How long does a typical home extension take?

Most single-story extensions take 8-12 weeks from start to completion, depending on size and complexity. We provide detailed timelines during our initial consultation.

Do I need planning permission for a home extension?

Many extensions fall under permitted development rights, but this depends on your property type and extension size. We help assess requirements and handle planning applications when needed.

Are you fully licensed and insured?

Yes, we are fully licensed with £2 million public liability insurance. All our tradespeople are qualified professionals and members of relevant trade associations.

Prime London's Trusted Luxury Builder

Vine Construction luxury London home renovation — Kensington townhouse extension with heritage sash windows and stone facade

Vine Construction is a family-run firm of luxury London builders specialising in the discreet, high-specification renovation of period townhouses, mews properties and prime residential estates across the capital. Since 2008 we have delivered complex home extensions, loft conversions, basement conversions and full period property restorations for owners of Grade II listed homes, conservation-area properties and estate-managed leaseholds including Grosvenor, Cadogan, Portman and Howard de Walden.

Our teams combine traditional trades — lime plastering, timber joinery, lead work, stone masonry and traditional sash window restoration — with modern building science: airtightness detailing, MVHR, underfloor heating and heritage-appropriate secondary glazing for acoustic and thermal upgrades that preserve historic character. Every project is led by a dedicated contracts manager, delivered under a JCT contract, and covered by £2m public liability and £10m employer's liability insurance.

Signature Services

Rear kitchen extension with steel-framed Crittall doors opening onto a landscaped Chelsea garden

Home & Kitchen Extensions — single, double and wrap-around rear extensions with structural steels, glazed lanterns and seamless internal reconfiguration.
Loft Conversions — mansard, L-shape and dormer loft conversions engineered for Victorian and Edwardian roofs across RBKC, Westminster and Camden.
Basement & Vault Conversions — single-storey basement digs, lightwell formation and Party Wall Act coordination for terraced London homes.
Bespoke Kitchen Renovations — architect-led kitchens with hand-made cabinetry, stone worktops and integrated appliance packages.
Luxury Bathroom Refurbishment — spa-standard master suites with book-matched stone, walk-in showers and underfloor heating.
Period Property Restoration — sympathetic restoration of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian townhouses under listed-building consent.
Sash Window Restoration — full overhaul, draught-proofing and reinstatement of timber box-sash windows.
Heritage Secondary Glazing — discreet slimline systems that deliver acoustic and thermal performance without altering the primary window.
Roofing & Leadwork — natural slate, clay tile and traditional lead detailing for heritage roofs.
Interior Fit-Out — joinery, decoration and finishes coordinated with our in-house project managers.

Areas We Serve Across Prime London

Map of prime Central and West London neighbourhoods served by Vine Construction including Kensington, Chelsea, Mayfair and Belgravia

We work across the most demanding postcodes in the capital, coordinating with local conservation officers, estate surveyors and heritage architects to deliver renovations that respect neighbourhood character.

Builders in Kensington (W8) — Victorian and Edwardian townhouses under RBKC control.
Builders in Chelsea (SW3) — Cadogan Estate leaseholds and King's Road properties.
Builders in Mayfair (W1) — Grosvenor Estate townhouses and Georgian terraces.
Builders in Belgravia (SW1) — stucco-fronted Grade II listed homes.
Builders in Knightsbridge (SW1X, SW7) — high-security prime residential renovations.
Builders in Notting Hill (W11) — stucco terraces and mews houses.
Builders in Hampstead (NW3) — Arts & Crafts and Georgian properties.
Builders in Marylebone (W1U) — Howard de Walden and Portman Estate homes.
Builders in Fulham (SW6) — Victorian terraces and family extensions.
Builders in Richmond (TW9, TW10) — riverside conservation homes.
Kensington Victorian & Edwardian Restorations
See all 40+ London areas served →

Recent Projects & Case Studies

Chelsea townhouse whole-house renovation featured in Vine Construction portfolio

Our portfolio documents ten flagship renovations completed across Central London, each with detailed scope, timeline, challenge and solution notes:

Chelsea Sash Window Restoration — full overhaul of 18 heritage box-sash windows.
Discreet Secondary Glazing, Belgravia — acoustic upgrade to a Grade II listed townhouse.
Mayfair Townhouse Whole-House Refurbishment
Kensington Basement Conversion & Lightwell
Notting Hill Mansard Loft Conversion
Knightsbridge Rear Kitchen Extension

Journal — Insights on Heritage Renovation

Long-form guides written by our contracts managers and heritage specialists:

Our Process — From Enquiry to Handover

Confidential consultation — a site survey and NDA-backed initial discussion.
Feasibility & costing — a detailed cost plan aligned with your architect's drawings.
Pre-construction — planning, listed-building consent and Party Wall Act notices.
Construction — dedicated contracts manager, weekly reporting and JCT contract administration.
Handover & aftercare — 12-month workmanship warranty and defects liability period.

Trust, Credentials & Insurance

Vine Construction is a fully insured contractor with £2m public liability, £10m employer's liability and contract works cover to £5m. We hold CSCS-carded trades, Gas Safe registered engineers and NICEIC-approved electricians, and we work regularly with heritage architects, conservation officers, and estate surveyors. Every completed project is backed by a written 12-month workmanship warranty in addition to standard manufacturer guarantees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a typical London home extension take?

Most single-storey rear extensions take 14–20 weeks on site once planning and Party Wall matters are resolved. Larger wrap-around and basement projects range from 6 to 14 months.

Do you work on Grade II listed buildings?

Yes — a significant portion of our workload is Grade II listed and conservation-area properties in Kensington, Chelsea, Belgravia and Mayfair. See our period property restoration page.

Are you fully insured?

Yes, we carry £2m public liability, £10m employer's liability and project-specific contract works cover.

Can you coordinate with our architect and interior designer?

Absolutely — we regularly work as principal contractor alongside leading London architects and design studios.

Request a Confidential Site Survey

To discuss your project in confidence, call 020 7060 1579, WhatsApp +44 7853 322555, or email info@vineconstruction.com. Book online via our contact page or request a complimentary site survey.

Fine Flooring · Wool, Wilton & Stripe Runners

Carpet Fitting & Premium Underlay in London

Carpet in a London home has to work hard. Georgian floorboards flex, Victorian stairs twist and turn, and Edwardian landings rarely run true. Our senior fitters specialise in the exact conditions that make period London properties challenging — laying wool twist, Wilton and hand-woven stripe runners with the tension, seam placement and grip-rod detailing that give a carpet a settled, tailored finish that lasts twenty years.

We supply and fit carpets from Roger Oates, Alternative Flooring, Brintons, Crucial Trading and bespoke wool weavers, matched with high-density PU underlays such as Cloud 9 Cumulus, Tredaire Softwalk, and Duralay Timbermate for hardwood-friendly installations. Every job begins with a full survey — measuring, subfloor moisture, gully depth on stairs and door clearances — so the carpet you receive is planned rather than improvised on the day.

Whether we are dressing a single principal bedroom in Kensington, running a stripe stair runner in a Notting Hill townhouse or carpeting an entire Belgravia mews, the standard is the same: mitred seams, aligned patterns, invisible joins and a neat brass or hardwood transition into every adjoining room.

Wool twist, Wilton, sisal-look and stripe runner specialists

Cloud 9, Tredaire and Duralay premium underlay systems

Stair runners with brass or hardwood nosings and rod detail

Full-house measure, plan and fit — one lead fitter per project

Subfloor moisture testing and screed leveling if required

Old carpet uplift, disposal and clean handover included

Choosing the Right Carpet & Underlay Specification

The right carpet is a balance between fibre, construction, pile weight and traffic. For principal bedrooms, an 80/20 wool twist at 40oz gives softness and long recovery. For hallways and stairs — where footfall concentrates — we recommend a heavier wool loop or striped runner from Roger Oates, which wears cleanly and disguises grit. For dressing rooms and studies, a fine wool velvet lifts the room without dominating.

Underlay is the single most under-specified element in London homes. A cheap crumb underlay flattens within two years and voids most manufacturer warranties. We fit premium PU underlays — typically 10mm or 11mm — that improve acoustic performance, extend carpet life and feel substantially more luxurious underfoot. On upper floors and flats we can supply acoustic-rated underlays that meet Part E building regulations.

40–60oz wool twist for principal rooms
Wool loop or stripe runner for stairs and landings
10–11mm PU underlay for premium feel
Acoustic underlays for apartments and upper floors

Stair Runners: Where Craftsmanship Shows

A stair runner is the most visible piece of carpentry-meets-textile in the home. Our fitters lay runners waterfall or capped depending on the tread profile, align the pattern down the entire flight, and finish with polished brass or antique bronze stair rods where the aesthetic calls for it. Winder stairs — common in Victorian conversions — are cut individually to prevent bulging on the outside curve.

For clients pairing runners with restored pine or stained oak treads, we work alongside our joinery team so the exposed timber and carpet arrive at the same visual quality. Where the stair is being kept but the carpet replaced, we can sand and seal the exposed edges before the runner is fitted.

Subfloor Preparation & Whole-House Installations

A carpet is only as good as the floor under it. Before installation we lift old flooring, check for squeaking boards, screw down loose timber, patch or level any subfloor movement, and if required install a plywood overlay for a perfectly flat base. On concrete subfloors — common in mansion-block flats — we check moisture with a hygrometer and fit an appropriate barrier where readings are high.

For full-house installations we schedule room-by-room so the property remains liveable, coordinate with painters and decorators to avoid damage, and use door and skirting protection throughout. Every project ends with a snag walk-through: seams inspected, thresholds checked, and the site left broom-clean.

Squeak elimination and board re-fixing
Plywood overlay where required for flatness
Moisture testing on concrete subfloors
Coordination with painters, joiners and electricians

Working Across London Postcodes

Most of our carpet work is in SW1, SW3, SW7, W1, W8, W11, NW1, NW3 and NW8 — areas where property values reward doing the job to a higher standard. We hold stock relationships with the major UK mills so lead times on wool twist and stripe runners are usually 3–4 weeks, and we can supply CAD room plans and sample boards before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a full-house carpet installation take?

A typical four-bedroom London home takes 2–3 days once materials are on site: one day for uplift and preparation, one to two days for fitting, and a final walk-through for snagging.

Do you supply carpets or can I bring my own?

Both. We can supply from Roger Oates, Alternative Flooring, Brintons, Crucial Trading and bespoke weavers, or fit a carpet you have purchased separately — the underlay and installation quality is the same.

What underlay do you recommend for stairs?

A firm 8–10mm PU underlay such as Cloud 9 Cumulus for domestic stairs, or a contract-grade underlay in high-traffic homes. Softer underlays feel luxurious in bedrooms but compress on stair edges.

Can you fit acoustic underlay in a flat?

Yes. We fit Part E-compliant acoustic underlays that reduce impact sound transmission to the flat below — often required by lease and by London block managing agents.

Related Services

Request a Confidential Consultation

Speak with a senior estimator about your project. Fixed pricing, transparent programme, and 20+ years of high-end London delivery.

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