Hip-to-gable + double dormer
Ealing · 1930s semi · 13-week build
Brief
Ealing semi with the classic 1930s hipped roof. Family of five outgrowing three bedrooms downstairs. Hip-to-gable plus full-width rear dormer would unlock two bedrooms and a bathroom under permitted development.
Challenge
Slim site — only 1.2m to the side boundary, requiring careful scaffold and crane positioning. The neighbour's drive runs along that boundary; access negotiation needed before any plant arrived.
Solution
Permitted development with Lawful Development Certificate. Brick gable matched to existing fabric using sample panels approved on site. Rear dormer in zinc standing seam for a contemporary contrast. Master with ensuite over existing first-floor bathroom; second bedroom in the dormer; family bathroom on the landing.
Outcome
LDC issued at 6 weeks. Build completed in 13 weeks. Neighbour pleased — Builderr team's daily cleardown of the shared access kept the relationship intact. Property revalued at +£180,000 immediately post-completion.
Spec
Project specification.
Gallery
Inside the build.
Builderr vs other London builders.
The construction industry has a wide distribution of operators. Here's what changes between a directly-employed, fixed-scope outfit and the alternatives.
| Criterion | Builderr | Typical London builder | Cowboy outfit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour model | Directly employed team (PAYE) | Mixed subcontract gangs | Day-rate cash labour |
| Pricing | Fixed-scope itemised quote | Estimate + provisional sums | Verbal price + variations |
| Design & engineering | In-house architect + SE | Outsourced, separate billing | Builder draws on the back of an envelope |
| Planning + LDC handled | Yes — included in price | Often charged extra | Builder asks you to apply |
| Party wall surveyors | Instructed by us | Your responsibility | Skipped (illegal) |
| Building control | Plans + site inspections booked by us | Building Notice route | Not registered |
| Project management | Dedicated PM, weekly photo updates | Foreman doubles up | Owner-manager juggles 5 jobs |
| Payment schedule | Stage payments against signed-off milestones | Weekly invoices | Cash up front |
| Insurance | £10M PL + 10yr structural warranty | £2–5M PL only | No documented cover |
| Snags at handover | <3 typical | 20–30 typical | Walk-off mid-job common |
| Variation creep | 0% — fixed scope | +15–25% over original quote | +40%+ regularly |
Save £20,400–£45,900 on a hip-to-gable loft conversion.
Industry data (FMB, RICS, Which? Trusted Trader 2024) shows the average London construction project overruns by 18–22% on cost and 25–35% on time. Fixed-scope contracts with a single accountable team eliminate that variance. The savings above assume a typical project at £102,000.
Want a build like Ealing?
Get a fixed-scope quote with the same direct-labour delivery. Senior consultant call within one business hour.
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