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.

Interior Decoration · Preparation & Finish

Interior Wall & Ceiling Painting in London

Interior painting is the most visible finishing trade in any renovation, and the one most often let down by rushed preparation. In our experience 70% of a wall's final appearance is set before a single coat of emulsion is applied — filling, sanding, priming, caulking and dust-free preparation are what separate a decorators' finish from a DIY one.

Our senior decorators paint walls and ceilings across Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill, Mayfair and beyond, working to a full-preparation specification: cracks cut out and filled with two-part filler, hairline crazing stabilised, previous water stains sealed with stain-blocking primer, and every corner caulked before topcoats.

We work with Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Paint & Paper Library, Papers and Paints, and Dulux Trade — matching finish selection (Estate Emulsion, Modern Emulsion, Absolute Matt, Intelligent Matt) to the room's use, humidity and traffic.

Full preparation including two-part filler and stain-block primer

Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Paint & Paper Library specialists

Hairline crack repair and ceiling reinstatement

Dust-controlled sanding and low-VOC coatings

Neat cut-ins at cornice, skirting and architrave

Two top-coats standard, three where colour demands it

The Preparation That Actually Matters

Preparation is where corners are cut on cheaper decorating quotes. Our specification includes: filling nail holes with two-part decorators' caulk, cutting out and re-filling hairline cracks with flexible filler, sanding filled areas smooth with 180-grit, sealing bare plaster with a mist coat of 30% water / 70% emulsion, and priming any water-stained or nicotine-affected areas with stain-blocking primer.

For ceilings we always apply a stabilising primer over patch-repaired plaster to prevent flashing (the visible outline where repairs telegraph through the finished coat). We use HEPA-filtered dust extraction on all sanding to keep occupied homes clean and safe.

Two-part filler for cracks and dents
Mist coat over bare plaster
Stain-block primer over water damage
HEPA dust extraction on all sanding

Choosing the Right Emulsion Finish

For principal reception rooms and bedrooms we specify a chalky matt — Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion or Little Greene Absolute Matt — for the pigment depth and traditional finish appropriate to period London homes. For hallways, kitchens, family rooms and bathrooms we specify a washable modern matt — Little Greene Intelligent Matt or F&B Modern Emulsion — for cleanability without sheen.

Ceilings are always finished in a dedicated ceiling white (F&B Wimborne White or Little Greene Loft White) in a dead-flat sheen that hides plaster imperfections and does not reflect sconce light awkwardly.

Working in Occupied Homes

Most of our decorating is done in occupied properties. We arrive with dust sheets across every floor, protect furniture that cannot be moved with polythene, mask hardware and lighting, and clean down at the end of every day. Low-odour, low-VOC coatings mean the space is habitable overnight.

For clients away from London we can hold keys, coordinate with cleaners, and hand back a fully-decorated, snagged and cleaned property ready for their return.

Programme & Cost Guidance

A single principal bedroom to full-preparation standard typically takes 2–3 days; a whole four-bedroom London house 3–4 weeks depending on complexity of period detailing, ceiling repairs and colour choices. Costs are quoted per m² or per room, transparent, and fixed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many coats of paint do you apply?

Two top-coats over a primer or mist coat is standard. For deep or saturated colours (dark blues, greens, reds) we apply three coats to achieve full colour depth without patchiness.

Can you paint over wallpaper?

Occasionally — but only where the wallpaper is well-adhered and non-textured. We always recommend removing wallpaper first for a proper, warranty-quality finish.

Will the smell be a problem for children or pets?

We use low-VOC water-based coatings almost exclusively; odour is minimal and the property is safely occupiable within hours of finishing.

Do you paint ceilings as standard?

Ceilings are quoted separately as they involve different access and often hairline crack repair. We recommend painting ceilings whenever walls are refreshed — the contrast between old and new is always visible.

Related Services

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