Building and Home Improvement Guides
Planning building work raises the same questions again and again. What type of loft conversion suits my roof? Do I need planning permission for an extension? Is it worth repairing an old boiler? Who is responsible for a blocked drain?
Our guides answer those questions in plain English, based on how building work is actually done in London homes. Each guide explains the options, the rules that apply and the points to check, and links to the service page if you would like us to take a look at your project.
Latest guides
Latest Guides
The newest articles appear here automatically, with their title, a one-line summary and the date.
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!
Read the guide
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!
Browse
Guides by Topic
Eleven topics, each linked to the service page if you would like us to take a look at your project.
Loft Conversions
Guides to choosing between Velux, dormer, hip-to-gable, mansard and L-shaped lofts, what permitted development allows, what building regulations require for stairs, fire safety and insulation, and whether a shell or full conversion suits you.
See our loft conversion service →House Extensions
Comparisons of side return, wrap-around, rear and double-storey extensions, what you can build without planning permission, and what a build over agreement means if your extension covers a public sewer.
See our house extensions service →Garage and Basement Conversions
What building regulations require to turn a garage into a habitable room, how basements are waterproofed, and the difference between converting a cellar and digging a new basement.
See our garage & basement services →Renovations and Period Properties
Checklists for kitchen, bathroom and whole-house renovations, the order the trades should work in, and how to update a Victorian or Edwardian home without losing its original features.
See our renovations service →Driveways
Side-by-side comparisons of block paving, resin, tarmac, gravel, concrete and stone setts, and the planning rules for paving a front garden, including when a permeable surface is needed.
See our driveways service →Foundations and Subsidence
How to recognise the signs of subsidence, how underpinning works, and which piling methods suit extensions and new builds on difficult ground.
See our piling & underpinning service →Plumbing and Drainage
What to do in a plumbing emergency, who is responsible for the drains on your property, when a CCTV drain survey is worth it before buying a home, and how leaks are traced with minimal damage.
See our plumbing services →Boilers and Heating
Combi versus system boilers, the signs that a boiler needs replacing, what a power flush does, how to size a radiator, and whether wet or electric underfloor heating suits your room.
See our boiler & central heating services →Electrics
What Part P of the building regulations means for electrical work at home, what to expect from a house rewire, and what to consider before adding solar panels or an EV charger.
See our electrician services →Garden Buildings, Decorating and Finishing
Planning rules for outbuildings and summer houses, conservatory types, when a wall crack is cosmetic and when it needs investigating, and how to keep tiling and grout watertight.
See our outbuildings, decorating & tiling →New Builds and Commercial Projects
The step-by-step process of building a new home or a small block of flats, and how commercial building work is planned around a working business.
See our new builds & commercial services →Can't find your question?
Send it to us — it may become a new guide.
Our standards
How We Write Our Guides
Every guide is written for homeowners, landlords and small businesses in London, not for the trade.
- Plain English. We explain technical terms the first time we use them.
- Honest about local rules. We say clearly when something depends on your council or your house.
- Official sources. We point to the official source, such as the Planning Portal or GOV.UK, where a rule applies.
- Kept up to date. Each guide shows the date it was last reviewed. Planning rules, building regulations and costs change, so we update guides when they do.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions we are asked most.
Still have a question?
Talk to us directly — we're happy to help, even if you're not ready to book.
Our guides explain the general rules and options, but every house is different. Before you start work, get your project checked at a site survey and confirm planning and building regulations requirements with your council or an approved inspector.
They explain the national rules that apply across England, such as permitted development, and point out where councils can differ, for example in conservation areas or where an Article 4 direction applies. Our areas we cover pages add local detail for each borough we work in.
Yes. Send us your question through our contact form or on WhatsApp at 07000 000000. If it is something other readers are likely to ask too, we may turn the answer into a new guide.
More questions? See our frequently asked questions.
Start your project
Ready to Talk About Your Project?
When you have read enough and want an answer for your own home, book a free site survey and we will talk you through the options in person.
Free · No obligation