✓ Verified Google reviews·✓ Reviewed regularly·✓ Updated 29 May 2026
Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 29 May 2026
Basingstoke's housing stock is a real mix, and that shapes what local builders spend most of their time doing. You've got swathes of post-war council-era housing across Popley and Winklebury, plenty of 1970s and 1980s estates in Chineham and Brighton Hill, plus older Victorian and Edwardian terraces closer to the town centre. That variety means local builders tend to be well-versed in everything from matching London brick on a period extension to working with the cavity wall construction typical of mid-century builds. Loft conversions are popular given how many two-storey semis there are, and single-storey rear extensions are a staple job for builders across RG21, RG22, RG23, and RG24. The chalk and clay subsoil common across much of north Hampshire can affect foundation depths too, so it's worth talking to any builder you approach about what ground conditions they've encountered locally.
The businesses listed on this page are drawn from third-party business listings and ranked by public review rating and review count, with a small lift applied to those that show a working website and a phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm that builders work is what they primarily offer, which is how unrelated trades stay off this page. Any listing flagged as permanently closed is removed automatically. Where you see a Trust Verified badge on a listing, that business has additionally passed our full verification process covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. You can see the full list of checks on our How We Verify page. For any business on this page that doesn't carry that badge, those checks haven't been carried out by us, and you should do them yourself before booking.
Before you commit to any builder, get at least two or three written quotes so you're comparing like for like. Make sure each quote breaks down labour and materials separately, and ask what's not included as well as what is. For projects involving structural work, check whether the builder will handle building regulations sign-off or whether you need to appoint an inspector yourself. Always ask to see evidence of public liability insurance before work starts, and for any structural alterations, ask whether a structural engineer will be involved and who's responsible for commissioning them. If you're extending or altering a semi-detached or terraced property, you'll likely need a party wall agreement with your neighbours, so clarify early on whether the builder can advise on that or whether you need a separate party wall surveyor.
How We Select & Rate The Best Builders in Basingstoke
Rankings on this page are driven by public review rating and review count pulled from third-party business listings, with a small lift for businesses that have a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm builders work is what they primarily offer, keeping unrelated trades off the page. Permanently-closed listings are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have additionally passed our full verification covering qualifications, insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. See our How We Verify page for the full list. Other businesses on this page have not been independently verified by us, and inclusion is not an endorsement. Always carry out your own checks before hiring.
Positions 1–5 (Recommended and Featured) are paid placements. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
Herringbone Brickwork Ltd is a building contractor based in Basingstoke, with a Google rating of 4.8 from 19 reviews pointing to consistent workmanship across projects. The company operates from the RG24 area, serving residential and commercial clients with construction and brickwork requirements.
Loft conversions are the core specialism at Elite Lofts Ltd, a Basingstoke building firm covering residential projects across the RG21 area. The company holds a five-star Google rating across 14 reviews, suggesting consistent workmanship on what can be a disruptive type of home improvement. They handle the structural and finishing work involved in converting unused roof space into functional rooms.
Rated 4.7 stars across 18 Google reviews, Cherry Lofts Designs carries a consistent record of customer satisfaction for a builder operating in Basingstoke. The company focuses on loft conversion work, translating underused roof space into functional living areas. Its concentrated specialism, rather than a broad general building offer, shapes how it approaches each project.
Sealant application and mastic work in and around Basingstoke is the sole focus of this specialist trade service, covering joints, gaps, and weatherproofing across domestic and commercial properties. The narrowly defined offering means work is carried out by someone with concentrated experience in the trade rather than as a sideline to broader building work. Eleven Google reviews place it at a perfect five-star rating.
Yilmaz Construction & Ventilation is a building and ventilation contractor based in Basingstoke. The company carries a five-star Google rating across its reviews, reflecting consistent work across its trade. Operating from the RG24 area, it covers construction and ventilation projects for local clients.
Covering residential and commercial construction work in Basingstoke, Dohan Construct Ltd operates from the RG22 postcode area and takes on projects from groundworks through to full builds. The company keeps its scope focused on construction rather than branching into unrelated trades, making it a straightforward point of contact for clients commissioning structural work in Hampshire.
Rated highly by local clients, Four Walls Services Ltd operates as a building contractor covering Basingstoke and the surrounding area. The company takes on residential and commercial construction work, with its RG24 postcode placing it conveniently for projects across the northern reaches of the town. A consistent review record suggests reliable delivery across the range of work builders in this category typically carry out.
Transparency notice: Recommended (#1) and Featured (positions 2-5) listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears in those positions. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
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Day rates for a sole trader builder in Basingstoke typically sit between £200 and £350 per day, depending on experience and the type of work involved. For project-based quotes, a single-storey rear extension usually comes in somewhere between £25,000 and £50,000 depending on size, specification, and whether the work is straightforward or involves complications like drainage diversions or structural steels. Loft conversions vary similarly: a basic Velux conversion on a standard semi can start around £20,000, while a full dormer with an en suite might reach £45,000 or more. Smaller jobs like knocking through a wall, laying a patio, or repointing brickwork are usually priced per job rather than per day. Getting two or three quotes is standard practice and worth doing even if you're fairly sure who you want to use, since quotes can vary significantly for the same scope of work.
Do I need planning permission for a house extension in Basingstoke?
Many extensions fall under permitted development rights, which means you don't need to apply for full planning permission as long as the work stays within set limits. For a single-storey rear extension on a detached house, you can generally go up to 4 metres deep under permitted development, or 8 metres if you use the neighbour consultation scheme. For semi-detached and terraced properties those limits drop to 3 metres and 6 metres respectively. Side extensions, two-storey additions, and anything that changes the roofline significantly usually do require a planning application. If your property is in a conservation area or is a listed building, restrictions are tighter and you should check with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council before work starts. A good local builder will have dealt with the council's planning department before and can give you a steer, but the formal decision always rests with the local authority.
What's the difference between building regulations and planning permission?
They're separate things and you often need both. Planning permission is about whether you're allowed to build something in a particular place and what it looks like from the street. Building regulations are about how it's built, covering things like structural integrity, fire safety, insulation, drainage, and ventilation. Even if your project is permitted development and doesn't need planning permission, it will almost certainly still need building regulations approval. Your builder should either submit a full plans application before work starts or use a building notice, and an inspector from the local authority or an approved inspector will visit during the build and sign it off at the end. Don't skip this step: without a completion certificate you'll have problems when you come to sell the property.
How long does a typical house extension take in Basingstoke?
A single-storey rear extension usually takes between eight and fourteen weeks from the day work starts on site, assuming no significant delays. That includes foundation excavation and pour, blockwork, roof structure, weatherproofing, and then the internal fit-out including plastering, first fix electrics and plumbing, and decoration. Larger or more complex projects take longer. A two-storey extension or a loft conversion involving structural alterations might run to sixteen or twenty weeks. Bear in mind that timelines can be affected by material lead times, weather during the groundworks phase, and how quickly decisions get made on things like kitchen layouts or bathroom fittings if those are part of the project. Build a bit of buffer into your expectations and agree a programme with your builder before work starts.
Should I use a general builder or a specialist for my project in Basingstoke?
For most residential projects such as extensions, loft conversions, kitchen and bathroom renovations, or general refurbishment work, a general builder with a solid local track record is usually the right call. They'll typically manage the project and bring in specialist subcontractors where needed, for example a Gas Safe engineer for the boiler relocation, a qualified electrician for the consumer unit, or a structural engineer for beam calculations. Where you might prefer a specialist is for very specific work: underpinning, heritage lime render on older properties, or timber frame construction. If you're unsure, describe the project to two or three builders and ask them directly whether it's within their usual scope of work.
How do I check a builder is legitimate before hiring them in Basingstoke?
Start by asking for proof of public liability insurance and check the certificate yourself rather than just taking their word for it. Ask for the name of their registered company or sole trader details and look them up on Companies House if they're a limited company. Ask for two or three references from completed local projects and actually follow them up by phone or, better still, visit a finished job. Check their reviews across public business listings, paying attention to how they handle negative feedback. Ask whether they're a member of a trade body such as the Federation of Master Builders, the National Federation of Builders, or the Chartered Institute of Building, though membership is voluntary and not a guarantee of quality on its own. For any building regulations work, confirm upfront who will be managing sign-off with the local authority or an approved inspector. If a builder is reluctant to answer any of these questions straightforwardly, treat that as a warning sign.
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