Federation of Master Builders, the largest trade association in the UK construction sector which is this year celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Oakston Solutions Limited were firm favourites of the independent judges, who praised how closely company director Ross Hogston worked with his client. The builder was recognised for taking the initiative when it came to the design of the stunning garden office.

The build saw Oakston Solutions Limited have to level off the steep garden by hand, and install a sleeper retainer wall, before a reinforced concrete slab was poured to form the base of the room. A lot of leg work was required to get all the other materials up to the top of the garden.

Complete with air-conditioning, underfloor heating, network cabling, cedar cladding, aluminium windows and doors, composite decking, glass balustrades, LED strip lights and more, this garden office has plenty to inspire other homeowners.

The pandemic and changing working patterns have made the garden office an increasing popular renovation choice for households seeking extra space. This client’s reaction to his award winning building project is the perfect endorsement to encourage others to pursue their own builds. “I never dreamed it would end up looking like this”, the client said. “We are over the moon.”  

Oakston Solutions Limited won the national Master Builder Award for best Small Renovation Project having previously seen off the competition at the FMB’s Southern Counties regional awards held earlier in the year.

Reacting to his company’s win, Ross Hogston, Director of Oakston Solutions Limited, said: “I’m buzzing to win, thank you very much. The customer being happy at the end of it, knowing he goes into the office every day to work, that’s the best bit of the build.”

Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of the Finishes and Interiors Sector, and National Judge for this award category, said: “If Carlsberg did garden offices, it would be this one. It’s a garden office with a difference. With so many comforts and so much thought put into it, it looks like an amazing place to work.”

Andrea Dean, Property Writer at the Metro and also a National Judge, added: “It stood out head and shoulders above the others. A home office is so current, and this one was executed to such a high standard.”

Notes to editors

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the largest trade association in the UK construction industry representing thousands of firms in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms, the FMB is independent and non-profit making, lobbying for members’ interests at both the national and local level.

The FMB is a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for its members, providing a range of modern and relevant business building services to help them succeed. The FMB is committed to raising quality in the construction industry and offers a free Find a Builder service to consumers. 

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