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 · Parquet, Herringbone & Wide Plank

Hardwood & Engineered Wood Flooring

A well-laid hardwood floor sets the tone of an entire London home. Whether it is a French-cut herringbone in a Kensington drawing room, a wide-plank oak in a Notting Hill kitchen extension, or a restored Victorian pine floor in a Chelsea townhouse, the difference between an average installation and a beautiful one comes down to substrate preparation, board acclimatisation, and craftsmanship on the day.

We supply and install solid hardwood, engineered wood and reclaimed timber from leading UK and European mills — Ted Todd, Element 7, Havwoods, Junckers and bespoke suppliers of French oak. Every board is acclimatised on site for a minimum of seven days, laid over a properly-prepared substrate with correct expansion gaps, and finished with hard-wax oil, lacquer or bespoke stains to specification.

For period properties in W1, W8, SW1, SW3 and NW3, we also restore original floors — sanding, filling, staining and finishing pine and oak boards that are often 120+ years old — bringing back a floor that in most cases is more beautiful and more valuable than any replacement.

Herringbone, chevron, French oak, and wide-plank installations

Solid, engineered and reclaimed timber specialists

Ted Todd, Element 7, Havwoods and bespoke mills

Hard-wax oil, lacquer and bespoke stain finishes

Compatible with underfloor heating (engineered specification)

Restoration of original Victorian and Edwardian boards

Solid vs Engineered: Choosing the Right Board

Solid hardwood — typically 18–22mm oak or ash — is the traditional choice and can be sanded and refinished many times over its life. It expands and contracts significantly with humidity and is not recommended over underfloor heating or on concrete slabs without a full battened subfloor.

Engineered wood — a hardwood wear layer of 4–6mm bonded to a dimensionally stable plywood core — is now the standard specification for most London projects. It handles underfloor heating, adhesive fixing to concrete, and the humidity swings of a centrally-heated London property, while looking and refinishing exactly like solid timber.

Solid oak/ash: 18–22mm, sandable multiple times
Engineered oak: 15–21mm total, 4–6mm wear layer
Wide plank (up to 300mm) requires engineered construction
Herringbone and chevron: engineered specification only for UFH

Herringbone, Chevron & Parquet Installations

Herringbone and chevron patterns are unforgiving. Any drift in setting-out over a 5m room becomes visible at the perimeter. We start every parquet installation by chalking a centre-line, dry-laying the first three courses to confirm alignment, and glue-fixing with a low-modulus MS-polymer adhesive that allows the boards to move fractionally with seasonal humidity.

For French-cut herringbone (mitred at 45°) we cut on site rather than relying on factory blocks, which lets us tailor the perimeter to the exact geometry of the room. Chevron requires factory-mitred boards but the same setting-out discipline applies.

Finishes: Oil, Lacquer, Stain & Reactive

The finish defines both the look and the maintenance profile. Hard-wax oil (Osmo, Woca, Rubio Monocoat) gives a matt, tactile surface that can be spot-repaired locally and refreshed every 3–5 years — the standard for most high-end London homes. Lacquer offers a harder, lower-maintenance finish suited to family kitchens and rental properties but requires full re-sanding when it eventually wears.

For clients wanting a distinctive, aged look we offer reactive stains — smoked oak, fumed oak, and lye-and-white finishes that develop over hours and cannot be replicated with pigment alone. Samples are prepared on the actual boards being laid, not on a generic swatch, so what you approve is what you get.

Restoration of Original Victorian & Edwardian Floors

Before assuming an old floor needs replacing, let us assess it. Most 19th-century pine and oak floors in London can be lifted, board-by-board renumbered, gaps closed with pine slivers, sanded through three grits, filled, and finished — for a fraction of the cost of a new hardwood floor, and with far more character.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have hardwood over underfloor heating?

Yes — with engineered wood, laid to specification with a maximum surface temperature of 27°C. Solid hardwood is not recommended over UFH.

How long does a herringbone floor take to install?

For a typical 30–40m² London reception room, allow 4–5 days for the herringbone installation plus 2–3 days for sanding and finishing.

Can you match a new floor to an existing one?

Yes. We can source boards to match species, grade, width and finish, and blend the transition — most commonly needed when a new extension joins an existing hallway or reception room.

How do I care for a hard-wax oiled floor?

Sweep or vacuum weekly, damp-mop with a pH-neutral wood soap (Osmo Wash & Care or Woca Natural Soap), and re-oil every 3–5 years in high-traffic areas. Spot-repairs are straightforward and do not require full sanding.

Related Services

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