Frequently asked questions

No. Consultations and written estimates are free and carry no obligation. For complex structural projects that need engineering or design work before a price is possible, we will explain any professional fees clearly before anything is commissioned.

Whether permission is needed depends on the property and the exact work. Householder permitted-development rights do not apply to flats, and conservation areas, Article 4 directions, listed status or the scale of a proposal can change what consent is required.

We review your property's position at the start and handle the process — architectural drawings, submissions and liaison with local councils across London and the Home Counties.

Timelines vary with scope, but for a full-scale, high-end renovation clients should anticipate:

• Pre-construction (8–12 weeks): design, structural engineering and planning.
• Primary works (16–24 weeks): structural alterations, first-fix services and shell completion.
• Finishing phase (8–12 weeks): joinery, specialist finishes and commissioning.

Smaller projects move much faster — a bathroom typically takes 2–3 weeks on site and a kitchen 3–5 weeks.

Estimates are broken down by stage so you can see where every pound goes. Once scope is agreed, payments are staged against progress on site — you pay for work as it is completed, not large sums up front. An appropriate contingency should reflect the age of the property, the quality of the survey and how complete the design and specification are. We bring you costs and options before any variation proceeds.

Yes — we carry comprehensive public and employer's liability insurance, and certificates are available on request. Our workmanship guarantee backs every project, qualifying structural works carry a 10-year structural warranty, and manufacturer warranties on appliances and systems are registered and passed to you at handover.

A named project manager — one person who surveys the job, prices it, runs the programme, manages the trades and walks the snag list with you at the end. You will never be passed between departments; one accountable person from start to finish is the Hamiltonn standard.

We are based in Edgware and work across all of Greater London and the Home Counties — Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Essex, Kent and Buckinghamshire. See the full list on our areas we cover page.

Absolutely — we regularly deliver projects designed by external architects and designers, and we are comfortable pricing from drawings and specifications. If you don't have a designer yet, we can introduce professionals we trust.

The enquiry is recorded in the Hamiltonn project system and assigned to a project manager. The project manager contacts you to clarify the scope and, if the property needs inspection before quotation, agrees a site-visit time with you.

Yes. The first form captures the essentials; drawings, photographs, planning references and specifications can be reviewed as the enquiry develops. They are especially useful where structural work, several trades or an existing design team are involved.

Sometimes. It depends on the scope, dust and noise, whether essential services remain available and how safely the work can be phased. A focused room project may be compatible with occupation; a major structural renovation may not be. We discuss this before the programme is agreed.

It should. A useful quotation identifies the priced scope, assumptions, exclusions and any client-supplied items or specialist costs that sit outside the contractor's figure. If something cannot yet be priced reliably, it is better to identify that uncertainty than hide it inside a headline total.