Tips, guides and inspiration for your next construction project in London.
Why London bay windows crack and sag, the warning signs, when bay poles, a new lintel or a full rebuild is needed, building regulations and indicative costs.
Why London basements and cellars get damp, how a proper survey diagnoses it, BS 8102 grades, tanking vs cavity drain membranes vs injected DPC, and indicative costs.
Fitting an air source heat pump in a London Victorian terrace: the 2026 grant, planning rules, heat loss and emitters, solid-wall insulation, MVHR, costs and running costs.
Why lead valleys and gutters on London period roofs leak, the signs to look for, when to repair or renew, lead codes, building regulations, conservation areas and costs.
Every stage of a London house extension in order: design, planning, party wall, build-over, building regulations, the build week by week, inspections, payments and sign-off.
Garden rooms and outbuildings in London: the permitted development height and size limits, conservation areas, Article 4, building regulations, electrics, trees, sewers and costs.
Rendering a London house: sand and cement, lime, through-coloured and silicone renders compared, why cement harms Victorian brick, planning, Part L and indicative costs.
When an extension near a sewer needs a Thames Water build-over agreement, the classes, fees, timescales and refusals, manholes, diversions, Approved Document H4 and selling.
Front garden driveways in London: the 5m² permeable rule, when you need planning permission, dropped kerb criteria and 2026 council fees by borough, construction and costs.
Approval rates, conservation areas, Article 4 directions and design rules for Woodford, Wanstead and Ilford.
Median decision times for every London borough, and for lofts, extensions, basements and certificates.
Our 2026 study of 17,918 planning decisions: approval rates and decision times, borough by borough.
Costs, steel beams, Building Regulations and why it is never a DIY job for London homes.
Cost, space, planning and value compared, and how to choose the right one for your London home.
What different projects add to a London home in 2026, the highest-return work, and how to avoid over-developing.
Rear, side-return, wraparound and double-storey prices for 2026, what is included, and the design ideas that make a kitchen extension work.
Permitted development rights explained for London homeowners in 2026 — rear extensions, loft dormers, side extensions and outbuildings, plus the limits that catch people out.
Planning a conservation area extension in London? What Permitted Development you lose, heritage statements, material rules, realistic costs and timelines per borough.
Permitted development vs full planning permission explained for London homeowners. Size limits, Article 4 Directions, conservation areas and how to apply.
Full realistic timeline from planning to completion. Single-storey typically takes 6–10 months from first meeting to handover, double-storey 8–14 months. What causes delays and how to avoid them.
Complete guide to loft conversion costs in London. Dormer from £45,000, Mansard from £60,000, Velux from £25,000. Real prices and what affects the cost.
Everything you need to know about basement conversions in London. Costs, planning rules, structural requirements, and what to expect from start to finish.
How to find and choose the right builder for your London construction project. Accreditations to check, red flags to avoid, and questions to ask.
How much does it cost to renovate a Victorian terraced house in London? Full cost breakdown from structural work to fit-out, with real 2026 prices from completed projects.