Frequently Asked Questions

Design and build means we handle both the design and the construction of your project under a single contract with a single team. Instead of you appointing an architect separately, then going out to tender to builders, and managing the relationship between them yourself, KV Design & Build Ltd coordinates everything. You get one point of contact, one contract, and clear accountability from initial brief through to handover.

We work across London and Hertfordshire. In London, we cover the full spread of North London boroughs — Barnet, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey, Enfield, and boroughs further in including Westminster and Southwark. In Hertfordshire, our base is in the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield area (01707 dialling code), and we cover the commuter belt including St Albans, Potters Bar, Hertford, Brookmans Park, Borehamwood, and surrounding towns. If you are unsure whether we cover your area, call us on 01707 326879 and we will confirm.

We work on residential and commercial projects. On the residential side: extensions (rear, side, double-storey, wrap-around), loft conversions, basement conversions, full refurbishments, and new builds. On the commercial and hospitality side: fit-outs for restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, and offices, plus retail shop fitting. We also offer building maintenance, handyman services, and property maintenance and snagging for landlords and managing agents.

Yes. KV Design & Build Ltd is fully insured. We are also Safe Contractor accredited, Gas Safe registered, and NICEIC approved, giving you assurance that the work meets the required standards across construction, gas, and electrical disciplines.

We hold Safe Contractor accreditation, Gas Safe registration for gas works, and NICEIC approval for electrical works. These cover the core regulated disciplines within construction projects and give you confidence that the work is carried out by qualified, assessed operatives.

Contact us by phone on 01707 326879 or 07788 852093, or by email at info@kvdesignbuild.co.uk. We offer a free no-obligation quote. Tell us about your project, your property, and your location, and we will arrange to visit the site and discuss your requirements before providing a detailed written quotation.

After your initial enquiry we will arrange a site visit at a time that suits you. At the visit we discuss your brief, assess the property, identify any constraints or planning considerations, and take any measurements needed. Following that we prepare and send you a detailed written quotation covering scope of works, materials, and the proposed programme. There is no obligation to proceed.

Yes. For design-and-build projects we manage the full planning and building regulations process as part of our service. We produce or commission the necessary drawings, prepare and submit planning applications where required, liaise with the local authority, and ensure all building regulations submissions and inspections are handled. For clients appointing us on a construction-only basis, we work from whatever approved drawings and consents you provide.

Yes. KV Design & Build Ltd is the main contractor for all projects we undertake. We manage and coordinate all trades on site — our own direct labour and any specialist subcontractors — so you have a single point of contact throughout. You should not need to manage individual trades or coordinate between them.

Absolutely. While our integrated design-and-build service provides the most streamlined approach, we are also happy to work from your architect's drawings and specification as a traditional main contractor. We have experience working with external architects, interior designers, and structural engineers on projects of all sizes.

An extension adds new built space to your home by extending the footprint or height of the building — rear extensions, side returns, double-storey additions. A conversion makes use of space that already exists within the structure but is not currently habitable — a loft that is used only for storage, a basement that is only a cellar, or a garage. Both add living space; the right choice depends on your property, your budget, and what space is available.

It depends on the type and scale of work, and on your property. Many rear extensions, loft conversions, and garage conversions fall under permitted development rights and do not need a formal planning application — though some London boroughs have removed PD rights through Article 4 directions, and conservation areas carry additional restrictions. We assess this as part of the initial site visit and design stage and advise you on the most appropriate route. We never start work that requires consent without the necessary approvals in place.

Yes. We have significant experience working within conservation areas across North London and Hertfordshire. Conservation area designation does not prevent good-quality alterations and extensions — it means they need to be designed sensitively and that some types of work require planning permission that would otherwise be permitted development. We understand how to navigate these constraints and how to produce designs that are sympathetic to the local character while still meeting our clients' functional needs.

If your project involves work close to or on a shared wall, or excavations near neighbouring foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 will likely require you to serve formal party-wall notices on your neighbours. We advise you on whether party-wall notices are needed, and we can recommend a party-wall surveyor to manage the process. We do not start work that requires party-wall agreement until those agreements are in place.

Our landline base is in the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield area (01707 area code) and we work regularly across North London and the wider Hertfordshire commuter belt. The M25, A1(M), and North Circular provide good access to our operational area. For specific enquiries about whether we cover your location, please call us on 01707 326879.

Yes. KV Design & Build Ltd works on residential projects — family homes, investment properties, new builds — and on commercial and hospitality projects — restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, offices, and retail units. Both benefit from our integrated approach and our multi-trade capability. Commercial fit-outs particularly benefit from our programme management, as a commercial space not trading is costing money.