GSM Builders Ltd provides skilled builders in Acton, covering W3 and the W4 and W12 borders. Acton Central, Acton Green, Poets Corner, East Acton, North Acton, South Acton and Acton Town. Our base in Hayes is about 25 minutes west along the A40, and we regularly work on the Victorian terraces and period flats that make up most of the area.
Acton’s Victorian terraces and conversions
Acton was built out in the late Victorian period and the years before the First World War, which is why streets around Acton Green, Poets Corner and Churchfield Road are lined with two- and three-storey brick terraces. A large proportion have since been split into flats. That gives two very common types of project: side-return and rear extensions on whole houses, which turn the original narrow kitchen and side alley into a wide, bright kitchen-diner; and full refurbishments of period flats. Rewiring, new plumbing, replastering, sound insulation between floors, and new kitchens and bathrooms.
Loft conversions are also popular. On Acton’s butterfly-roof and pitched-roof terraces we normally build a rear dormer or L-shaped dormer, adding a double bedroom and bathroom under a flat roof at the back while keeping the front slope unchanged for planning purposes.
Planning in Acton
Acton sits within the London Borough of Ealing. Acton Green, Acton Park, Mill Hill Park and Churchfield Road are conservation areas, and parts of the area border Bedford Park, one of London’s most tightly protected estates. In conservation areas we design extensions to the council’s guidance on materials and rooflines and submit a full application. Outside them, permitted development usually covers a single-storey rear extension up to 3 m and a loft of up to 40 m³ on a terrace. Flats always need planning permission and, if leasehold, the freeholder’s consent, we can help with both.
Building services we offer in Acton
- House extensions, single-storey rear, side-return, wrap-around and double-storey
- Loft conversions. Velux, rear dormer, hip-to-gable and L-shaped
- Full property refurbishment and renovations
- Kitchen fitting and kitchen renovation
- Bathroom renovation and wall tiling
- Roofing, plastering, flooring and painting & decorating
- 24/7 emergency call-outs, plumbing, electrics, glazing and boarding-up
Why choose GSM Builders Ltd in Acton?
- Genuinely local. Our base at Leven Way, Hayes UB3 is about 25 minutes by road from Acton, so site visits, quotes and snagging calls are quick and easy.
- One team from start to finish. Design input, structural calculations, Building Control liaison, all trades and decoration under one contract.
- Building Control approved work. Every structural project is signed off with completion certificates you will need when you sell or remortgage.
- Clear written quotes. Itemised pricing, agreed payment stages and no hidden extras.
- Fully insured with public liability cover and a 12-month workmanship warranty.
Work we regularly do in Acton
- Side-return extension with exposed steel, roof lights and Crittall-style doors on a Poets Corner terrace
- L-shaped dormer loft conversion in Acton Green
- Full renovation of a garden flat in South Acton including damp-proofing and new floors
- Kitchen and bathroom renovations in East Acton
What building work costs in Acton (2026)
These are the 2026 ranges we quote for Acton (W3), excluding VAT. They assume a standard specification and reasonable access; the cost calculator gives a figure for your own project, and a free site survey gives you a fixed written price.
| Project | 2026 price (excl. VAT) | Time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Single-storey rear extension (3 m) | £48,000 to £68,000 | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Side-return extension | £45,000 to £65,000 | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Wrap-around extension | £65,000 to £95,000 | 10 to 14 weeks |
| Rear dormer loft conversion | £38,000 to £48,000 | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Hip-to-gable loft with en-suite | £55,000 to £85,000 | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Whole-house refurbishment (3-bed) | £70,000 to £150,000 | 10 to 18 weeks |
| Kitchen fitting (supply & fit) | £12,000 to £30,000 | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Bathroom refit | £8,000 to £20,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
Drawings, structural calculations and Building Control fees add £2,500 to £4,500. Where planning is needed, Ealing Council charges £548 for a householder application or £249 for prior approval (fees from 1 April 2026). Our planning guide explains which route applies, and the loft conversion comparison covers which loft type suits your roof.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission for an extension in Acton?
Acton is under Ealing Council. Conservation areas including Bedford Park, Acton Park and Churchfield Road remove permitted development rights, so dormers and side extensions there need a householder application. Elsewhere in W3, a 3 m single-storey rear extension and a rear dormer loft are usually permitted development.
What is an L-shaped dormer and why is it common in Acton?
It is a rear dormer joined to a second dormer over the back addition, forming an L. Acton has many Victorian and Edwardian terraces with two-storey back additions, and this layout turns that roof into two rooms. Or a bedroom, bathroom and dressing room, where a single dormer would barely give one.
How quickly can you get to Acton?
Our yard is on Leven Way in Hayes, about 20 minutes from Acton, so site visits, deliveries and snagging calls are straightforward. There is no London-wide travel premium in our pricing.
Do you handle Building Control in Acton?
Yes. Every extension, loft conversion and structural alteration needs Building Regulations approval and a completion certificate regardless of planning. We make the application, book the inspections and hand you the certificate at the end, you will need it when you sell.
Are you insured and do you give a warranty?
Yes, public and employer’s liability insurance, an itemised written quote before anything starts, staged payments against completed work and a 12-month workmanship warranty in writing on every contract.
Nearby areas we also cover
Ealing · Greenford & Northolt · Southall · North West London · West London
Get a free quote from Acton builders
Send us your plans or photos and we will visit, measure up and provide a detailed written quote without obligation.