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Guildford · Surrey
Builders in Guildford
Extensions, kitchens, bathrooms and garage conversions across Guildford, built by an independent, hands-on team led by carpenter Alan Oakes.
About ADO
Your local builders in Guildford
ADO Builders is an independent, hands-on building company founded by Alan Oakes, a carpenter with more than twenty years in the trade. From structural work and custom staircases to complete kitchen fit-outs, there’s very little we haven’t built.
Most of our work comes through word of mouth and repeat clients across Guildford and the rest of Surrey. Every job is treated on its own terms: we start by understanding what you actually need from the space, then build it properly.
Whether it’s a Victorian terrace in Charlotteville, a 1930s semi in Merrow or a detached house out towards Shalford, we plan the work around your house rather than a standard package.
What we do
Our services in Guildford
House extensions
Single and double storey rear extensions, side returns, infills and wrap-arounds, from groundworks and steels through to roof lanterns, bi-folds and finishes.
Kitchens
From straight refits to knocking through into a new extension for open-plan living: steels, underfloor heating, plastering, worktops and the final fit-out, all in one job.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms, en-suites and wet rooms, including the pipework, drainage and ventilation upgrades that older Guildford houses often need along the way.
Garage conversions
Integral and attached garages turned into home offices, gyms, playrooms or bedrooms, with insulation, damp-proofing, new windows and Building Regulations sign-off.
Our work
Recent ADO projects
A few recent jobs, including one just outside Guildford in Albury.
How we work
How a project runs with us
Visit and quote
We come out, look at the house, talk through what you want and give you a clear price.
Drawings and approvals
We check what your project needs, from permitted development and Article 4 rules to Building Regulations, before any work starts.
The build
Groundworks to finishes, with a tidy, well-run site and regular updates as the job progresses.
Handover
Final finishes, Building Regulations sign-off and a walk-through before we hand your home back.
Testimonials
What our clients say
“The work was of outstanding quality in every way… maintained an excellent degree of neatness and tidiness.”
ADO Builders client
“All the work carried out was to the highest standard and was executed in a highly efficient, professional and pleasant manner.”
ADO Builders client
“We have no hesitation recommending him as a builder of high ability.”
ADO Builders client
Local know-how
Planning in Guildford: what we check for you
Before we price a Guildford job, we check the local rules that decide what can be built and how.
- Conservation areas
The borough has 40, including the Town Centre, Charlotteville and Warren Road, Waterden Road and Abbotswood. Several have Article 4 directions that remove some permitted development rights, so we confirm early whether you need a full application.
- Green Belt and Surrey Hills
Around 89% of the borough is Green Belt, and the Surrey Hills National Landscape runs along the south and east of the town. Here we design extensions to be proportionate and in keeping.
- Planning authority
Guildford Borough Council, until West Surrey Council takes over on 1 April 2027. If your project runs across that date, we keep track of who’s handling it.
- Building Regulations
We make sure approval is in place before work starts and that the job is signed off at the end.
Areas of Guildford we cover
- Town Centre
- Charlotteville
- Onslow Village
- Guildford Park
- Stoughton
- Westborough
- Park Barn
- Bellfields
- Jacobs Well
- Burpham
- Merrow
- Boxgrove
- Worplesdon
- Wood Street Village
- Shalford
- Chilworth
FAQs
Builders in Guildford: FAQs
Do you work across the whole of Guildford?
Yes. We take on projects throughout the town and its surrounding villages, from Stoughton and Merrow to Shalford and Worplesdon, as well as across the rest of Surrey.
What kind of projects do you take on in Guildford?
Mainly house extensions, kitchens, bathrooms and garage conversions, from single-room refits to full extensions with a new kitchen. We also take on structural work and bespoke joinery such as staircases.
Do I need planning permission for an extension in Guildford?
Not always. Many single storey rear extensions fall under permitted development: up to 3 metres deep on a semi-detached or terraced house and 4 metres on a detached house. If your home is listed or sits in a conservation area with an Article 4 direction, expect to need a full application. We check this for you before quoting.
Can you do an extension and a new kitchen as one project?
Yes. Combining a rear or side extension with a new kitchen is one of the most common projects we take on, and running it as one job means one programme from groundworks through to worktops.
What changes when West Surrey Council takes over in 2027?
From 1 April 2027 West Surrey Council replaces Guildford Borough Council. Permitted development limits are set nationally, so what you can build without an application doesn’t change; the main difference is which council handles applications and building control.
How do I get a quote for building work in Guildford?
Call or text 07791 541507, or email alan@adobuilders.co.uk with a few details and photos of the space. We’ll arrange a visit to look at the property and talk through what’s possible.
Free quote
Planning a project in Guildford?
Tell us about your extension, kitchen, bathroom or garage conversion. Call or text 07791 541507, or email alan@adobuilders.co.uk.