Three Projects in Detail
The projects below represent the range of challenges we encounter across Greater Manchester's housing stock — and how we approach them.
Before
After
Wrap-Around Extension & Open-Plan Kitchen — Beech Road, Chorlton
Original 1890s cast iron soil stack ran through the proposed extension footprint and needed rerouting without disturbing the active drain serving two upper floors. Original sand-lime brickwork required matching hand-made bricks, sourced from a reclamation yard in Bury.
A Victorian mid-terrace on Beech Road had a classic Chorlton layout: cramped rear kitchen separated from a small dining room by a narrow side passage. The owners wanted to open the entire rear into a single kitchen-dining space and infill the side return. The project required a Prior Approval submission (4.5m rear depth) and separate planning permission for the side return, which runs along the shared boundary — requiring a party wall agreement and a structural engineer's design for the combined steel frame.
Brickwork was matched to the original London stock using reclaimed hand-made bricks from a Bury salvage yard — standard engineering bricks would have looked visually jarring on a property of this age. Three Velux CV rooflights bring light into the centre of the space. Aluminium bifold doors span the full 4.2m rear elevation.
Before
After
Hip-to-Gable Loft with Master En Suite — Palatine Road, Didsbury
The property sits within an area covered by an Article 4 Direction removing standard Permitted Development rights for loft alterations — a full planning application was required. The hip-to-gable alteration also needed a structural engineer's calculation for the new gable wall bearing onto an original 1930s cavity wall not designed to carry a gable load.
This 1935 semi on Palatine Road had 2.45m head height from joists to ridge — more than sufficient for conversion — but the hipped roof significantly reduced usable floor area. Replacing the sloping hip end with a new full-height gable created the floor plate for a proper master bedroom and en suite without needing a dormer on the rear elevation.
Planning was submitted to Manchester City Council and approved at first submission, with conditions relating to materials and roof tile matching. The new gable wall was constructed on an engineered padstone distributing the load safely across the original 1930s cavity wall below. The en suite uses 900×900 porcelain tiles with a linear drain and full tanking system — the same specification we use for standalone wet room projects.
Before
After
Pebbledash Removal & Silicone Render — Bramhall Lane, Stockport
A previous owner had painted the pebbledash in masonry paint. Paint over pebbledash creates a moisture trap — water gets behind the paint film but cannot escape, accelerating freeze-thaw damage to the mortar. Several facing bricks were spalled and required replacement before rendering could begin.
This 1952 semi on Bramhall Lane had original pebbledash across front, side and rear elevations — typical of Stockport's post-war housing estate stock — that had been painted at some point in the 1990s. Multiple cracks had appeared through the pebbledash surface, particularly around window lintels where the original render had shrunk away from frames.
Pebbledash was hand-hacked using bolsters and chisels across all elevations. Eleven spalled facing bricks were replaced using reclaimed matching fletton bricks. All mortar joints raked back and repointed. A Weber mineral bonding coat was applied and cured for 48 hours before K-Rend silicone TC base coat and finish were applied to the client's chosen RAL specification in a pale warm grey.
