From Vision to Reality: A Client Story with Rawlinson Construction
At Rawlinson Construction, we are proud to have built many exceptional homes for our clients over the years. Our portfolio showcases not only beautifully crafted properties, but also the positive experiences our customers have kindly shared about working with us.
On our blog, we are now going one step further by sharing deeper insights into the customer journey.
With this in mind, we begin our new Case Study series with a landmark bespoke project in Sandbach, following a catch-up with our clients, Nigel and Sonia, just over a year after handing over the keys to their stunning new home.
The project involved demolishing an older single-storey property and constructing a substantial new family home complete with a leisure suite, alongside a separate detached home for their grown-up son, all set within a one-acre plot.
We were keen to hear how Nigel and Sonia are enjoying life in the property, as well as their reflections on working with us to turn their vision into reality.
Why did you choose Rawlinson Construction?
We were aware of Rawlinson Construction’s excellent reputation in the area and, as we already knew one of the directors personally, we made contact directly.
Following our initial meeting, we were invited to visit a couple of construction projects that were underway at the time. We were immediately impressed by the organisation on site, the professionalism of the specialist tradespeople, and the overall quality of workmanship.
We also really liked the fact that Rawlinson Construction is a medium-sized company with around 22 staff, where the directors remain hands-on and actively involved throughout the build process.
Ordinarily, we would obtain three quotes for a project of this scale, especially for our dream home. However, after meeting the senior team and seeing the quality of construction first-hand, we knew straight away that we had found the right partner.
What was the timescale of the build?
Planning permission was secured in January 2023, and work began on site in May 2023.
The first phase involved building our son’s house, which was positioned at the end of the plot. That property was completed in December 2023.
Construction of the main house and leisure suite then followed, with us moving into our new home in March 2025.
What challenges did you encounter during the project?
This was always intended to be our forever home, so it was important that the property would continue to work for us as we get older.
For example, we installed a glass lift to future-proof the home for later life. As we don’t currently need to use it, the lift has been cleverly concealed from view with a bespoke structure built around it.
Another priority was incorporating the latest smart home technology alongside sustainable heating solutions. Rawlinson Construction designed the entire heating system and installed six air source heat pumps and 96 solar panels across the site.
The heat pumps provide heating throughout the development, two in the main house, three in the pool house, and one in the separate property. Seven batteries store 40 kilowatts of energy generated by the solar panels, meaning that when the sun isn’t shining, stored energy can still be used to power the site.
During the summer months, the development operates largely on self-generated energy, with surplus electricity sold back to the grid.
Due to some very specific requirements, we encountered several technical challenges that required highly skilled specialist tradespeople.
A standard plumber or electrician may have struggled with the complexity of some of the installations, but Rawlinson Construction’s in-house plumber and electrician, both coincidentally named Andy, were exceptional throughout. Their expertise ensured everything was delivered seamlessly.
There were also design challenges within specific rooms. For instance, we wanted a large wine store but preferred it to feel discreet rather than becoming a central feature of the house. The solution was a beautifully designed hidden walk-in wine cellar accessed via the pantry, complete with smoked glass windows.
In what ways did Rawlinson Construction go above and beyond?
One of the directors was always available whenever we had any queries or wanted advice on a particular aspect of the build.
Their involvement went far beyond simply overseeing the project or answering questions. They consistently shared valuable insights, ideas, and recommendations for specialist suppliers who offered both excellent quality and competitive pricing.
The level of support and attention to detail throughout the entire project was outstanding, and we are absolutely thrilled with the finished result.
