Builders and Decorators in Clapham
We've worked in Clapham. We're based in Wimbledon SW19, a short drive away.
FMB member · £5 million public liability insurance
Clapham was built for Victorian and Edwardian families, and the terraces off the Common and the High Street still show it: high ceilings, tall sashes, fireplaces and cornices.
They show their age too. The kitchen is squeezed into a narrow back addition. A room's worth of roof space sits unused. Old paint has sealed some of the sashes shut.
You could move, but the Common is on your doorstep and you like your street. We help you get more from the house you have.
Clapham sits across Lambeth and Wandsworth councils, and many streets are in conservation areas. We check the rules for your street before we give you a price.
What we do in Clapham
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Loft conversions. A rear dormer can turn a Clapham terrace's roof into a bedroom with a shower room. Mansards, hip-to-gables and L-shapes too. Loft conversions →
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Side return and rear extensions. We build across the alley beside the back addition, giving the kitchen the width and daylight it never had. Extensions →
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Full house refurbishment. Rewiring, bathrooms, plastering and decoration as one planned programme, not years of separate jobs. House refurbishment →
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Painters and decorators. DSB8 Decoration prepares walls, woodwork and mouldings properly before any paint or paper goes on. Decorating →
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Exterior painting. Front walls, railings, window frames and render, with cracks filled and timber repaired first. Exterior painting →
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Sash window repair. New cords, eased runners, draught strips and a proper repaint keep original sashes in use. Sash windows →
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Microcement. Walk-in showers, bathroom walls and floors, hand-applied in thin coats, with no grout to clean. Microcement →
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Repairs and maintenance. A door that won't close, a leaking gutter, a damaged ceiling, a hallway to repaint. Repairs & Maintenance →
Why DSB8 for a Clapham house
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We know these houses. Years in Clapham have taught us how its terraces are built and what to check when we open them up.
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We're a short drive away. From Wimbledon, surveys and site visits from Clapham North to Clapham South are easy to arrange.
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One company. You deal with one firm for the building and the decorating.
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We stand behind it. FMB members, £5 million public liability insurance.
Our recent work in Clapham SW4
Real DSB8 projects close to home, each one shaped around its owners, from first survey to final finish.
How it works
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We visit. A bespoke survey. We check the structure, hear what you want and tell you which permissions you're likely to need, and from which council.
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We price it line by line. A written, itemised quote, so you see what each part costs and choose what to leave for later.
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We build it and finish it. DSB8 Construction does the structure, DSB8 Decoration the finish. One team, from structure to final coat.
Questions we're asked in Clapham
My house is on the Lambeth/Wandsworth border: which council?
Postcodes don't follow council boundaries, so SW4 alone won't tell you. Your council tax bill will: the council that sends it handles your planning applications. At the survey we confirm it for your address, and whether the house is in a conservation area.
Can I add a rear dormer without planning permission?
Often, under permitted development, except in a conservation area or where the council has removed those rights. Limits in England include a maximum of 40 cubic metres of added volume on a terrace and no dormer on the slope facing the road. Flats don't qualify. A Lawful Development Certificate confirms it in writing.
What does the Party Wall Act mean for my loft or extension?
If the work involves a shared wall, for example steels set into it, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 usually applies. Neighbours get written notice, two months ahead for work on the wall itself. They can consent in writing, or surveyors agree an award. We start early: it often sets the start date.
Can our sash windows be repaired rather than replaced?
Usually. Most faults are broken cords, paint-stuck runners, loose beads or a rotten bottom rail, all fixable. Repair keeps the original glass and joinery, and in some conservation areas replacement windows need the council's permission.
Is any job too small?
Not for our Repairs & Maintenance service: £138 an hour including VAT on weekdays, with a 2-hour minimum paid at booking. Repairs & Maintenance →
Areas we cover around Clapham
Clapham Common, Clapham Old Town, Abbeville Village, Clapham North, Clapham South, Stockwell, the edge of Brixton, Balham and Battersea, and homes across London.
hello@dsb8.co.uk · Mon - Sat: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM