Extensions & New Builds
From the first idea to the final finish
At Cornish Lime Builders, we offer far more than traditional lime and stone craftsmanship. We can take your project from the first conversation and initial design concept through to construction, finishing and completion — bringing together the specialist skills, traditional materials and modern building methods required to create something exceptional.
Whether you are extending a historic Cornish cottage, creating a contemporary addition, restoring and enlarging a period property or building a completely new home, we can manage the entire project for you.
Our approach is deliberately different from that of a conventional building contractor. We combine modern construction with an understanding of Cornwall’s traditional architecture, materials and building methods. The result is new work that is not simply well built, but carefully considered, beautifully detailed and appropriate to its surroundings.
Bespoke construction, built around your property
Every building is different, and we are happy to design and construct projects using whichever combination of materials and techniques is most appropriate.
For a contemporary extension, we can create timber-framed structures finished with timber cladding, breathable renderboards and traditional lime render, producing a clean, modern building that still sits naturally within the Cornish landscape.
For a more traditional appearance, we can construct insulated cavity-wall buildings faced externally with natural granite, incorporating traditional details such as granite and timber lintels, stone openings and lime mortar.
We can also combine these approaches — using modern structural and insulation systems where they provide the best performance, while retaining the natural materials, textures and craftsmanship that give a building its character.
The aim is always the same: to create buildings that look as though they belong where they have been built.
Cornwall’s stone, sourced locally
Natural stone is an important part of what we do.
Where granite is appropriate, we can source stone locally wherever possible, ideally from within around ten miles of the project. Cornwall’s granite varies considerably from one area to another in colour, texture, grain and character. Selecting stone that is genuinely appropriate to the locality can make an enormous difference to the finished building.
Rather than simply choosing whatever stone is readily available, we take the time to find material that complements the existing building and the surrounding landscape.
We can source newly quarried and reclaimed granite, depending on the requirements of the project, and our experience as masons allows us to make the most of the material — from structural and facing stonework to lintels, openings, architectural features and traditional detailing.
Traditional craftsmanship with modern performance
We believe there is no reason why modern buildings cannot benefit from traditional materials and craftsmanship.
Timber frames can be combined with modern insulation and lime renderboard systems, before being finished with breathable lime render. Granite can provide a durable and beautiful external finish while modern cavity-wall construction delivers the insulation and performance expected of a contemporary building.
Lime, timber and natural stone are materials with a proven history of longevity. Used correctly, they can create buildings that are comfortable, durable and capable of ageing beautifully rather than simply deteriorating with time.
Our specialist knowledge of lime rendering, lime plastering, natural stone, granite masonry, cob, timber and traditional construction means we understand how these materials work together — and how they need to interface with modern construction.
A complete project, professionally coordinated
One of the biggest advantages of working with Cornish Lime Builders is that we can bring the entire project together under one roof.
Alongside our own craftsmen, we can coordinate the specialist trades required to complete your project, including:
- Electricians
- Plumbers and heating engineers
- Carpenters and joiners
- Roofers
- Plasterers
- Painters and decorators
- Groundworkers
- Specialist stone masons
- Other specialist contractors where required
This means you don’t have to spend your time trying to organise a collection of separate contractors and hoping that everything comes together.
We coordinate the project, manage the different trades and oversee the construction, allowing you to deal with one experienced team from beginning to end.
From a cottage extension to a complete new home
Our capabilities extend from relatively modest extensions through to substantial building projects and complete new builds.
We can help with:
Traditional cottage extensions
Designed to complement the existing building using granite, natural stone, lime and timber.
Contemporary extensions
Modern timber-framed construction, timber cladding, renderboard and breathable lime-render finishes.
Granite-faced extensions
Modern insulated cavity construction combined with locally appropriate Cornish granite.
Timber-framed buildings
Designed around modern construction principles and finished with timber, lime render or other appropriate materials.
New-build homes
Complete construction projects combining modern performance with traditional Cornish materials and craftsmanship.
Period-property additions
Carefully designed extensions that respect the proportions, materials and architectural character of the original building.
More than building — creating something with a sense of place
We believe the best new buildings are those that respond to where they are built.
Cornwall has a very particular architectural character, created over centuries through the use of local granite, slate, timber, cob and lime. We don’t believe that new construction has to imitate the past, but we do believe it should understand it.
That might mean using granite from a nearby quarry, reclaimed stone from the local area, traditional lime finishes, locally appropriate detailing or timber construction that allows a contemporary building to sit comfortably beside an historic one.
Our job is to combine these elements intelligently — traditional craftsmanship, local materials and modern building performance — to create something that feels right today and will still look right decades from now.
One team. One vision. Complete construction.
From the first idea to the final coat of paint, Cornish Lime Builders can take care of the whole project.
We can help develop the design, advise on materials and construction methods, source local stone and traditional materials, undertake the building work and coordinate the specialist trades through to completion.
Whether you are dreaming of a sympathetic extension to a centuries-old Cornish cottage, a striking contemporary addition or a completely new home, we have the skills, experience and network of craftsmen to bring it to life.
We don’t simply build extensions and new houses. We create buildings that belong in Cornwall — beautifully made, thoughtfully designed and built to last.