Full House Refurbishment
Camden Town is Georgian and early-Victorian terraces, much of it listed or in a conservation area, and a great deal of it long since converted into flats. We refurbish both, properly, across NW1.
What It Is
NW1 is older stock than most of the areas we cover. Camden Town, Primrose Hill and the streets around Camden Square are largely Georgian and early-Victorian, with a high proportion listed and extensive conservation area coverage. Much of it was divided into flats decades ago. The result is buildings with genuine architectural quality and, very often, services and alterations that were added without much regard for either the fabric or the next owner.
Refurbishing here means separating those two things. On the fabric side: lime plaster and breathable finishes rather than dense cement on solid walls, original sash windows repaired instead of replaced, cornicing, shutters, staircases and chimneypieces restored where they survive. On the services side: a complete rewire and replumb, modern heating, insulation and acoustic separation between flats — all routed so that nothing protected is damaged and nothing new is visible where it should not be.
Camden is a demanding borough to build in and we plan accordingly. Parking is permit-controlled and tight, many streets cannot take a skip, and listed building consent runs on its own timetable. We settle consents, permits, waste strategy and the party wall position before mobilising, because in NW1 those are what determine whether a programme holds.
The Full Scope
A full project can cover as much or as little of the house as you need. Here's how the work usually breaks down.
How It Works
We visit, look over the whole property and talk through what you want to achieve, your priorities and your budget. The visit is £25, and we take it off your quote if you go ahead.
We pull the scheme together and send a clear written quote, a scope of works and a realistic timeline, so you know exactly what you're getting before anything starts.
We clear the space and get the bones right — structural work, rewiring and pipework — the parts that are hard and costly to change once walls are closed up.
Plastering, the kitchen and bathrooms, flooring, doors and joinery all go in, and the house starts to look like a home again.
Painting, decorating and all the final detailing that pulls the whole project together into one consistent finish.
We go through the work with you, sort any snags, hand over a spotless home — and back it with our 12-month guarantee.
Budgeting
Every refurbishment is priced individually after a survey — there's no honest one-size-fits-all figure, because no two homes (or wish-lists) are the same. These are the main things that move the budget:
Worth Knowing
None of these need to slow you down — we'll guide you through all of them — but it helps to have them on your radar.
Some changes need permission; many fall under permitted development. We'll tell you early which applies to you.
Structural, electrical and plumbing work must meet building regs — we handle compliance and the sign-off.
If you share a wall with neighbours, a party wall agreement may be needed before structural work begins.
Decide early whether you'll move out — for a full refurb it often speeds the job up and keeps costs down.
Good refurbishments take time. A little buffer beats rushing the finish on the home you'll live in for years.
Older homes spring surprises. Setting aside roughly 10% keeps things stress-free if something unexpected turns up.
Where We Work
We refurbish houses and flats throughout Camden Town and the surrounding NW postcodes, much of it within conservation areas, including:
Good to Know
Yes — NW1 and the surrounding area, including Kentish Town, Primrose Hill, Chalk Farm, Camden Square, Regent's Park and Belsize Park.
Listing protects the whole building, so internal features such as staircases, cornicing, shutters, panelling and chimneypieces are frequently covered as well as the exterior. Listed building consent is needed for works affecting character. We establish the grade and extent before design, and design the scheme to fit it.
Yes, and getting this wrong causes real damage. Solid walls need to breathe, so lime-based plasters and breathable finishes are generally correct, while dense cement renders and impermeable coatings trap moisture and drive damp into the fabric. Insulation has to be specified with that in mind rather than applied as standard.
Yes, and it is one of the most common requests in Camden conversions. Older conversions typically have almost no acoustic separation. During a refurbishment, with floors already up, is by far the most cost-effective time to install proper treatment.
It needs organising in advance. Much of NW1 is permit-controlled and plenty of streets cannot accommodate a skip at all, so waste often goes out bagged or by booked collection. We arrange permits, schedule deliveries and agree working hours as part of the programme.
In terraces and flats it very often does. We identify it early, coordinate with the surveyor and ensure notices are served in good time, since late notices are a frequent cause of delay.
Get in touch with the address and what you want to achieve. We will check the listing and conservation position, arrange a site survey (£25, taken off your quote if you go ahead) and come back with a clear written quote.
Explore More
Smaller job rather than a whole house? See our handyman services in Camden Town.
Tell us about the property and get a free, no-obligation quote for your full house refurbishment in Camden Town — from a team that sees it through from the first survey to the final sign-off.