Celebrating 40 Years of Bradley Building Services: 1985 – 2025
Celebrating 40 Years of Bradley Building Services: 1985 – 2025
Boot houses are unique homes built in the UK after World War I, named after Henry Boot, whose company produced around 50,000 of them to meet housing demand. These homes were constructed using precast reinforced clinker-concrete columns due to a shortage of bricks.
If you’ve recently bought a boot house in London, you’re probably wondering how to restore and modernise it while preserving its historical value. This guide will walk you through everything from structural issues to renovation steps, funding options, and choosing the right builder.
Boot houses were part of a post-WWI solution to the UK’s housing crisis. Built mostly between 1919 and 1939, these homes used non-traditional concrete frame methods due to material shortages. Henry Boot Ltd constructed many of these across London, especially in areas like Wandsworth and Barnes.
These homes are historically significant but face ongoing structural concerns. By understanding their construction and vulnerabilities, you can renovate effectively and retain their charm.
Renovating a boot house isn’t just cosmetic. These homes were flagged in the 1980s for serious structural defects. The clinker-concrete used in the columns can deteriorate due to carbonatation, where CO2 penetrates the concrete and weakens it.
Many boot houses were deemed “defective” under the Housing Act 1985, which made them hard to mortgage without proof of structural repairs. Beyond structure, you may face issues like:
Knowing these risks helps you plan and budget realistically.
Start with a detailed structural survey from a qualified engineer. This will confirm the extent of concrete degradation and outline necessary work.
Some owners choose to reinforce the existing frame, while others rebuild entirely. A great example is a renovation on Nowell Road, SW15, where the entire boot house structure was rebuilt with modern materials while maintaining the original footprint.
Insulate walls, roofs, and floors to bring the house up to modern energy standards. Replace outdated wiring and plumbing, and consider adding ventilation systems to combat damp.
Depending on your location in London, your boot house may be in a conservation area. Check with your local council before making structural changes. If it’s listed or historically significant, you may need special permissions.
There are several grants to help with renovating defective homes:
Check Citizens Advice or your borough council for current options.
Renovating a boot house requires specialist knowledge. At Bradley Building Services, we have extensive experience with concrete-frame houses and structural retrofits. One of our standout projects was the complete rebuild of a boot house on Nowell Road, where we delivered a safe, modern home with great care and attention to detail.
When choosing a builder, ensure they can work closely with structural engineers, navigate planning permission, and understand party-wall regulations—especially important for homes in densely built London areas.
The Boot houses in Barnes were originally constructed by the Henry Boot Company during the interwar period. These homes, though practical at the time, were later found to be structurally unsound.
Dave and Pam, the owners of one such property, wanted to move to the south coast but couldn’t sell because the house was deemed un-mortgageable. They took a bold step and hired Bradley Building Services to demolish the original structure and build a new, high-quality home using traditional building methods.
The result? A stunning new house that preserved the spirit of the original but met all modern standards. Dave and Pam were able to sell the property at a significant profit and begin a new chapter in their lives, comfortably retired by the sea.
A well-renovated boot house is more than just liveable—it’s valuable. Fixing structural issues makes the property mortgageable again. Adding energy-efficient upgrades improves comfort and cuts bills.
Homes like the Nowell Road example have sold at a profit post-renovation. Investing in these repairs can make your home safer and more attractive to future buyers.
Renovating a boot house in London is a rewarding project, blending historical preservation with modern living standards. Start with a structural survey, follow through with expert repairs, explore available grants, and work with experienced builders.
Bradley Building Services has helped homeowners like Dave and Pam transform un-mortgageable boot houses into stunning, structurally sound homes. If you’ve bought a boot house or are thinking of purchasing one and need expert support with renovation, get in touch with us at Bradley Building Services today to discuss your project.
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You know what you are doing! You have some very good, competent people working for you.
The quote was simple and included everything, which is more than most quotes would include.
Everyone from Bradley was extremely respectful of the fact that we were living here, and making sure that things were secure and clean daily was really good.
It was the can-do attitude, willing to talk, listen and bounce off ideas that really impressed us.
I believed when you said that you wanted to do the very best job that you possibly could and you didn’t want us to be disappointed. It was the affinity that we had, and it works through the whole of your team.
Colin and the team were both able to deliver the high expectations and hopes we had with our renovation and surpass them.
We spend 90% of our time in the extension now. It has made our life in our house completely different!
Time and time again people we know that work in the industry have been amazed by the quality of the workmanship, next level has been a phrase used a lot!
The team are great and easy to deal with on every level, daily communication and constant updates were fantastic.
You demonstrated from the initial engagement that you had done this before and had done it really well, you exceed expectations.
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Construction Company London
Life is complicated enough so let us hold your hand through the process. We’ve put together a simple step-by-step guide to having work done in your home.
It’s our 100% FREE gift to you!
