Builders in Cambridge

Structure first, finishes last

Every job we run in Cambridge starts with the parts you will never see again: foundations dug to the depth the ground actually needs, steels sized by an engineer with padstones and fire protection, and a weathertight roof before a single plasterboard sheet arrives. Finishes are the easy part once the shell is right.

The CB1 to CB5 building stock

Cambridge is mostly Victorian and Edwardian terraces off Mill Road, 1930s semis in Cherry Hinton and a large stock of college-era brick, and each of those wants a different approach. We survey what is there — wall construction, floor build-up, drain runs, roof type — and price from that, so the quote reflects your house rather than a generic square-metre rate.

One team, one programme

You deal with Gabriel from the first site visit to the final snag. Trades are sequenced in writing — groundwork, structure, roof, first fix, plaster, second fix, decoration — so nobody turns up to a job that is not ready and the Cambridge programme does not drift by a month.

Building control and paperwork

Building regulations approval, structural calculations, party wall notices where a shared wall is involved and Cambridge City Council conditions are all handled as part of the job. You get the inspection sign-offs and certificates at the end, which is what a solicitor asks for when you sell.

Building work across Cambridge

Cambridge is about forty minutes north of our Bishop's Stortford base, so CB1 to CB5 work is booked as continuous days with materials delivered ahead of the trade that needs them. Small structural jobs run one to two weeks, a single-storey extension eight to twelve, and a full refurbishment two to four months.

Mill Road and Romsey terraces

Terraces off Mill Road are narrow, sit hard against neighbours and usually have a single-skin rear addition worth removing rather than patching. Side-return infills work well here, but party wall notices, a shared-access plan for material deliveries and a genuine no-parking strategy have to be agreed before we start, not on week two.

Cherry Hinton and Trumpington semis

The interwar and post-war semis take a rear extension cleanly: cavity walls, generous plots and simple drainage. What catches people out is the shallow foundation depth beside mature trees, so we allow for deeper trench fill in the quote instead of pricing an unpleasant surprise later.

Conservation areas and college-owned land

Large parts of central Cambridge sit inside conservation areas where window details, brick bond and roof materials are scrutinised. We build to the approved drawings and keep photographic records of every stage so the building control and conservation sign-off is straightforward.

What does an extension cost in Cambridge?

A single-storey rear extension in CB1 to CB5 typically runs £1,700 to £2,300 per square metre for the shell and standard finishes, with kitchens, bathrooms and glazing priced separately. Groundwork, drainage and steelwork are itemised so you can see where the money goes.

Do you give fixed prices or estimates?

Fixed written prices, itemised stage by stage, once we have drawings or a measured survey. Where something genuinely cannot be known until the floor comes up, we say so and set a provisional sum rather than hiding it in the total.

Are you insured and do you offer any guarantee?

Yes — public liability insurance, and a workmanship guarantee on structural and finishing work. Manufacturer warranties on windows, roofing and boilers are passed to you with the completion paperwork.

How soon can you start in Cambridge?

Lead time for Cambridge building work is currently around four to eight weeks for larger projects, and smaller structural jobs can often fill a slot sooner. Sending drawings early is what secures a date.

Do you handle planning and drawings?

We work with architects and structural engineers we trust and can introduce you, or build from drawings you already have. We check consented drawings against what will actually build on site before pricing.

Can we live in the house while you build?

Usually, yes. We seal the working zone with dust protection, keep a clean route through the house, maintain water and heating wherever possible, and give you a weekly plan of what is happening next.

Will you take on work another builder abandoned?

Regularly. We survey what has been done, tell you honestly what has to come out and what can be kept, and price the finish as a fresh job with its own guarantee.

Do you work inside Cambridge conservation areas?

Yes. We build strictly to the approved drawings, match brick bond and mortar colour to the existing elevation, and keep a photographic record for building control and conservation officers.