UK cities Reading Borough Council
Commercial Fit-Out & Construction in Reading
- 2016 founded in London
- 4.9★ Google rating
- ~70% direct labour
- ISO CHAS accredited
Reading is the commercial centre of the Thames Valley, with a large office market, technology occupiers and good connections to London. We take on office and commercial fit-outs and selected residential projects here.
Craftex is a design and build contractor founded in London in 2016. One team takes your project from survey, design and consents through construction to handover — with around 60% direct labour, ISO and CHAS accreditation, a 4.9★ Google rating and every project to date delivered on budget and ahead of programme.
What we build in Reading
We only offer services in Reading that suit its buildings and market. These are the projects we are asked for most here:
Office fit-out
Cat A and Cat B office fit-outs and refurbishments in Reading: layouts, partitions, ceilings, lighting, M&E, data cabling, kitchens, meeting rooms and furniture, delivered around your lease dates. We work to landlord fit-out guides and schedule noisy work out of hours when the building is occupied.
Commercial fit-out & refurbishment
Commercial fit-outs and refurbishments in Reading for offices, showrooms, studios and mixed-use buildings — from strip-out and structural changes to M&E, finishes and handover, with one team accountable for design and build.
Data centre fit-out
Data centre and server-room fit-outs in Reading: resilient power and UPS, cooling and containment, structured cabling and commissioning, delivered without disrupting live systems.
Warehouse & industrial fit-out
Warehouse and industrial fit-outs in and around Reading: welfare and office areas, mezzanines, racking, lighting, power and ventilation, delivered around live operations.
Prime residential refurbishment
Prime residential refurbishments in Reading: whole-house and apartment refurbishments, structural alterations, extensions, M&E renewal, bespoke joinery and high-end finishes, managed discreetly with neighbours in mind.
Planning, consents and site rules in Reading
Local authority: Reading Borough Council. Before any design is fixed we check the planning and ownership position for your address, because in Reading this decides what is possible and how long it takes:
- Offices in Reading are often in managed buildings and business parks with landlord fit-out guides.
- Technology occupiers need resilient data and M&E infrastructure.
- The town is within easy reach of our London office.
We prepare the drawings and statements, submit the applications and build the approval time into your programme — so construction starts on a date you can rely on.
Craftex projects that show how we work
- Craftex project Beaumont House High Street Kensington
£350K office refurbishment 750 sq m delivered in 3 weeks, 150+ staff relocated
View case study - Craftex project Portsoken House Aldgate, City of London
£2.2M warehouse-to-office conversion 1,550 sq m around occupied tenants
View case study - Craftex project Banbury Warehouse Banbury, north Oxfordshire
£380K fit-out inside a live warehouse 148 sq m 4 weeks
View case study
Planning a project in Reading? Send us the address and a few photos — we will tell you what is realistic, what consents you need and what it is likely to cost.
Talk to our teamWhat our projects actually cost
Most contractors avoid numbers. These are real Craftex projects — total value, size and time on site — so you can benchmark your budget. Your cost will depend on condition, specification, consents and access; we confirm it in a unit-by-unit cost plan.
| Project | Scope | Value | Size | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsoken House, Aldgate | Warehouse-to-office conversion, full M&E | £2.2M | 1,550 sq m | 7 months |
| Beaumont House, Kensington | Office refurbishment, open-plan + meeting rooms | £350K | 750 sq m | 3 weeks |
| Drake's, Savile Row | Flagship retail refit, live trading | £410K | 120 sq m | 12 weeks |
| Medusa, Knightsbridge | Turnkey spa & clinic, four floors | £460K | 180 sq m | 17 weeks |
| Banbury Warehouse | Fit-out inside a live warehouse | £380K | 148 sq m | 4 weeks |
How a Reading project runs with Craftex
- Site visit and brief. We survey the building, check services and access, and confirm planning, listing and landlord or estate constraints.
- Feasibility & Costing Study. Design options, consents route, a detailed unit-by-unit cost plan and a realistic programme.
- Design and consents. Our in-house team completes the design and manages applications and licences.
- Construction. One project manager runs every trade, with around 60% direct labour.
- Handover. Snag-free handover, documentation and aftercare.
Questions about building in Reading
Do you work in the Thames Valley?
Yes. We take on office, commercial and industrial projects in Reading and along the M4 corridor.
How fast can you fit out an office?
It depends on scope; at Beaumont House we refurbished 750 sq m in three weeks.
How much does a project in Reading cost?
It depends on scope, condition, specification and access, so we don't publish a price per square foot without seeing the building. As a reference, the table above shows what recent Craftex projects actually cost. Our Feasibility & Costing Study gives you a detailed, unit-by-unit cost plan before you commit.
How long will my Reading project take?
Programme depends on size, consents and whether the building stays occupied. Our projects have ranged from three weeks for a 750 sq m office refurbishment to seven months for a £2.2M conversion. We give a realistic programme with the cost plan, and every project we have delivered so far has finished ahead of programme.
Do you really work in Reading if you are based in London?
Yes, on selected projects. Projects in Reading are run by the same senior team that delivers our London work, with a dedicated site lead and a single point of contact. We typically take on projects from around £100k.
Do you use subcontractors?
Around 60% of our labour is direct, and one Craftex project manager controls every trade. That gives you one accountable team, consistent quality and no gaps between designer and builder.
What is the minimum project size you take on?
We typically take on projects from around £100k, from single floors and units to whole buildings.
How do I start?
Send us the address, a short description and any drawings or photos. We arrange a site visit, then prepare a Feasibility & Costing Study with design options, consents, a cost plan and a programme for your Reading project.
Nearby areas we cover
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