Barlow Construction has helped me through a major renovation of an 1860s property, involving new suspended ceilings, new wall linings throughout, full damp proofing, new doors and lintels, a new central heating system, and new bathroom and kitchen installs. Lewis has been a pleasure to deal with throughout, and his advice and guidance have been invaluable. His onsite team show considerable depth of experience, with no dramas in dealing with the unexpected work that crops up in an old building. If only all firms were like this to deal with.

Yorkshire homes, built to last
Extensions, new builds, barn conversions and period restoration across Thirsk, Harrogate, York and Leeds. One team from the first drawing to the final clean.
A builder you only have to find once
Lewis Barlow spent more than twenty years with an established North Yorkshire building firm, running sites on some of the county's best known estates, before starting Barlow Construction.
That background still shapes every job. We are a team of twelve with most trades in house, so the people who dig your footings are the same people who lay the stone, fit the joinery and hand you the keys. Where a job needs a specialist we bring in people we have worked with for years, and we manage them for you.
We are not the cheapest builder in Yorkshire and we do not try to be. Every job is priced by independent estimators and broken down line by line, so you know exactly what you are paying for and nothing turns up later as an extra.


What we build
From a single room at the back of the house to a new home on a greenfield plot. Our own team carries out the work below, with trusted specialists where a job needs them and our Daltex approved partner for resin.

Extensions
Single and double storey, glazed gablesExplore
Loft Conversions
Dormers and rooflight loftsExplore
New Builds
One off homes, start to finishExplore
Barn Conversions
Farm buildings into homesExplore
Oak Frame and Joinery
Garden rooms, floors, staircasesExplore
Period Restoration
Stonework, lime, listed homesExplore
Renovations and Kitchens
Whole house and kitchen refitsExplore
Bathrooms and Tiling
Bathrooms, en suites, wet roomsExplore
Driveways and Patios
Resin, block paving, sandstoneExplore
Roofing and Chimneys
New roofs, repairs, chimney rebuildsExplore
Plastering and Rendering
Plus walls and groundworksExploreNot sure where your project fits?
Tell Lewis what you have in mind and he will point you in the right direction.Talk to LewisMallorie Court, Ripon
A dated bungalow taken back to its walls and rebuilt as a light, open single storey home with a vaulted glazed gable, two new bathrooms and a heat pump, finished with a resin driveway laid by our Daltex approved partner.
Before
After


Put your project together
Pick the options and watch the drawing change. When it looks right, send it to Lewis and he will come back to you with a proper conversation, not a sales pitch.
What are you planning?
This is a sketch to start the conversation. Every job is priced after a visit.

Thinking about the outside too?
Sandstone terraces, block paved driveways, stone steps and garden walls, laid by the same team that built the house. Resin driveways are laid by our Daltex approved partner.

Experience from North Yorkshire's estates
Much of Lewis's working life has been spent on estate property, where the building is often older than anything around it and the standard is set by the people who built it first. Stone is matched to what is already there, lime is used where the building needs it and nothing gets rushed.
The same care goes into a farmhouse in Hambleton or a terrace in Knaresborough.
How a job runs with us
Four stages, one point of contact the whole way through.
Visit and brief
Lewis comes out, walks the property with you and listens. If you have drawings he will go through them, if you do not he can introduce an architect.
Design and approvals
We work with seven architectural practices and several structural engineers, so drawings, calculations, planning and building control move together.
Full quotation
Your job is priced by independent estimators and set out line by line. No allowances hiding the real cost and no surprises later.
Build and handover
You know what is happening each day and week. Site cleared every evening, finished to the standard we would want in our own homes.
Recent work
A small selection. There is much more on the projects page.









Ready to talk about your project?
Lewis answers his own phone. If he is on site, he will call you back.
Guides from site
Straight answers to the questions we get asked most.

Planning permission for an extension in North Yorkshire
What you can build without planning, when you need it and how long it takes.

Why old stone houses need lime, not cement
The single most common mistake we see on period homes, and how to put it right.

How to choose a builder you can trust
The checks worth doing before you sign anything with anyone, including us.
Questions we get asked
If yours is not here, ring Lewis on 07816 237961.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based at Topcliffe near Thirsk and work within about an hour of the yard. That takes in Thirsk, Ripon, Northallerton, Harrogate, Knaresborough, York, Wetherby, Selby, Darlington and Leeds. See the full list.
What size of job do you take on?
Our work is mostly extensions, new builds, barn conversions, whole house renovations and restoration. We do take on smaller jobs for existing clients and where the work suits us, so it is always worth a call.
Do you give free quotes?
Yes. Lewis visits, talks the job through with you, and then your project is priced in full by independent estimators. You get a detailed, itemised quote with no hidden costs.
Can you help with drawings and planning?
Yes. We work regularly with seven architectural practices and several structural engineers, so we can take a project from an idea through drawings, planning and building regulations to completion.
Are you insured and accredited?
We are members of the Federation of Master Builders, TrustMark registered and members of the Guild of Master Craftsmen. We carry £5 million public liability, £10 million employers liability and £1 million professional indemnity insurance with QBE.
Do you offer a guarantee?
Yes. Insurance backed guarantees of up to 10 years are available on our work, so you are covered even in the unlikely event that we were not around to put something right.
One team, one point of contact, one honest price
Lewis is involved in every job, from the first visit to the final clean. Call him, WhatsApp a few photos, or send the form below.
What our clients say
We were introduced to Barlow Construction through our architect. They proved themselves to be a professional, trustworthy and reliable building company. Nothing was too much trouble. Originally taken on to do a single storey extension, which they did to an extremely high standard, we then asked them to lay a full surround patio with ACO drainage and repair our chimney stack. They were very tidy, clearing and putting everything away at the end of each day. We would wholeheartedly recommend them.
Lewis and the team did a fantastic job on our extension from start to finish. Communication was excellent throughout, they kept us updated at every stage, turned up when they said they would, and left the site clean and tidy each day. The finish is exactly what we wanted and the whole process was far less stressful than we expected.
We recently used Barlow Construction for a refurbishment project and were extremely pleased with the service and the quality of work. Lewis was great to deal with from the start. Professional, reliable and always on hand to offer advice on the best approach and industry best practice. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Lewis and the team.
The guys from Barlow Construction did an excellent job. They arrived on time. I was working from home throughout the kitchen refurbishment so got to know them. Great bunch of lads, great work. No issue too big or small, they got it sorted. Well pleased with the finish.
We have worked with Lewis and his team across a number of properties and he is incredibly professional and pleasant to work with. Highly recommended.
Excellent service from start to finish. The team was professional, reliable and clearly took pride in their work. Communication was great throughout, everything was completed to a very high standard and they kept the area clean and tidy. The finished result exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking for a trustworthy and professional construction team.
Start to finish, professional and friendly. Lewis and the guys from Barlow Construction are all amazing. You won't find any better.
Fantastic building firm, clean workers who take your individual needs into consideration. Thank you.
Absolutely amazing work they did. Great lads and very professional.
Following a tender process organised by our architect, we chose Barlow Construction of Thirsk for a single storey extension enlarging our kitchen diner, and a raft of other internal work. Lewis and his team were exemplary. We particularly liked their flexibility with variations and extra tasks as we went along. Cleared up each evening and respectful of the property and neighbours. The standard of build and the communication throughout were superb.
Lewis Barlow has been involved in two major projects at our house near Stillington. These included restoring a barn and converting it to residential use, renovating the original farmhouse, and building two substantial extensions. He has immense skill in all areas of construction, takes huge pride in his work, and is always a delight to deal with. He runs a team efficiently and explains what he is doing as he goes, always letting you know what the next day or week holds. Our house is a joy to live in.
Every room has been upgraded in our extended bungalow by Barlow Construction. It took five months of continuous work and we can only describe it as faultless, not a word we use lightly. From day one their prime concern was to make sure we got what we wanted, with quality, politeness and excellent communication. Scrubbing the new patio on the last day summed up their whole attitude.
Our requirement was an extension to our driveway that matched in every way the surface our house builder had laid two years before. Barlow Construction of Thirsk project managed the work and every objective was fully and very competently achieved. We were delighted by the outcome.
We had a single storey extension and a new kitchen installed by Lewis and the team and couldn't be happier with the finished project. The work was of excellent quality and done with real professionalism and knowledge from start to finish. I cannot fault them.
A tree had pushed over our boundary stone wall and neighbours needed access at all times. After discussing everything on site with Lewis we received a very reasonable quotation. The job was completed to the very highest standard and all the residents commented on how polite and courteous the workers were. A top building firm that we will certainly use again.
After meeting Lewis we quickly realised we would be in safe hands, thanks to his approachable manner and well thought out programme of works. He and his team lived up to the high expectations they set themselves, and we have already pencilled in our next project. Punctual, polite, hard working and they left our home spotless after each working day.
I have no hesitation in awarding the full 5 stars for the high standard of the repointing and other work, and for the extra attention given to improving the look as well as the structure of my house. At all times the team took great care to make the process a smooth and pleasurable one. One of the reasons I contacted Barlow Construction was their membership of the Federation of Master Builders, and that has certainly proved its worth.
Barlow Construction built the foundation blockwork and external brickwork up to DPC, and prepared for the ground floor slab, on my timber frame barn conversion. The team showed flexibility and good problem solving on a complex site. They worked quickly and accurately to produce level and square foundations to tight tolerances, a very sound base for the timber frame, and a high quality finish to the brickwork.
Lewis and the guys built our double storey extension and fully completed the interior. From the en suite bathroom to the kitchen installation, Lewis project managed every area, which made it entirely stress free. The guys did an absolutely fantastic job and made our home look even better than we imagined.
Lewis and his team carried out repairs on our roof and we are really pleased with the work. Lewis was personally recommended to us after we had struggled to find someone reliable. He is trustworthy, courteous and professional, and the quote was detailed and accurate. The men were polite, friendly, arrived on time and cleared up after themselves.
Lewis and the team did a brilliant job on our extension. Without them we would not have achieved our dream home. From basic drawings, a huge job was completed in record time to a very high standard, and Lewis always accommodated the changes we wanted. Our architect commented on the workmanship and took photos for his own website.
Communication throughout the build was exemplary. It is a measure of Lewis's integrity that he will immediately flag unnecessary work that can be avoided, and he is happy to suggest alternative approaches, which were consistently better ideas than ours. The tradesmen he chose were professional, trustworthy and delivered without fault.

Master CraftsmenMember

Insured by QBE£5m public liabilityUp to 10 yearsinsurance backed guarantee
Master CraftsmenMember

Insured by QBE£5m public liabilityUp to 10 yearsinsurance backed guaranteeStart with a conversation
Send a few details and Lewis will call you back to talk it through and arrange a visit. If you already have drawings, WhatsApp them over and he will have a look before he comes out.
- Call Lewis07816 237961
- YardUnit 3, Bridge Farm, Park Road, Topcliffe, Thirsk YO7 3PD
Tell us about your project
Lewis reads every enquiry himself and will come back to you to arrange a visit. Quotes are free and come with no obligation.
