TB&D Journal
Guides, costs
and straight answers.
What a London renovation actually costs. When you need planning permission. How to vet a builder properly. The questions you should be asking — and the answers most of the trade would rather you didn’t know.
Brass and walnut: the warm-luxe London bathroom that won't date
Brushed brass taps, a bespoke walnut vanity, and marble — why this warm-luxe London bathroom combination outlasts every trend. Design guide for 2026.
Freestanding baths in a London bathroom — stone, stone-resin, acrylic or cast iron?
Freestanding bath materials compared for a London bathroom — weight, warmth, price, and the floor-loading reality period joists can't afford to ignore.
Marble bathrooms in London — Calacatta, Carrara, Statuario (and when porcelain wins)
Marble bathroom costs, types, and honest maintenance realities for London homes — plus when marble-effect porcelain is the smarter call.
Basement conversion cost in London, 2026
Full-dig vs tanking vs underpinning — what a London basement conversion costs in 2026, who you need on the team, and what actually goes wrong.
Full house renovation cost in London, 2026
Room-by-room cost breakdown for a whole-house renovation in London in 2026 — from a 1-bed flat to a 5-bed detached, with realistic contingency and timeline.
Mansard roof conversion cost in London, 2026
What a mansard loft conversion actually costs in London — structure, zinc cladding, planning, timelines and how it compares to a dormer.
House extension cost in London, 2026
What a London house extension actually costs in 2026 — rear, side return, two-storey and wrap-around — with real m² rates, hidden costs, and timeline.
Bathroom renovation costs in London, 2026
What a proper bathroom refit actually costs in London in 2026 — by scope, by finish level, and the hidden costs nobody quotes for upfront.
Kitchen renovation costs in London, 2026
What a proper London kitchen actually costs in 2026 — by spec, by layout, by cabinetry type — and the costs most quotes quietly leave out.
Loft conversion costs in London, 2026
Dormer, mansard, hip-to-gable, Velux — what each type of London loft conversion actually costs in 2026, plus the hidden costs and planning traps.
Kitchen extensions in London — do you need planning permission?
A plain-English guide to permitted development, prior approval, and full planning applications for kitchen extensions in London — with the common traps.
Renovating a Victorian house in London — the full guide
Lead pipes, lath-and-plaster, bomb damage, rising damp, wet rot, dead electrics. A survival guide to renovating a Victorian or Edwardian London property in 2026.
Engineered oak vs solid wood vs LVT — which floor should you actually choose?
A plain-English comparison of engineered oak, solid wood, LVT and laminate for London homes. What lasts, what doesn't, and what you'll regret in three years.
When should you replace your boiler? A London homeowner's guide
Repair or replace? The honest signs your boiler is done, what a new one costs in London 2026, and how to avoid the hard-sell from door-knockers.
Wet room vs walk-in shower — which is right for your London bathroom?
Cost, practicality, resale, and the plumbing realities. When a wet room is the right call in a London home, and when a walk-in shower beats it.
How to choose a London builder (without getting burned)
The questions to ask, the paperwork to demand, and the red flags to walk away from when hiring a builder in London.
The Party Wall Act — what London homeowners actually need to know
When you need a party wall notice, what it costs, what happens if you skip it, and how to handle the neighbour conversation. Plain English — no legal waffle.
Bespoke, fitted, or flat-pack wardrobes — what's actually worth it?
Hammonds vs IKEA vs a proper bespoke joiner. What each option costs, where they shine, and where they fall apart in London homes.