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Bright white laboratory with island bench, sink and louvred windows

Lab Fit Out, Cleanrooms & Cold Stores Labs ready to validate on your date, across London and the UK. Start with a free feasibility and cost plan.

Our track record

100% of projects delivered ahead
of programme and on budget

What our clients get

  • 10 weeksto design, build and commission a 220 sq m data centre inside a London headquarters
  • 2,100 m²of clinical healthcare space fitted out in London in 7 months
  • 0snags at handover, with every test record and certificate in the file
  • £10Minsurance cover, ISO and CHAS: what your landlord and insurer ask for

A lab is finished when the science starts

Nobody judges a lab on the day the builders leave. It is judged on the day the first experiment runs, and every week between costs runway or rent.

So we start with your building: floor loads, ceiling void, risers and roof space for extract. You get a feasibility and cost plan free, before you sign the lease or commit the budget. No obligation: send floor plans and a room list to start.

Projects delivered in London, Manchester and Oxfordshire.

Modern dark-clad science building with glazing at dusk

Trusted by leading businesses

  • Trainline
  • Auto Trader
  • YouTube
  • Medusa
  • Fuse
  • Drakes
  • PTOS
  • Close Connections
  • Marnie
  • Vortex Post
  • Minds Ahead
  • Missy
  • Fora
  • Gama Healthcare
  • Equinix
  • Hubble
  • B-Engineering

Lab fit out, cleanroom construction and cold stores under one contract

Fitting out offices, a clinic or a shop floor instead? See our commercial fit out service.

Lab bench with shelving, reagents and microscopes in a bright laboratory

Wet and dry laboratories

CL2 wet labs, dry labs and write-up areas, with chemical-resistant benching, sinks and wipe-clean finishes throughout.

Technician in cleanroom suit opening a stainless steel glazed cabinet

Fume cupboards and lab gases

Ducted fume cupboards with extract to roof, and piped lab gases with alarms and isolation at every bench.

Wide cleanroom with ceiling diffuser, bench lines and gowned staff

Cleanrooms to your ISO class

Modular or built-in cleanrooms with HEPA air, pressure cascades, airlocks and gowning rooms, tested to the class in your brief.

Stainless steel insulated pipework and valves in a plant space

Cold stores and freezer rooms

Insulated panel rooms from chilled to deep frozen, with frost-protected floors, alarmed doors and monitored refrigeration.

Air handling plant and ductwork beside a glazed building

Air handling, power and controls

Air handling sized to the air changes your risk assessment sets, with resilient power, drainage and BMS monitoring.

Empty office floor stripped to the ceiling grid with large windows

Office-to-lab conversions

Slab loads, vibration, ceiling voids and riser space checked first, then strengthened or rerouted before the lab goes in.

How it works

How a lab fit out runs with us

01

Free feasibility

We survey the building, check floors, voids, risers and plant space, then return a layout and a cost plan. No charge.

02

Brief and design

Your scientists' needs become a room schedule: containment level, air changes, gases, benching and equipment loads, signed off before drawing starts.

03

Approvals and orders

Landlord licence, building control and planning for roof plant are handled. Fume cupboards, air handlers and panels are ordered early to hold the date.

04

Build and commission

Our trades build, then every system is tested and balanced: airflow, room pressures, fume cupboard face velocity, alarms and temperatures.

05

Ready to validate

Each system comes back tested, with installation and operational qualification records ready for your validation team.

Black hardback cover of the Craftex Fit Out Project Guide

The Craftex Guide to Fit Out

Not ready to book a survey? Read the guide first: budget, programme and approvals, before your lab brief.

Our promises

Six promises, written into your contract

The terms we build every lab, cleanroom and cold store to, from a single suite to a whole building.

  1. One team, survey to sign-off

    Building work, air handling, gases, cleanroom and refrigeration sit in one contract, with one director answering for all of it.

    London HQ data centre: designed, built and commissioned by one team

  2. The agreed figure stands

    What you sign is what you pay. Any change your scientists ask for is priced and agreed in writing first.

    100% of our projects on budget

  3. Your work keeps running

    Live labs, offices and plant stay in service. Noisy, dusty and shutdown work is booked into agreed hours and weekends.

    Data centre systems went live over one weekend

  4. Ready on your date

    Around 60% of the labour is our own, so no room waits for another firm's diary.

    Macmillan centre: 2,100 m² of clinical space in 7 months

  5. £10M cover on every job

    Public and employers' liability of £10M each, professional indemnity on request.

    ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001, CHAS and SafeContractor.

  6. Zero snags, a complete test file

    Every room finished to the signed-off schedule, with commissioning results, certificates and the health and safety file.

    A data centre in a London headquarters, from empty room to commissioned in 10 weeks.

Example quotation sheet for a CL2 laboratory fit-out, with a note saying send it to us, we will beat it

Already have a quote? Send it to us. We'll beat it.

Send the quote or floor plans you have. A director checks them against your building and returns our figure and a free feasibility.

Compare your quotes

Where lab fit outs usually go wrong, and what we do instead

Hold any proposal up against this. Every lab carries the same risks; who carries them is what differs.

AreaThe usual riskWith Craftex
Who is responsibleA builder, an M&E firm, a cleanroom installer and a refrigeration firm, each blaming the next when pressures will not holdOne contract covers every system, so a room that fails its test is ours to put right
The final billA price for finishes, then extras once the air changes, extract and gas routes are finally designedServices sized from your requirements at feasibility, so the cost plan already carries them
Your operationsNeighbouring labs shut for days, dust drifting into clean areas and supplies cut without warningShutdowns agreed with your lab manager in advance, clean zones sealed off, nothing isolated without notice
The ready dateFume cupboards and air handlers ordered after the build starts, so the lab opens months lateEquipment with long lead times is on order before demolition starts, with our own trades on site daily
Compliance and sign-offBuilding control, the landlord and your biosafety adviser left to chase drawings and test resultsWe run every approval and certificate you need to occupy and satisfy your landlord and insurer, from building control to gas safety
HandoverKeys handed over with no test records, so validation stalls for weeksRooms handed back tested and documented, so your validation team can start straight away

Laboratory fit out cost per m² in the UK, 2026

Indicative 2026 costs per m² of floor, ex VAT and fees. London usually runs about 9% higher (Laxton's London factor). Your own figure follows the free feasibility.

ItemWhat it covers£ per m²
Lab, cleanroom or cold store fit-outControlled-environment fit-out in an existing building: benching, air handling, gases, panels and controls£1,700–2,800/m² (£158–260/sq ft)
New laboratory buildingA purpose-built lab building, shell and fit-out together£3,700–4,300/m² (£344–399/sq ft)
Wet-lab building, shell and core onlyThe base building a lab tenant fits out, before any lab fit-outabout £4,520/m² (about £420/sq ft)
Survey, feasibility and cost planFloor loads, voids, risers and plant space checked, with an outline layoutNo charge

Sources: Laxton's Building Price Book 2026; Savills science research. Figures exclude VAT, professional fees, scientific equipment and structural strengthening. We take on construction work from £100,000 to £10M+.

Send us your floor plans and the rooms you need; we return a feasibility and cost plan for your building.

Free cost calculator

What will your lab fit out cost?

Enter the floor area and pick the type of space. You get a range straight away, from 2026 market rates.

Your estimateEnter your spaceex VAT and fees Get your free cost plan

Indicative, ex VAT, fees and scientific equipment. London runs about 9% higher, not applied here. Strengthening and risers are priced after the survey.

Our team

  • in

Lab fit out: your questions

How is a lab fit out different from an office fit out?

A lab is designed around its services, not its finishes. Air changes, extract, lab gases, drainage and floor loading lead the design. That usually needs a deeper ceiling void and more riser and roof space than an office. On Laxton's 2026 prices, controlled-environment fit-out runs about £1,700–2,800 per m² before VAT and fees.

What do the cleanroom ISO classes mean for cleanroom construction?

ISO 14644-1 grades cleanrooms by the number of airborne particles per cubic metre. At 0.5 µm and above, ISO 5 allows 3,520, ISO 7 allows 352,000 and ISO 8 allows 3,520,000. At rest, GMP Grades A and B match ISO 5, Grade C ISO 7 and Grade D ISO 8. The class you need sets the air change rate, and that drives most of the cost.

What temperatures do cold stores and freezer rooms run at, and how is cold store construction priced?

Chill rooms usually run at about 0–5 °C, and medicines are commonly stored at 2–8 °C. Freezer rooms typically hold −18 to −21 °C, and deep-frozen stores −25 °C or colder. Insulated panels get thicker as the temperature falls. Freezer floors also need insulation and frost protection.

What documents do we get for validation?

Installation and operational qualification protocols and results from the installers of the air handling, cleanroom, cold rooms and fume cupboards. Add the commissioning and balancing records, cleanroom classification tests and fume cupboard face velocity tests. As-built drawings, O&M manuals and the health and safety file complete the set. Performance qualification stays with your team.

What does the free feasibility and cost plan include?

We survey your building first. You then get a check of floor loads, ceiling voids, risers and roof space, an outline layout and a cost plan. If the building will not work as a lab, we tell you before you sign. Send us your floor plans and room list to start.

What does a CL2 laboratory need?

Containment level 2 is for work with hazard group 2 biological agents, under HSE and ACDP guidance. Typical features are impervious, easy-clean surfaces, a wash-hand basin near the exit, controlled access and safety cabinets where work creates aerosols. HSE must be notified before premises are first used for these agents. Your biological safety adviser sets the final list, and we build to it.

Can an office be converted to a lab? Office to lab conversion checks

Often, yes, but four things need checking first. Floor loads must carry lab equipment, and the ceiling void must take the ductwork. Then come riser and roof space for extract, and vibration, where concrete frames usually perform better than steel.

How long does a lab fit out take?

We fix the dates in the contract rather than quote an average, because size, containment level and equipment lead times change everything. Fume cupboards, air handling units and cleanroom panels often set the start on site. For scale, our 10-week data centre build ran from design to commissioning.

Can you work in a building that is still occupied?

Yes. Works are phased around your experiments and your neighbours, with shutdowns agreed in advance and live or clean areas sealed off. Our London data centre went live over a single weekend, with the works staged around the offices next door.

What size of project do you take on, and where?

Construction projects from £100,000 to £10M and above, from a single lab suite to a whole building, for tenants, landlords and operators. We work across London and the UK, with projects in Manchester and Oxfordshire. A director leads your project from survey to handover.

What our clients say

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  • Hired Craftex for our conversion project. We had to convert a 600m2 office into 8 apartments. Guys did an excellent job in terms of program efficiency and quality of the finishes which gave us a big upside to exit the project 2 months faster than other competitors’ timelines.

    Misha Levit

  • Great experience from start to finish. Communication was clear, the workmanship was excellent, and the whole project was managed professionally.

    Rhea Langford

  • I’d like to thank the team at Сraftex for the work they did on our office.
    It was really important for us to get the work done quickly, but without compromising on quality, as we regularly have clients and guests visiting and needed to move into the new office within a month.
    We spent around two weeks discussing and agreeing all the details before the work started. What I really appreciated was that everything we agreed beforehand was actually followed through during the job. The work was also completed on time.
    Thanks to the whole Сraftex team for a great job. I’d definitely use them again if we need any work done in the future.

    IURII PYLYPETS

  • We recently worked with Craftex and honestly couldn’t be happier with the results. From start to finish, the team was professional, reliable, and highly skilled. The quality of workmanship exceeded our expectations, and everything was completed on time and to a very high standard.
    Communication throughout the project was excellent, and they always went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied. It’s rare to find a construction company that combines professionalism, attention to detail, and great customer service so well.
    Without a doubt, Craftex is one of the best construction companies we have ever worked with. Highly recommended to anyone looking for quality and trustworthy builders.

    Adam Miah

  • Craftex has completed a range of both small and large-scale projects on our commercial property with exceptional precision and quality. Dmitriy consistently delivers courteous, prompt service and has shown great flexibility in accommodating last-minute changes to plans and timelines. I highly recommend Craftex for their professionalism and outstanding workmanship.

    Pascal Hunt

  • Great company to work with as always. Super flexible at dealing with evolving requirements and fast deployment and execution.

    Akshay Khanna

  • Hired Craftex to do the full design and fit out of my gym in Chelsea. Super efficient and fast team. They gave the best price and a proper fast track program. We managed to open in less than 6 weeks with no headaches or surprises during construction. Quality was great, we had zero snags on completion. I’ve worked with a few companies before but these guys really impressed me from project management to how they treat the client. Top GGs.

    Александр Хоменко

  • I worked perfectly with Sviat and Joe, with their architect they came up with a very smart design for our office to fit more desks and optimise the space to its maximum capacity. They also did excellent value engineering on the MEP design proposed by others, allowing us to save around £50K. The quality and speed were outstanding we finished two weeks ahead of schedule. Highly recommend these guys.

    John Smith

  • Happy with the end result. Tight timeline but they pulled it off. The team worked late shifts and even weekends to help us open the doors on schedule. Site was always left tidy at the end of the day and no surprise charges either. Good communication throughout. Would definitely use Craftex again.

    Pawel Kamionka

  • Highly recommended!
    Craftex are the kind of fit-out contractors in London you can truly trust. From the very first meeting, they understood our vision and gave practical ideas to make the most of our space. They turned our old storage area into a clean, efficient, and well-organized warehouse. The team was professional, easy to work with, and clearly took pride in their work.

    Monika Kamionka

  • We brought in Craftex to refurb our London office and honestly, they made the whole thing way easier than we expected. They listened, suggested ideas we wouldn’t have thought of, and explained everything clearly. Not the cheapest quote we got, but the end result shows why, the place looks modern, clean, and our team actually enjoys being here now. Communication was spot-on too. No chasing and confusion, deadlines were hit. If you want people who genuinely care and don’t treat your project like “another job,” I’d recommend them.

    A Google User

  • Sviat and his team at Craftex were brilliant to work with on our office redesign. From the first meeting, they took the time to understand how we actually use the space rather than just pitching generic solutions. They came back with clever, practical ideas to maximise use of the space and get more employees and desks inside . Every step was handled professionally, and the process felt surprisingly smooth for a project of this size. They finished one week ahead of schedule, and the transformation is clear — our office feels brighter, more functional, and much more welcoming. I’d happily recommend Craftex to anyone who wants a reliable design team that also makes the journey enjoyable.

    Cucu Iulian

  • We recently worked with Sviat and the Craftex team on a complete warehouse refurbishment, and the results have been outstanding. From the very beginning, their team was professional, organized, and attentive to every detail. The project was completed on time and within budget, without disrupting our day-to-day operations.

    Simone Racaku

  • My experience with Craftex was excellent from beginning to end. They took the time to really listen to what I wanted and then offered practical suggestions that made the design even better. I always felt like they cared about creating a space that worked for me, not just one that looked nice on paper. The end result is an office that feels stylish, welcoming, and very functional for day-to-day work. The process itself was straightforward, well-managed, and never stressful. I’d definitely recommend Craftex if you’re looking for office design and build services in London — they made the whole journey a positive one.

    Ion Bounegru

  • I’m really pleased with my experience working with Craftex. As a commercial construction firm, they handled everything from start to finish without any unnecessary stress on my side. What impressed me was how they suggested practical ideas that improved the design while also keeping things realistic. The communication was always clear, so I never felt out of the loop. The project ran smoothly, deadlines were met, and the end result is exactly what I was hoping for — a space that feels both functional and modern. It’s not easy finding contractors who are this reliable, but Craftex definitely proved they can be trusted.

    Taron Papoyan

  • I had an amazing experience working with Sviat and the Craftex team on our office fit-out in London. They were always professional, responsive, and quick to offer the best advice whenever decisions needed to be made. I really appreciated how they balanced style with practicality — the office doesn’t just look fantastic, it works perfectly for our team. Everything was done with care and attention to detail, and the project never felt overwhelming because they managed it so well. Communication was clear from start to finish, and I always felt involved in the process. I would happily recommend Craftex to anyone looking for a trustworthy contractor.

    Artur Dvorak

  • Craftex carried out a warehouse fit-out for us, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. The space has been completely transformed into a highly organized and efficient environment that makes our daily operations much smoother.
    The team was professional but also very approachable — I always felt comfortable asking questions or giving feedback. They came up with smart, practical solutions that worked perfectly for our setup, and everything was explained clearly along the way.
    The best part was how they stuck to the agreed timeline, finishing on schedule without cutting corners. It’s rare to get both quality and reliability, but Craftex delivered both.

    Roma Shchukin

  • We’re extremely happy with Sviat and the Craftex team’s work. They suggested clever ideas, managed the project efficiently, and delivered a functional, modern space. The team was easy to communicate with and very professional throughout the process!

    Polina Lysenko

  • I can honestly say our office has been completely transformed thanks to Craftex. From the very first meeting, the team was approachable, professional, and full of creative ideas that really made sense for our business. They didn’t just focus on how the space would look but also how it would work for the team day-to-day. The new layout is efficient, modern, and welcoming, and you can tell they really thought about the details. The whole process was smooth and surprisingly stress-free. They kept me updated at every stage, which gave me confidence. I’m really happy with the results and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

    Mykyta Khadzhynov

  • The results from Craftex’s commercial refurbishment in London are fantastic. The team was friendly, clear in communication, and made sure the project stayed on track. The workspace now feels efficient, welcoming, and modern. Definitely a team you can trust!

    Alaa Betar

  • We hired Craftex for a commercial ground floor fit-out with 2 flats above. There were some minor co-ordination hiccups with third-party suppliers but the team kept it moving. Finish quality was strong. Kitchens and doors look great. I have already asked them for a quote on the next project.

    Ben Edell

  • These guys actually deliver. They handled our first industrial to residential conversion near Tower Bridge, turned an old warehouse into 4 modern flats. They stuck to the plan, kept the site clean and the timing was on point. No hidden extras, no drama, just a professional construction company in London that gets the job done.

    Богдан Главацкий

  • We recently hired Craftex for a commercial office fit-out project in Central London, and overall, we’re really happy with the result. There was a delay on our side with a custom glass partition supplier, but the Craftex team managed the construction schedule very professionally and kept everything on track. Their guys worked clean, respected our workspace and IT setup, and kept the site tidy throughout. If you're looking for a reliable office refurbishment company in London, I’d definitely recommend Craftex. Would use them again without hesitation.

    Ardian Beleshi

  • This was a full high-end renovation of my Victorian rental apartment in Westminster, just off Sloane Square and Belgravia. The scope included full fit-out: electrics, plumbing, a new bespoke kitchen, and a luxury bathroom refurbishment. Craftex took care of everything and made the process easy. They weren’t the cheapest, but you can tell they really know what they’re doing when it comes to prime London property renovations.
    The team was professional, organised, and genuinely seemed to care about getting everything right. I was especially impressed with the quality of the finish – the attention to detail really shows in every corner.
    I’m very happy with the results and would definitely recommend Craftex to anyone looking for reliable, high-quality renovation work in Central London.

    Наталия Цимбалюк

  • I was stressed about timing since we had bookings lined up, but they smashed it. Even worked Saturday to finish the floor. My clients love the look — the beauty salon fit-out turned out exactly how I wanted. Couldn’t have pulled it off without their help. Genuinely appreciate the way they communicated throughout the refurbishment. If you need reliable help with beauty salon design or fit-out, especially in a place like Chelsea — these are the guys.

    Rami Jusupova

  • We used Craftex for a shop-to-flat conversion in Chelsea — turning an old retail space into two rental units. Access wasn’t the easiest, but the guys handled it well, no drama. Quote was clear, no hidden extras, and they actually stuck to it, which is rare. Finish came out solid, exactly what we needed for rentals. Joe (PM) kept things ticking and communication was always on point. All in all, smooth job — would use them again for sure.👍

    Apartify Estates

  • Fuse Energy hired Craftex on the fit-out and installation of our engineering and research centre, which included electrical, heating, lighting, plumbing, and ventilation upgrades. They delivered everything to a high standard and were proactive throughout — even working weekends to help speed up the programme, despite not being contracted to. They managed last-minute changes very well, communication was clear and consistent, and the team was professional from start to finish. We’d happily recommend Craftex to anyone needing a reliable construction partner.

    Hainro Eybers

  • Holistic therapy space fit-out
    Super impressed. I had a very specific vision for the studio. calm tones, soft lighting, hidden storage etc. the craftex team just got it. build was done quicker than I expected and the guys were polite, tidy and actually listened. we had 2 snags on day one but they fixed it before the week was out. worth it for the peace of mind.

    Dariia Shvyryda

  • Made a full refurbishment and redesign of our Central London office. Fantastic work, quality service and reliable people. Can recommend it to everybody

    Nikita Nigai

  • Amazing experience with these guys. I trusted them my apartment in London and Business. They are always accurate, very professional, responsive and neat. They would always advice me right things for my best interest. I had luxury experience with them and I would definitely recommend Craftex to everyone.

    Motush Motushev

  • Could not be HAPPIER with Sviat and the Craftex team, they certainly showed me that they’re the number one office design company in London that we’ve had the pleasure of working with. They gave us a unique design just like we wanted, and we loved the first initial draft of the concept. Also have to give them props for Construction, I gave them a tight timeline as we needed to move our team in ASAP, so they pulled double shifts and I didn’t see a drop in quality. Will be to talking to the team when we move up to our next bigger office. Highly recommended A+++

    Mikhail Burdoev

  • Very professional company. Craftex did brilliant minimalistic design and completely refurbished my apartment to the highest quality.

    Vlad

  • I and my husband are very satisfied with Craftex's service and customer support. We bought a house in Hampstead and wanted to redesign and renovate it. On our initial free consultation with Sviat, we found out that we actually can do loft conversion and rear extension and add value to the property straight away.
    We worked with the Craftex design team to bring our vision to life and deliver planning approvals. At that time guys started stripping out to save time on the construction programme as we wanted to move in ASAP.
    We worked with very experienced project director Konstantin who was responsible for all aspects of project delivery from design to construction with a very good eye on details and customer care.
    We saved a lot of money by having professional advice from the start. Project management and quality at Craftex are at the highest level. Many thanks to Craftex Team.

    Lia Lavryk

  • ISO 9001
  • ISO 14001
  • ISO 45001
  • CHAS
  • Constructionline Gold
  • SafeContractor
  • TrustMark
  • FMB
  • NICEIC
  • NAPIT
  • MCS
  • CSCS
  • Considerate Constructors
  • RICS, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
  • RIBA, Royal Institute of British Architects
  • ARB, Architects Registration Board
  • Public & Employers' Liability £10M
  • Professional Indemnity £10M
  • ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified

Tell us about your lab

Send your floor plans, the rooms you need and the date your team must start work. A director comes back to you to book the survey.

Unit 5, 160 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TR

info@craftex.co.uk

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