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 · Specialist Paperhanging

Wallpaper Hanging & Removal in London

Hanging a £4,000 roll of Cole & Son or a hand-painted De Gournay panel is a specialist trade — not a general-decorator task. A single misaligned drop, a bubble that dries in, or a seam that lifts within weeks can ruin what should be the most striking finish in a room.

Our paperhangers work regularly with the most demanding wallpapers on the market: De Gournay and Fromental hand-painted silk panels, Cole & Son and Little Greene traditional papers, Zoffany and Sanderson archive prints, Phillip Jeffries grasscloths, and bespoke digital murals. Each has its own paste, hang direction, drying regime and repair tolerance.

We also handle removal — stripping old wallpaper without gouging the plaster beneath, preparing walls to a paintable or re-paperable standard, and dealing with the crumbling lining paper often found in older London properties.

De Gournay, Fromental and hand-painted silk panel installation

Cole & Son, Little Greene, Zoffany, Sanderson specialists

Grasscloth, silk, foil and metallic papers

Bespoke digital mural fitting

Damage-free wallpaper stripping

Lining paper preparation for premium finishes

Hand-Painted & Silk Panel Installation

De Gournay and Fromental panels are numbered, matched and hung in a specific sequence — usually starting from a central chimneybreast or focal wall and working outwards. Each panel is trimmed on site to the exact ceiling and skirting line; paste is applied to the wall (not the paper) using a specific archival adhesive; and the panels are aligned edge-to-edge with hairline seams.

We coordinate directly with De Gournay's and Fromental's installation teams where the client wishes, and provide the walls-ready preparation (lining paper hung in the correct direction, sealed and dry) that these makers specify.

Panel-numbered installation sequence
Paste-the-wall archival adhesive
Hairline seams, no overlap
Coordination with maker's installers

Lining Paper: The Invisible Foundation

Every premium wallpaper installation begins with lining paper — hung horizontally (cross-lining) so seams cannot show through the finish paper. In older London homes with imperfect plaster we specify 1400-grade lining; for silks and grasscloth we go to 1700-grade. Skipping this step is the single most common cause of premium papers failing.

Grasscloth, Foil & Textured Papers

Grasscloth (Phillip Jeffries, Élitis) has visible batch variation between rolls — accepted as part of the character but requiring careful roll sequencing to avoid harsh transitions. Metallic and foil papers show every plaster imperfection and need mirror-flat wall preparation. Textured papers need adhesive matched to weight — we work from the manufacturer's specification every time.

Damage-Free Removal

Old wallpaper is stripped using warm water and steam plates, working slowly to avoid gouging the plaster. In pre-1960s properties the wall behind is often lath-and-plaster or original lime plaster and cannot survive aggressive scraping. Once stripped, walls are washed to remove residual paste, filled, sanded and re-lined ready for the next finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you install De Gournay wallpaper?

Yes — we install De Gournay, Fromental and other hand-painted panel makers regularly, coordinating with the maker's technical team on preparation and hang sequence.

How much does specialist wallpaper hanging cost?

Standard papers: £25–£40 per roll to hang. Silk and grasscloth: £60–£100. Hand-painted panels quoted per panel; typically £80–£150 per panel plus lining.

Do I need lining paper under premium wallpapers?

Almost always yes. Silks, foils, grasscloths and hand-painted papers all require lined walls. Skipping this step is the most common cause of premium papers failing.

Can old wallpaper be removed without damaging the wall?

In most cases yes, using steam and patience. Very old lime-plaster walls need particular care and occasional patch re-plastering afterwards.

Related Services

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

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