The Brief
Our client took on a care home in Surrey that had been empty for years. The structure was solid, but the place was in rough shape. Inside, the rooms were dated, damp had set in, and the services didn’t meet current standards. The layout also fell short of what’s expected today. Outside, the building looked worn, the windows and roof needed work, and the grounds were overgrown and unsafe.
The objective was clear:
- Transform the property into a modern, compliant, high-quality care environment
- Upgrade all mechanical and electrical systems
- Improve energy efficiency
- Redesign internal layouts to maximise bedroom sizes and circulation
- Create a welcoming external appearance suitable for today’s market
We needed to strip the building back to its shell and completely rebuild the inside.
The Challenges
- Vacant Building Deterioration
Because the building had been closed for so long, water got in, ceilings were damaged, pipes failed, and finishes throughout were affected.
- Outdated Fire Strategy
The fire safety setup was outdated. We needed to upgrade fire doors, alarms, emergency lighting, and escape routes to meet today’s standards.
- Inefficient Layout
Narrow corridors, undersized bedrooms. Corridors were too narrow, bedrooms were small, and nurse stations weren’t in the right places, making the home hard to use for modern care. The home was in poor condition, with walls and ceilings painted or boarded, render cracked, and the grounds overgrown and neglected.
Our Approach
1. Full Internal Strip-Out
We removed:
- All ceilings and floor finishes
- Outdated bathrooms and sanitaryware
- Redundant M&E services
- Internal partitions where reconfiguration was required
This gave us a blank slate to work with.
2. Structural & Compliance Upgrades
We installed:
- New fire-rated partitions and upgraded compartmentation
- FD30 and FD60 fire doors throughout
- Complete addressable fire alarm system
- Emergency lighting
- Modern nurse call system
We made sure everything met current Building Regulations and CQC standards.
3. Mechanical & Electrical Replacement
The home received entirely new services:
- New heating system with upgraded boiler plant
- Modern radiators and pipework
- Full electrical rewire
- Energy-efficient LED lighting
- Upgraded ventilation systems
- New plumbing and drainage
After the work was completed, the building’s energy performance improved significantly.
4. Bedroom & Bathroom Redesign
We redesigned every bedroom to feel brighter, bigger, and more like home. This included:
- New anti-slip, dementia-friendly flooring
- Fresh plastered walls and calming colour schemes
- Modern en-suite bathrooms with level-access showers
- New windows to increase natural light
- Integrated storage and modern joinery
The home went from feeling institutional to warm and modern.
5. Communal Areas Transformation
Lounges and dining areas were fully refurbished with:
- Feature lighting
- Acoustic improvements
- New flooring
- Decorative finishes
- Improved wayfinding
Where we could, we widened corridors and added handrails and compliant finishes.
6. External Refurbishment
Outside, we completely revitalised the property:
- New roof repairs and insulation upgrades
- Replacement double-glazed windows
- Re-rendering and brick cleaning
- New entrance canopy
- Resurfaced car park
- Full landscaping with safe pathways and seating areas
The result is a welcoming, modern exterior that gives the building new confidence.
The Outcome
The refurbishment delivered:
- A fully compliant 32-bedroom care home
- Enhanced energy efficiency
- Improved fire safety
- Modern, attractive interiors
- Refreshed external appearance
- Increased asset value
A building that once stood empty and neglected is now a vibrant, fully operational care home, ready to welcome residents and families from across Surrey.
Client Feedback
“The transformation was beyond what we expected. The building has been completely reborn. Care Home Builders handled every stage professionally and delivered a home we are proud to operate.”
Project Summary
| Bedrooms |
32 Refurbished |
| Duration |
8 Months |
| Compliance |
Full Building Regulations & Fire Compliance |
| Energy Upgrade |
Significant Improvement in EPC |
