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.

Heritage and listed building restoration

Heritage · Georgian, Victorian & Edwardian

Period Property Decoration & Restoration

Decorating a Georgian townhouse in Mayfair, a Victorian villa in Kensington or an Edwardian terrace in Chelsea is not the same trade as decorating a new-build flat. Period plaster is soft and breathable, original cornice and ceiling roses are irreplaceable if damaged, and the wrong paint system can trap moisture behind the finish and cause chronic damp within eighteen months.

Our heritage decorators specialise in the materials and techniques appropriate to pre-1919 London housing: breathable lime and clay paints, traditional distemper on original ceilings, delicate cornice restoration with fibrous plaster casts, and sensitive stripping of old paint from architrave, door frames and sash windows using non-caustic methods that do not scorch or damage the underlying timber.

We work regularly on Grade II listed and conservation-area properties across RBKC, Westminster and Camden — coordinating with heritage consultants and conservation officers where consent is required.

Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian specialists

Lime paint, clay paint and traditional distemper

Cornice, ceiling rose and dado restoration

Non-caustic paint stripping on original joinery

Listed and conservation-area experience

Coordination with heritage consultants and officers

Breathable Paint Systems for Period Walls

The single biggest technical error in period property decoration is applying modern acrylic emulsion to lime-plastered walls. Modern paints form a vapour barrier that traps moisture in the wall, causing blown paint, salt migration and — over years — accelerated decay of the plaster itself.

For pre-1919 lime-plastered walls we specify traditional lime paint (Bauwerk, Cornish Lime), clay paint (Earthborn) or Farrow & Ball's Limewash where a chalky matt aesthetic is required. Every case is judged on its specific plaster condition.

Lime and clay paints for pre-1919 walls
Distemper on original ceilings
Full moisture assessment
Compatibility with heritage plaster

Cornice, Ceiling Rose & Plaster Detail Restoration

Original Victorian and Edwardian cornice, ceiling roses and dado rails accumulate 130+ years of paint layers, hiding much of the original crispness. We carefully strip layers using warm-water and steam methods, take moulds of damaged sections, cast replacement lengths in fibrous plaster to match, and refit invisibly.

For particularly ornate ceilings we work with specialist fibrous plasterers to reproduce missing sections — a cost-effective alternative to replacement and, in listed cases, the only compliant option.

Original Joinery: Sash Windows, Doors & Architrave

Original joinery in London period homes is almost always worth restoring rather than replacing. Sash windows can carry twelve or more layers of paint by the time we see them — often obscuring beautiful pine detail underneath. We strip using non-caustic methods (heat plates, steam, DumondSmart Strip) that do not raise grain or scorch, then repair, prime and re-paint or wax to specification.

Listed & Conservation-Area Compliance

For Grade II listed and conservation-area properties we work to the specification issued by the heritage consultant or conservation officer — using approved paint systems, documenting works with photos and paint samples, and providing the records needed for any post-completion inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I use normal emulsion on my Victorian walls?

Modern acrylic emulsions are largely vapour-impermeable. On original lime plaster this traps moisture in the wall, causing paint to blow, salt bloom and chronic damp. Breathable lime or clay paints avoid this.

Can you match a damaged cornice section?

Yes. We take a silicone mould from an intact section, cast the replacement in fibrous plaster or resin, and refit. The result is visually seamless.

Do you need Listed Building Consent for interior decoration?

For most decoration on a Grade II listed property, no — but any alteration to original fabric may require consent. We can advise or introduce a heritage consultant.

How long does period property redecoration take?

Considerably longer than modern decoration. A Victorian principal reception room with cornice restoration and lime paint typically takes 2 weeks; a full ground floor 6–8 weeks.

Related Services

Request a Confidential Consultation

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