From Lakes Outdoor Spaces to Clearly Built: Why I Co-Founded a New Construction Advice Service
By Sam Winder | Founder of Lakes Outdoor Spaces and Co-Founder of Clearly Built
Running a construction business teaches you a lot more than how to build something.
Over the years, I’ve learned that delivering a successful project isn’t just about good materials and workmanship. It’s about communication, trust, realistic expectations and making sure customers understand exactly what they’re paying for.
Those experiences have played a big part in my latest venture.
Alongside my childhood friend Sam Nicholson, I’ve co-founded Clearly Built – Independent Construction Advice, an independent construction advice and homeowner support service designed to help people make more informed decisions about building and renovation projects.
Here’s a little more about why we started it, what we’re hoping to achieve and how it connects with my experience at Lakes Outdoor Spaces.
Where It All Started: Lakes Outdoor Spaces
Lakes Outdoor Spaces has been a significant part of my working life.
Specialising in outdoor joinery and landscaping, we’ve worked on projects including bespoke decking, fencing, timber gates, sheds and garden structures across the South Lakes and North Lancashire.
Working directly with homeowners has given me a real appreciation of how much trust people place in the tradespeople they invite onto their property.
Whether someone is investing in a new decking area, replacing their garden fencing or planning a bespoke garden room, there’s usually much more involved than simply choosing materials and agreeing a price.
Customers want to know they’re making the right decisions.
They want honest answers, clear quotations and confidence that the person carrying out the work understands what they’re trying to achieve.
And quite rightly so.
What Working in Construction Has Taught Me
Having spent around 10 years working in construction, I’ve experienced the industry from several different perspectives.
I’ve been on the tools, prepared quotations, spoken directly with customers, managed trades and subcontractors, planned projects and dealt with the day-to-day responsibilities of running a construction business.
One thing I’ve learned is that misunderstandings often begin long before any work starts.
Sometimes a homeowner doesn’t fully understand what’s included in a quotation.
Sometimes two contractors are pricing completely different specifications.
And sometimes important questions about materials, timescales or responsibilities simply haven’t been asked.
These situations don’t always happen because somebody is being dishonest. Often, it’s a lack of clear communication or an assumption that both parties understand the same thing.
But when you’re investing your savings into your home, those misunderstandings can become expensive.
I believe homeowners deserve access to practical guidance that helps them understand their options before making a commitment.
Why Sam Nicholson and I Founded Clearly Built
Sam Nicholson and I have been best friends since childhood.
We’ve followed our own paths in business and construction, gaining different experiences along the way.
While my background includes hands-on construction, project planning and running Lakes Outdoor Spaces, Sam brings his own industry experience and a strong focus on people, relationships and customer service.
We realised that combining those strengths could help address something we both care about: improving trust and transparency between homeowners and the construction industry.
That’s where Clearly Built came from.
We wanted to create a service that helps homeowners ask the right questions, understand what they’re being quoted for and approach their projects with greater confidence.
Not everyone needs a builder to manage an entire project.
Some people want to organise their own trades.
Others need help understanding competing quotations or would simply appreciate an experienced second opinion before committing to work.
Clearly Built has been created to support those people.
What Does Clearly Built Actually Do?
Clearly Built is separate from Lakes Outdoor Spaces and focuses on independent construction advice and advisory project support, rather than carrying out building work.
Our services include:
- Quote oversight: Helping homeowners understand quotations, compare proposed work and identify details that may need clarification.
- Project oversight: Providing independent guidance and practical advice as a construction project progresses.
- Self-led project support: Helping homeowners who want to organise and manage their own construction work.
- Trade introductions: Helping connect homeowners with suitable tradespeople through our developing trade network.
The aim isn’t to replace qualified designers, building control professionals or the contractors responsible for carrying out the work.
It’s to give homeowners another source of practical advice when they’re making decisions about their property.
And importantly, the first 20-minute conversation is free.
Supporting Good Trades as Well as Homeowners
Something that’s equally important to us is supporting honest, hardworking tradespeople.
Having run a construction business myself, I understand that good trades often face challenges that customers don’t necessarily see.
Preparing detailed quotations takes time.
Quality materials cost money.
Proper planning and careful workmanship can be difficult to communicate when someone is comparing prices alone.
A cheaper quotation isn’t always better value, just as a higher price doesn’t automatically guarantee better work.
We want Clearly Built to help homeowners recognise these differences while giving reputable tradespeople an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of their work.
Better-informed customers and clearer expectations can benefit everyone involved.
What Does This Mean for Lakes Outdoor Spaces?
Lakes Outdoor Spaces continues to focus on outdoor joinery, landscaping and bespoke garden projects.
If you’re looking for decking, fencing, gates or a garden structure in the South Lakes or North Lancashire, Lakes Outdoor Spaces remains the business to contact for those services.
Clearly Built serves a different purpose.
It’s an independent guidance service for homeowners planning construction and renovation work, whether they need help understanding a quote, finding suitable trades or managing their own project.
Although I am involved in both businesses, their roles are distinct. Where a recommendation could involve Lakes Outdoor Spaces, that connection should be made clear so customers can make an informed decision.
For me, both ventures reflect the same underlying values: honest communication, good workmanship, clear expectations and putting customers first.
Looking Ahead
I’m proud of what I’ve built through Lakes Outdoor Spaces, and I’m equally excited about what Sam and I are developing with Clearly Built.
Our hope is that more homeowners will feel comfortable asking questions, understanding their quotations and making informed decisions before work begins.
Because a successful construction project should start with confidence, not confusion.
If you’re planning building or renovation work and would benefit from independent advice, you can learn more about our new venture at Clearly Built – Independent Construction Advice.
Your first 20-minute conversation is free.
Sam Winder
Founder, Lakes Outdoor Spaces
Co-Founder, Clearly Built