Experienced Building & Landscaping in Dunbar
Solid work for harbour streets, sea-facing cottages and newer East Lothian estates
Kingsknowe Building & Landscaping provide professional construction services across Dunbar (EH42) and East Lothian.
Our team of experienced tradesmen handle everything from extensions, conversions and roofing through to driveways, patios and full garden landscaping, start to finish.
Built Properly. First Time.
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Precision Planning
Every project meticulously planned before a single spade hits the ground.
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Experienced Team
Our skilled tradesmen deliver every project with 25 years of trade expertise behind them.
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Clean Site Daily
A tidy, safe site every single day — we leave your property as we found it.
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Guaranteed Work
Quality guaranteed on every project we undertake, residential or commercial.
Expert Building & Landscaping in Dunbar
We work on extensions, masonry repairs, roofing and external works for homeowners in this harbour town, from older streets near the High Street and the castle ruins above the twin harbours to family housing in developments around Hallhill, Lochend, Belhaven and West Barns. The housing mix runs from sea-facing terraced houses and stone townhouses around the Dunbar Shore neighbourhood to detached and semi-detached family homes, cottages and flats on the newer streets, so each job is specified to suit its outlook and exposure. The combination of North Sea exposure, the sunny climate the town is known for, the rocky coastline by John Muir Country Park and its coastal path, and open farmland means ground conditions, drainage and weathering are all treated differently here than on more sheltered inland sites.
Projects are planned so the structure, groundwork and finish are treated as one job rather than separate pieces. That can mean starting with groundworks and foundations or bricklaying and masonry and only then moving on to visible work such as driveways and paving or new patios once the base is right for the salt air, exposure and levels on each plot.
- Free Survey & Quote
- Expert Planning
- Skilled Trades, Fully Managed
- Clean & Tidy Site, Every Day
- Final Walkthrough & Guarantee
- Edinburgh Trusted Trader
- 25 Years Experience
- 5.00 Google Rating
Our Building & Landscaping Services
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House Extensions
New space is tied by our team onto older stone or rendered houses close to the High Street, while extensions also fit neatly onto newer developments at Hallhill and around the A1 where garden depth, boundaries and neighbours limit how far you can build.
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Loft Conversions
Loft conversions that add useful rooms with views towards the Forth, Bass Rock or the countryside are built by our team, giving structure, insulation and weathering details particular care against older roofs and the strong winds off the North Sea.
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Garage Conversions
Our team converts integral or attached garages, a common way to gain extra living space on modern housing here, where families now need more day-to-day room than the original layouts and garage use allowed.
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Bricklaying & Masonry
New walls, porches and repairs are stitched by our masonry crew into existing stone and brick so the finished job suits both the historic harbour streets and newer houses on the western and southern edges of the town.
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Groundworks & Foundations
On rocky shoreline ground, exposed sites and long-used plots around the harbours and fields, our groundworks crew checks drainage, bearing and any old structures or services before new foundations or hard landscaping go in.
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Roofing & Roofline
Our roofing team handles slate and tile repairs on older town and harbour properties through to replacement roofline on estate houses, all with attention to wind off the North Sea and driving rain along exposed headlands.
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Driveways & Paving
Driveways and paths are reworked by our paving team to cope with commuter parking and heavier use, setting up surfaces and drainage for regular wet weather, sun and the salt and grit that come with the harbour roads and seafront.
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Patio Installation
Behind tight town plots or houses backing onto open ground, our paving team makes rear gardens more usable with patios, setting levels and falls so water runs away safely and surfaces stay comfortable in both sun and wind.
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Decking
Decking for gardens with uneven levels, or where owners want seating that makes the most of views, is built by our joiners, creating flat platforms without excessive excavation and working around existing walls, steps and features.
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Fencing & Gates
Our joiners replace ageing timber fences and gates that have suffered from salt air and wind, specifying posts, rails and boards for durability against salt-laden North Sea winds.
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Garden Walls & Retaining
Where gardens step down towards the shore, railway or neighbouring plots, our masonry crew builds retaining work so walls and edges cope with the loads and movement they face over time, especially on sloping or exposed ground.
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Garden Landscaping
Our landscaping team turns busy but tired plots into practical, low-maintenance spaces that still sit well with the surrounding houses, sea views and the character that draws people to the town.
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Turfing & Lawn Installation
New lawns are prepared properly by our team because exposure, sunshine, compacted shoreline ground and older drainage routes under the surface are all common in family gardens and long-used plots here.
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Painting & Decorating
Inside, our decorators finish extensions and alterations, while outside our painting suits the age and style of each property and stands up to salt-laden winds, high sunshine hours and changeable weather off the North Sea.
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Get a Free Quote
Tell us about your project and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
Trusted Dunbar Builders
Kingsknowe Building & Landscaping is an Edinburgh Trusted Trader contractor working for homeowners in one of East Lothian's main seaside towns, known for its castle, harbours and as the birthplace of naturalist John Muir. That matters in a place where harbour cottages, older townhouses, modern estates off the A1 and edge-of-field homes all sit under East Lothian Council planning, with Scottish building standards, salt spray off the North Sea and transport links by rail and the A1 shaping how each job is specified and carried out.
Common Dunbar Homeowner Questions
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Does coastal exposure change how you build patios, decks and driveways here?
Yes. Salt air, wind and stronger sun mean fixings, finishes and layout all need chosen so surfaces drain well, stay usable in breezy conditions and stand up to long-term weathering on the North Sea coast.
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Are properties near the harbours or cliffs more complex to work on?
They can be, because access, levels and existing walls are often tight to the shore and historic structures, so groundwork, retaining and safety all need more detailed planning before work starts.
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Do newer estates off the A1 need different groundwork from older town streets?
The ground is generally more regular, but exposure, drainage routes and how gardens back onto open fields still affect how foundations, retaining and surface water are set out on those sites.
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Is exposure a problem in edge-of-town gardens and open plots?
It can be, which is why shelter, planting and the layout of patios, paths and decks are often planned together so seating areas stay comfortable and materials hold up in the wind and sun the town is known for.
What Our Clients Say
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Carol — Harbour AreaKingsknowe Building & Landscaping rebuilt our rear steps and small yard behind a harbour-side property, moving materials through narrow access without causing problems for neighbours. The new stone and paving now look like they belong with the age and setting of the building.
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Martin — HallhillWe asked Kingsknowe Building & Landscaping to convert our garage and reorganise the driveway in Hallhill. The extra room has made day-to-day living easier and the parking layout finally suits how our family actually uses the house.
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Sheila — West BarnsOur garden at West Barns had awkward levels and older edging that were starting to fail. Kingsknowe Building & Landscaping added the retaining work it needed first and then finished the patios and planting so the space feels safe and straightforward to look after.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We do. All of our building and landscaping work in Dunbar carries a workmanship guarantee, covering everything from harbourside stone repairs and roofing to extensions, driveways and garden landscaping. We work to Scottish Building Standards on every project, and exposed coastal sites get no less care for it. Before we hand a job over we carry out a full walkthrough with you so any final adjustments are made there and then, and if a workmanship issue surfaces afterwards we come back and resolve it.
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Yes. We choose materials that suit a windy North Sea location and register their manufacturer warranties in your name. Depending on the work that can cover reinforced concrete and structural steel in the foundations and frame, frost-resistant brick and natural stone for walling, slate and tile on the roof, and composite decking boards or block pavers outside. We pass on all the product details and warranty paperwork at completion so your cover is clear from day one.
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We cover EH42, including Belhaven, West Barns, East Barns and Brocksmouth. We also cover nearby East Lothian communities including Innerwick, Oldhamstocks and Spott.
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The housing mix includes sea-facing period stone townhouses and harbour cottages near the High Street, post-war streets, modern estates at Newtonlees and Newton Manor off the A1087, and edge-of-field properties, so each job has to suit its street, outlook and exposure.
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Yes. Dunbar's historic town centre, the harbour setting below the castle ruins and the open North Sea frontage mean external alterations and extensions near the centre, coastline and key views often need more careful planning checks than in standard inland estates.
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It is a straightforward run from Edinburgh along the A1 or by rail, which helps with surveys, quoting and organised project delivery.
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Yes. Local plots can feature either rapid-draining sandy subsoils that leach nutrients quickly or dense compacted ground left behind during estate construction. We address this by incorporating high-nutrient topsoil where needed or installing perforated land drainage pipes wrapped in geotextile fabric channelled into deep gravel soakaways.
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Yes. We also work in nearby East Lothian villages including Innerwick, Oldhamstocks, Spott and West Barns.
Working in Dunbar
Edinburgh, EH12 8LJ
- Mon–Fri
- 8:30am – 7:00pm
- Saturday
- 9:00am – 1:00pm
- Sunday
- Closed