I regret to share my disappointing experience with Touchstone Lofts and its owner, Paul Johal. Despite the company's promises of excellent service and superior craftsmanship, my encounter with them was far from satisfactory. In this review, I aim to address the numerous issues I faced and shed light on the lack of professionalism exhibited by both Touchstone Lofts and Mr. Johal himself. Poor Customer Service: From the very beginning, it became evident that customer satisfaction was not a priority for Touchstone Lofts or its owner. Paul Johal's demeanour was dismissive and unresponsive, failing to address my concerns or provide adequate communication throughout the project. When I attempted to seek clarification or express dissatisfaction, my emails and calls were often ignored or met with defensive replies. This lack of attentiveness and disregard for customer service greatly contributed to my overall negative experience. Inferior Quality of Work: The craftsmanship exhibited by Touchstone Lofts was far from the promised superior quality. The final outcome of the project presented various flaws such as uneven finishes, subpar construction, and noticeable errors. Countless issues arose during the process that required constant reminders and follow-ups to rectify. The team's lack of attention to detail and failure to consistently meet industry standards left me disappointed and disillusioned. Unreliable Timelines and Delays: Throughout the project, Touchstone Lofts consistently missed deadlines and failed to deliver on their promised timelines. This lack of punctuality caused unnecessary stress and inconvenience. The delays were often attributed to miscommunications within the company and an apparent lack of project management. The inability to adhere to agreed-upon schedules further added to my frustration and dissatisfaction. Unprofessional Conduct: The unprofessional behaviour exhibited by Paul Johal himself was deeply disheartening. Instead of taking responsibility for the shortcomings and errors, he was quick to deflect blame and disregard my concerns. He lacked the integrity and professionalism expected when dealing with clients. This behaviour left me feeling unheard and disrespected as a paying customer, further tarnishing my perception of the company. Conclusion: Unfortunately, my experience with Touchstone Lofts and its owner, Paul Johal, has been overwhelmingly negative. The poor customer service, inferior quality of work, unreliable timelines, and unprofessional conduct have left me deeply unsatisfied. I would strongly advise potential customers to exercise caution when considering Touchstone Lofts for their projects. The lack of professionalism and inability to meet expectations make them an untrustworthy choice. read more

11 reasons why we will never use Touchstone Lofts again. 1) Our original quote was £55,000 for the loft conversion. The reality after inflated charges for minor amendments and hidden costs are added (e.g tin hat), is closer to £80,000. This excludes any decorating, furnishing etc. When the project is completely finished it will easily touch the £100,000 figure. 2) We've paid over £10,000 to have our roof made watertight by another company and over £1500 for reports from British Lead and a Chartered Building Surveyor, to prove that the building plans were not followed correctly by the contractor and that the quality of the work indicates, that the contractor lacked the training/skill to undertake the work. 3) We've been asked for £4,000 for work that was not completed, to terminate the contract early. When asked to itemise this, Touchstone said, "As per the terms of the agreement we don't provide itemised bills and neither does the contractor." We asked where in the contract it said this, but this information was not provided. 4) We paid Touchstone a £1000 building control fee back in Nov 2021. Building control has still not been paid by Touchstone Lofts. 5) After our building plans were approved, Touchstone Lofts asked us for an additional 10-20% in cash, to get one of their building contractors to accept the job. Touchstone Lofts do not have their own in-house builders, they outsource your project build! 7) Touchstone Lofts enters you into a "tripartite contract" and takes no responsibility for the work/actions of the building contractor they choose for you. 8) Your guarantee is with the building contractor, not Touchstone Lofts. If the contractor goes under or leaves the country, your guarantee goes with it. 9) The brochure, quote and contract reference/display logos from Master of Master Craftsmen, Federation of Master Builders. However, Touchstone is not a member of these organisations. When highlighting to senior management that this was breaking the Misrepresentation Act 1967, we were told that this was just a "silly clerical error". 10) The project is split into 10 payment stages. You have to pay Touchstone on every payment stage, with the rest going to the building contractor. After paying Touchstone their final payment, their attitude towards our project took a downward spiral. 11) Touchstone Lofts selectively decide when something in the contract was binding. This selectiveness always tended to be in their favour e.g. the contract includes 2x radiators, but the builder said this was a typo, even though the typo was in multiple places. No radiators were refunded read more

11 reasons why we will never use Touchstone Lofts again. 1) Our original quote was £55,000 for the loft conversion. The reality after inflated charges for minor amendments and hidden costs are added (e.g tin hat), is closer to £80,000. This excludes any decorating, furnishing etc. When the project is completely finished it will easily touch the £100,000 figure. 2) We've paid over £10,000 to have our roof made watertight by another company and over £1500 for reports from British Lead and a Chartered Building Surveyor, to prove that the building plans were not followed correctly by the contractor and that the quality of the work indicates, that the contractor lacked the training/skill to undertake the work. 3) We've been asked for £4,000 for work that was not completed, to terminate the contract early. When asked to itemise this, Touchstone said, "As per the terms of the agreement we don't provide itemised bills and neither does the contractor." We asked where in the contract it said this, but this information was not provided. 4) We paid Touchstone a £1000 building control fee back in Nov 2021. Building control has still not been paid by Touchstone Lofts. 5) After our building plans were approved, Touchstone Lofts asked us for an additional 10-20% in cash, to get one of their building contractors to accept the job. Touchstone Lofts do not have their own in-house builders, they outsource your project build! 7) Touchstone Lofts enters you into a "tripartite contract" and takes no responsibility for the work/actions of the building contractor they choose for you. 8) Your guarantee is with the building contractor, not Touchstone Lofts. If the contractor goes under or leaves the country, your guarantee goes with it. 9) The brochure, quote and contract reference/display logos from Master of Master Craftsmen, Federation of Master Builders. However, Touchstone is not a member of these organisations. When highlighting to senior management that this was breaking the Misrepresentation Act 1967, we were told that this was just a "silly clerical error". 10) The project is split into 10 payment stages. You have to pay Touchstone on every payment stage, with the rest going to the building contractor. After paying Touchstone their final payment, their attitude towards our project took a downward spiral. 11) Touchstone Lofts selectively decide when something in the contract was binding. This selectiveness always tended to be in their favour e.g. the contract includes 2x radiators, but the builder said this was a typo, even though the typo was in multiple places. No radiators were refunded read more

Despite the implication in their marketing material that Touchstone Lofts guarantees the building works, their standard contract means it is the builder, not Touchstone, who is the guarantor. But the contract also gives Touchstone the sole right to appoint the builder. So if problems arise later but the builder has ceased trading, the guarantee is worthless. This is the situation I am in with a recent loft conversion which now has a problem with rainwater leaks. After I involved my lawyers, Touchstone made a 'full and final settlement' offer. But this was unacceptable as it gave no guarantee of fixing the problem, limited their financial contribution to a little over £1000 and imposed a clause forbidding me publishing any statements they consider derogatory. I would recommend using a design company that allows you to choose your own builder, and find a solvent building company with years of experience and a track record of successful projects. My dispute with Touchstone Lofts is yet to be resolved and is currently still with my lawyers. [update 30 March 2022] I have had a reputable third-party roofing company investigate the problem. They removed tiling and found the Touchstone builders had not properly fitted the under-felt or correctly overlapped the tiles, allowing rainwater to seep into the wall cavity resulting in damage to the ceiling and wall in the room directly below. (TrustPilot does not allow pictures to be uploaded, but my reviews on NiceLocal and Yelp include pictures of the faulty roof works discovered and the resulting damage). The cost of remedial work far exceeds the amount estimated by Touchstone (who produced their estimate without even investigating the problem). [update 6 April 2022] Suppressing bad reviews It has long puzzled me why Touchstone, with whom I have a current outstanding dispute, were receiving so many good reviews. I now have a better idea of why that might be. Having recently submitted a critical review of Touchstone myself, I was contacted by their office manager reminding me of clauses in their contract which forbid customers from making "derogatory or disparaging statements ... which might be expected to damage or lower Touchstone reputation". But she had failed to check the actual contract document which I signed back in 2019, which pre-dates the time when Touchstone Lofts introduced these additional clauses into their standard contract. So it seems anyone who may have had a bad experience with Touchstone Lofts in the last few years and is still in dispute with them may not want to risk a legal challenge which might jeopardize their case. read more

We contracted Touchstone Lofts to build a loft conversion after seeing many reviews. The initial meeting with Paul left a good impression as he promised outstanding service with no hassle. Their marketing and website looks impressive, promising exceptional build quality and customer service but the reality is different. Paul turned up 3 hours late, so not a great start. I could write pages regarding the incompetence and appalling service we encountered with Touchstone but I am going to summarise. The work commenced in September 2021and from the very first day we had issues with the workers not turning up some days, some days only one person would turn up and this continued throughout the whole build process. I contacted Touchstone to complain and they simply informed me that 'time was not of the essence'. We were given a timescale of 12 weeks but the project was not completed till December 2022. We were charged an extortionate amounts of money by Touchstone for all the extras they applied. Paul was supposed to manage the project but we felt let down by his lack of presence and managing. We were the ones pointing out all the errors in the build and highlighting any issues that arose. We were left at the mercy of the contractor, who was very inconsiderate at times ( left us with no heating and or electricity). We had paid for interior decoration to be carried out and this took forever to complete. The delays in the build and decorating meant that we had to pay for storage for our belongings. Finally the decoration work started and the work was not finished to a good standard and they needed to return several times to complete the job. Eventually, once the work was complete, it took approximately 12 months to issue the completion certificate and this took months of emails, telephone calls and complaints to the their office. Sarah McIntyre spoke to us and she would acknowledge emails and then simply forget about us till we complained again. These are just a few of the numerous issues we had with Touchstone Lofts and we certainly will not be using them again or recommending them. Please note that with Touchstone Lofts you will be at the mercy of sub-contractors who are not vetted properly, will try to do the job using the cheapest possible materials and there are a number of hidden project costs. The customer service was absolutely dreadful and if things go wrong Touchstone are not helpful at all and appear to be invisible. I believe it is when things go wrong that the true nature of a company comes out. read more

We contracted Touchstone Lofts to build a loft conversion after seeing many reviews. The initial meeting with Paul left a good impression as he promised outstanding service with no hassle. Their marketing and website looks impressive, promising exceptional build quality and customer service but the reality is different. Paul turned up 3 hours late, so not a great start. I could write pages regarding the incompetence and appalling service we encountered with Touchstone but I am going to summarise. The work commenced in September 2021and from the very first day we had issues with the workers not turning up some days, some days only one person would turn up and this continued throughout the whole build process. I contacted Touchstone to complain and they simply informed me that 'time was not of the essence'. We were given a timescale of 12 weeks but the project was not completed till December 2022. We were charged an extortionate amounts of money by Touchstone for all the extras they applied. Paul was supposed to manage the project but we felt let down by his lack of presence and managing. We were the ones pointing out all the errors in the build and highlighting any issues that arose. We were left at the mercy of the contractor, who was very inconsiderate at times ( left us with no heating and or electricity). We had paid for interior decoration to be carried out and this took forever to complete. The delays in the build and decorating meant that we had to pay for storage for our belongings. Finally the decoration work started and the work was not finished to a good standard and they needed to return several times to complete the job. Eventually, once the work was complete, it took approximately 12 months to issue the completion certificate and this took months of emails, telephone calls and complaints to the their office. Sarah McIntyre spoke to us and she would acknowledge emails and then simply forget about us till we complained again. These are just a few of the numerous issues we had with Touchstone Lofts and we certainly will not be using them again or recommending them. Please note that with Touchstone Lofts you will be at the mercy of sub-contractors who are not vetted properly, will try to do the job using the cheapest possible materials and there are a number of hidden project costs. The customer service was absolutely dreadful and if things go wrong Touchstone are not helpful at all and appear to be invisible. I believe it is when things go wrong that the true nature of a company comes out. read more

Touchstone Lofts' Deceptive Practices ExposedRating: 1/5 starsI recently had the misfortune of engaging with Touchstone Lofts for a loft conversion project, and my experience with them has been nothing short of disappointing and frustrating. Their seemingly impressive Trustpilot reviews, upon closer inspection, reek of deceit and manipulation, making it clear that Touchstone Lofts cannot be trusted.One glance at their Trustpilot page reveals a startling pattern. Clicking on the word "verified" exposes the truth behind their so-called 'positive' reviews. It becomes evident that the company itself has written the majority of these glowing reviews, attempting to create an artificially positive image.Furthermore, it is disheartening to discover that Touchstone Lofts has actively flagged negative one-star reviews, further suppressing the voices of dissatisfied customers. This practice of cherry-picking reviews only reinforces their lack of transparency and genuine customer care.It is worth noting that all the five-star ratings are conveniently labeled as "invited" reviews, undermining their credibility. These invited reviews only serve to perpetuate Touchstone Loft's efforts to manipulate their reputation, rather than portray genuine customer satisfaction.Despite the evidence of these deceptive tactics, I am certain that this review, like many others, will eventually be flagged and buried by the company. Touchstone Lofts clearly does not welcome honest feedback and is determined to maintain their false positive image at any cost.My personal experience with Touchstone Lofts was a nightmare from start to finish. The project was riddled with delays, lack of communication, and subpar workmanship. Any attempt to address these issues was met with dismissive responses and inadequate solutions. It became evident that the company prioritizes profit over customer satisfaction.I strongly advise anyone considering Touchstone Lofts for their loft conversion to proceed with extreme caution. Do not be swayed by their facade of positive reviews, as they are merely a smokescreen to hide their true nature. Save yourself the time, money, and unnecessary stress by opting for a more reputable and trustworthy company.Touchstone Lofts' deceptive practices and manipulation of customer reviews have shattered any semblance of trust I had in them. It is disheartening to see a company resort to such underhanded tactics rather than genuinely addressing customer concerns and delivering a quality service. read more

Touchstone Lofts' Deceptive Practices ExposedRating: 1/5 starsI recently had the misfortune of engaging with Touchstone Lofts for a loft conversion project, and my experience with them has been nothing short of disappointing and frustrating. Their seemingly impressive Trustpilot reviews, upon closer inspection, reek of deceit and manipulation, making it clear that Touchstone Lofts cannot be trusted.One glance at their Trustpilot page reveals a startling pattern. Clicking on the word "verified" exposes the truth behind their so-called 'positive' reviews. It becomes evident that the company itself has written the majority of these glowing reviews, attempting to create an artificially positive image.Furthermore, it is disheartening to discover that Touchstone Lofts has actively flagged negative one-star reviews, further suppressing the voices of dissatisfied customers. This practice of cherry-picking reviews only reinforces their lack of transparency and genuine customer care.It is worth noting that all the five-star ratings are conveniently labeled as "invited" reviews, undermining their credibility. These invited reviews only serve to perpetuate Touchstone Loft's efforts to manipulate their reputation, rather than portray genuine customer satisfaction.Despite the evidence of these deceptive tactics, I am certain that this review, like many others, will eventually be flagged and buried by the company. Touchstone Lofts clearly does not welcome honest feedback and is determined to maintain their false positive image at any cost.My personal experience with Touchstone Lofts was a nightmare from start to finish. The project was riddled with delays, lack of communication, and subpar workmanship. Any attempt to address these issues was met with dismissive responses and inadequate solutions. It became evident that the company prioritizes profit over customer satisfaction.I strongly advise anyone considering Touchstone Lofts for their loft conversion to proceed with extreme caution. Do not be swayed by their facade of positive reviews, as they are merely a smokescreen to hide their true nature. Save yourself the time, money, and unnecessary stress by opting for a more reputable and trustworthy company.Touchstone Lofts' deceptive practices and manipulation of customer reviews have shattered any semblance of trust I had in them. It is disheartening to see a company resort to such underhanded tactics rather than genuinely addressing customer concerns and delivering a quality service. read more

Let me tell you, I've had the distinct displeasure of dealing with the owner of Touchstone Lofts (who's apparently so touchy he's managed to get this review flagged and removed once already), and it was an absolute nightmare from start to finish. I can't begin to express just how appalled I am at the sheer gall of the man. Overcharging for services? Oh yes, that's only the beginning of it. The quality of the work? Dreadful. Utterly dreadful.Right from the start, it was painfully obvious that this chap wasn't the least bit concerned with customer satisfaction. No, no, he was far more interested in lining his pockets. He quoted me an absurdly high price, all while going on about how it was because of the "top-tier" materials they use. What a load of rubbish! I later discovered these so-called high-quality materials were nothing but cheap rubbish - barely fit for purpose!And as if that weren't enough, the behaviour of the owner and his team was nothing short of disgraceful. They couldn't be bothered to turn up on time, and when they did finally grace me with their presence, they spent more time lounging about, taking breaks as if they were on holiday, rather than getting any actual work done. The place was left in an absolute state, filthy and chaotic. It became increasingly clear that their plan was to drag this project out as long as humanly possible, squeezing every last penny out of me. And to top it all off, they didn't even bother to clean up after themselves!The final result? What an absolute joke! Shoddy workmanship all around - flaws everywhere you looked, corners cut at every opportunity, and not an ounce of pride in their work. When I dared to point out the appalling quality, the owner, in all his arrogance, had the nerve to dismiss my concerns outright, refusing to take responsibility for his horrendous work.In summary, I wouldn't wish this company on my worst enemy. Touchstone Lofts and its owner are the epitome of unprofessionalism, overcharging for abysmal work, and then having the cheek to act like they've done you a favour. If you're looking for a reputable loft conversion company, steer clear. Far, far away.And here's the icing on the cake - of course, my honest, factual review gets flagged and removed. Why? Because it dares to contradict their sea of fake five-star reviews. Yes, FAKE, because none of them are verified. Bought and paid for, no doubt. Well, here's some advice for you, Touchstone: get a life, and stop silencing people who speak the truth! read more

Let me tell you, I've had the distinct displeasure of dealing with the owner of Touchstone Lofts (who's apparently so touchy he's managed to get this review flagged and removed once already), and it was an absolute nightmare from start to finish. I can't begin to express just how appalled I am at the sheer gall of the man. Overcharging for services? Oh yes, that's only the beginning of it. The quality of the work? Dreadful. Utterly dreadful.Right from the start, it was painfully obvious that this chap wasn't the least bit concerned with customer satisfaction. No, no, he was far more interested in lining his pockets. He quoted me an absurdly high price, all while going on about how it was because of the "top-tier" materials they use. What a load of rubbish! I later discovered these so-called high-quality materials were nothing but cheap rubbish - barely fit for purpose!And as if that weren't enough, the behaviour of the owner and his team was nothing short of disgraceful. They couldn't be bothered to turn up on time, and when they did finally grace me with their presence, they spent more time lounging about, taking breaks as if they were on holiday, rather than getting any actual work done. The place was left in an absolute state, filthy and chaotic. It became increasingly clear that their plan was to drag this project out as long as humanly possible, squeezing every last penny out of me. And to top it all off, they didn't even bother to clean up after themselves!The final result? What an absolute joke! Shoddy workmanship all around - flaws everywhere you looked, corners cut at every opportunity, and not an ounce of pride in their work. When I dared to point out the appalling quality, the owner, in all his arrogance, had the nerve to dismiss my concerns outright, refusing to take responsibility for his horrendous work.In summary, I wouldn't wish this company on my worst enemy. Touchstone Lofts and its owner are the epitome of unprofessionalism, overcharging for abysmal work, and then having the cheek to act like they've done you a favour. If you're looking for a reputable loft conversion company, steer clear. Far, far away.And here's the icing on the cake - of course, my honest, factual review gets flagged and removed. Why? Because it dares to contradict their sea of fake five-star reviews. Yes, FAKE, because none of them are verified. Bought and paid for, no doubt. Well, here's some advice for you, Touchstone: get a life, and stop silencing people who speak the truth! read more

Let me tell you, I've had the distinct displeasure of dealing with the owner of Touchstone Lofts (who's apparently so touchy he's managed to get this review flagged and removed once already), and it was an absolute nightmare from start to finish. I can't begin to express just how appalled I am at the sheer gall of the man. Overcharging for services? Oh yes, that's only the beginning of it. The quality of the work? Dreadful. Utterly dreadful.Right from the start, it was painfully obvious that this chap wasn't the least bit concerned with customer satisfaction. No, no, he was far more interested in lining his pockets. He quoted me an absurdly high price, all while going on about how it was because of the "top-tier" materials they use. What a load of rubbish! I later discovered these so-called high-quality materials were nothing but cheap rubbish - barely fit for purpose!And as if that weren't enough, the behaviour of the owner and his team was nothing short of disgraceful. They couldn't be bothered to turn up on time, and when they did finally grace me with their presence, they spent more time lounging about, taking breaks as if they were on holiday, rather than getting any actual work done. The place was left in an absolute state, filthy and chaotic. It became increasingly clear that their plan was to drag this project out as long as humanly possible, squeezing every last penny out of me. And to top it all off, they didn't even bother to clean up after themselves!The final result? What an absolute joke! Shoddy workmanship all around - flaws everywhere you looked, corners cut at every opportunity, and not an ounce of pride in their work. When I dared to point out the appalling quality, the owner, in all his arrogance, had the nerve to dismiss my concerns outright, refusing to take responsibility for his horrendous work.In summary, I wouldn't wish this company on my worst enemy. Touchstone Lofts and its owner are the epitome of unprofessionalism, overcharging for abysmal work, and then having the cheek to act like they've done you a favour. If you're looking for a reputable loft conversion company, steer clear. Far, far away.And here's the icing on the cake - of course, my honest, factual review gets flagged and removed. Why? Because it dares to contradict their sea of fake five-star reviews. Yes, FAKE, because none of them are verified. Bought and paid for, no doubt. Well, here's some advice for you, Touchstone: get a life, and stop silencing people who speak the truth! read more

Let me tell you, I've had the distinct displeasure of dealing with the owner of Touchstone Lofts (who's apparently so touchy he's managed to get this review flagged and removed once already), and it was an absolute nightmare from start to finish. I can't begin to express just how appalled I am at the sheer gall of the man. Overcharging for services? Oh yes, that's only the beginning of it. The quality of the work? Dreadful. Utterly dreadful.Right from the start, it was painfully obvious that this chap wasn't the least bit concerned with customer satisfaction. No, no, he was far more interested in lining his pockets. He quoted me an absurdly high price, all while going on about how it was because of the "top-tier" materials they use. What a load of rubbish! I later discovered these so-called high-quality materials were nothing but cheap rubbish - barely fit for purpose!And as if that weren't enough, the behaviour of the owner and his team was nothing short of disgraceful. They couldn't be bothered to turn up on time, and when they did finally grace me with their presence, they spent more time lounging about, taking breaks as if they were on holiday, rather than getting any actual work done. The place was left in an absolute state, filthy and chaotic. It became increasingly clear that their plan was to drag this project out as long as humanly possible, squeezing every last penny out of me. And to top it all off, they didn't even bother to clean up after themselves!The final result? What an absolute joke! Shoddy workmanship all around - flaws everywhere you looked, corners cut at every opportunity, and not an ounce of pride in their work. When I dared to point out the appalling quality, the owner, in all his arrogance, had the nerve to dismiss my concerns outright, refusing to take responsibility for his horrendous work.In summary, I wouldn't wish this company on my worst enemy. Touchstone Lofts and its owner are the epitome of unprofessionalism, overcharging for abysmal work, and then having the cheek to act like they've done you a favour. If you're looking for a reputable loft conversion company, steer clear. Far, far away.And here's the icing on the cake - of course, my honest, factual review gets flagged and removed. Why? Because it dares to contradict their sea of fake five-star reviews. Yes, FAKE, because none of them are verified. Bought and paid for, no doubt. Well, here's some advice for you, Touchstone: get a life, and stop silencing people who speak the truth! read more

Let me tell you, I've had the distinct displeasure of dealing with the owner of Touchstone Lofts (who's apparently so touchy he's managed to get this review flagged and removed once already), and it was an absolute nightmare from start to finish. I can't begin to express just how appalled I am at the sheer gall of the man. Overcharging for services? Oh yes, that's only the beginning of it. The quality of the work? Dreadful. Utterly dreadful.Right from the start, it was painfully obvious that this chap wasn't the least bit concerned with customer satisfaction. No, no, he was far more interested in lining his pockets. He quoted me an absurdly high price, all while going on about how it was because of the "top-tier" materials they use. What a load of rubbish! I later discovered these so-called high-quality materials were nothing but cheap rubbish - barely fit for purpose!And as if that weren't enough, the behaviour of the owner and his team was nothing short of disgraceful. They couldn't be bothered to turn up on time, and when they did finally grace me with their presence, they spent more time lounging about, taking breaks as if they were on holiday, rather than getting any actual work done. The place was left in an absolute state, filthy and chaotic. It became increasingly clear that their plan was to drag this project out as long as humanly possible, squeezing every last penny out of me. And to top it all off, they didn't even bother to clean up after themselves!The final result? What an absolute joke! Shoddy workmanship all around - flaws everywhere you looked, corners cut at every opportunity, and not an ounce of pride in their work. When I dared to point out the appalling quality, the owner, in all his arrogance, had the nerve to dismiss my concerns outright, refusing to take responsibility for his horrendous work.In summary, I wouldn't wish this company on my worst enemy. Touchstone Lofts and its owner are the epitome of unprofessionalism, overcharging for abysmal work, and then having the cheek to act like they've done you a favour. If you're looking for a reputable loft conversion company, steer clear. Far, far away.And here's the icing on the cake - of course, my honest, factual review gets flagged and removed. Why? Because it dares to contradict their sea of fake five-star reviews. Yes, FAKE, because none of them are verified. Bought and paid for, no doubt. Well, here's some advice for you, Touchstone: get a life, and stop silencing people who speak the truth! read more

Avoid Touchstone Lofts at All Costs. I honestly don't even know where to start. My wife and I are expecting our first child, and this loft conversion was supposed to be a special project to prepare for our growing family. Instead, it's been one disaster after another, and I wouldn't wish this experience on anyone. We were told--PROMISED--that a side window would be installed as part of the work. It was one of the main things we discussed before signing anything. But when it wasn't done, the owner turned around and said it wasn't in the contract. How can that be when we discussed it at length? It feels like they'll say whatever they need to get your money, and then you're left high and dry. And the quality of the work? It's beyond unacceptable. Building control has failed their work FOUR TIMES. Four. Every time, there's a new issue. Poor structural work. Incorrect insulation. Problems with fire safety compliance. You name it, they've done it wrong. Every failed inspection is another delay, another round of stress, and another bill for me to fix things that should've been done properly in the first place. As if that wasn't bad enough, one of their builders admitted to me that he hadn't been paid in over five weeks. How can I trust a company that doesn't even pay its own workers? No wonder the job was rushed and sloppy. Their scaffolding even hit my neighbour's car, and I didn't find out until my furious neighbour came over with CCTV footage from their Ring doorbell. It was humiliating. I'm trying to keep the peace with my neighbours, but Touchstone Lofts clearly doesn't care about the mess they leave behind. And then there's the constant harassment for payments. The owner keeps badgering me for money that ISN'T EVEN DUE YET. I'm already paying thousands for this disaster, and now they have the audacity to chase me for more while the work fails every inspection and they leave us in limbo. This was supposed to be a happy time in our lives, but it's been nothing but stress, disappointment, and endless headaches. We've put everything we have into this home, and now we're left with a mess that feels impossible to fix. Please, if you're considering Touchstone Lofts, do yourself a favour and stay away. Don't let them do to you what they've done to us. read more

After a couple of years of ummming and ahhhing about whether to convert the loft, my wife and I finally decided to put the feelers out, contact a few companies in an attempt to find out how it all could work. Touchstone were one of 3 companies we contacted and were the quickest to respond and the first to come over to have an informal chat about what we were thinking of doing. Having absolutely no experience with building work, the consultant from Touchstone took time out to explain everything very clearly and right there and then started sketching what my new loft space could look like. A day or two later, as promised, we received a very comprehensive proposal outlining the exact process, detailed costing structure and time-lines. The whole experience up to this point was so much more professional and friendly than the other providers so Touchstone were our first choice and we gave them the go ahead. All by the agreed dates, the new water tank was in, the scaffolding was up, the skip was on the drive and the builders were on-site. The guys worked frantically when they were on-site rarely taking lunch breaks and often working late into the evening. The whole build came together so quickly it was amazing. Every evening I was in the loft taking more pictures of the progress. There was minimal mess and absolutely no disruption to our 6 month old baby and young toddler's routine. There were several breaks in production waiting for some elements to be delivered but the whole project kept really good pace and we were informed of any timing alterations at all times. We couldn't have been happier with the builders who often made us cups of tea and kept us fully up-to-speed with their progress and asked lots of good questions and made quality recommendations to optimise the project as they went. The end result looks stunning and far better than we imagined - from both inside and out. Even the building inspector when he came to assess the build said that he was really impressed. The whole project was delivered exactly to budget as per the initial proposal which meant I could spend my contingency budget on doing a really nice job of the new en-suite. If you're thinking about getting your loft converted, I'd absolutely recommend Touchstone. read more

I regret to say that my experience with Touchstone Lofts and Paul has been extremely disappointing and frustrating. From the very beginning, I encountered numerous issues that have left me with a negative impression of this company and its owner.One of the first red flags was their refusal to accept credit card payments due to Section 75 protection, they only want BACS or cash. While I understand their concern, this policy made it extremely inconvenient for me as a customer. It limited my payment options and forced me to find alternative ways to pay for their services. Additionally, the communication from Touchstone Lofts and Paul was abysmal throughout the entire process. Emails and phone calls were constantly ignored or left unanswered for days, and in most cases weeks. This lack of communication caused unnecessary delays and left me feeling in the dark about the progress of the work.What truly exacerbated my frustration was the unprofessional and rude behaviour displayed by Paul. During our interactions, he consistently displayed a lack of respect and consideration towards me as a customer. His dismissive attitude and condescending tone made it clear that he had no interest in providing satisfactory customer service. Furthermore, the work carried out by Touchstone Lofts was of very low quality, and in places, dangerous. The safety measures implemented during the construction were severely lacking, putting both the workers and me at risk. Numerous minor accidents occurred on the site due to negligence, which is completely unacceptable. To make matters worse, I was bombarded with constant solicitations from Touchstone Lofts even after the eventual completion of the project. It felt as if I was being hounded for more business, rather than being treated as a customer who had already endured a terrible experience. Overall, my encounter with Touchstone Lofts and, in particular Paul, was a just awful to say the least. Their refusal to accept credit card payments, coupled with their poor communication, rude demeanor, dangerous work practices, and relentless solicitations, have left me utterly dissatisfied. I strongly advise others to steer clear from this company if they value professionalism, quality work, and customer support. read more

After a couple of years of ummming and ahhhing about whether to convert the loft, my wife and I finally decided to put the feelers out, contact a few companies in an attempt to find out how it all could work. Touchstone were one of 3 companies we contacted and were the quickest to respond and the first to come over to have an informal chat about what we were thinking of doing. Having absolutely no experience with building work, the consultant from Touchstone took time out to explain everything very clearly and right there and then started sketching what my new loft space could look like. A day or two later, we received a very comprehensive proposal outlining the exact process, detailed costing structure and time-lines. The whole experience up to this point was so much more professional and friendly than the other providers so Touchstone were our first choice. All by the agreed dates, the new water tank was in, the scaffolding was up, the skip was on the drive and the builders were on-site. The guys worked frantically when they were on-site rarely taking lunch breaks and often working late into the evening. The whole build came together so quickly it was amazing. Every evening I was in the loft taking more pictures of the progress. There was minimal mess and absolutely no disruption to our 6 month old baby and young toddler's routine. There were several breaks in production waiting for some elements to be delivered but the whole project kept really good pace and we were informed of any timing alterations at all times. We couldn't have been happier with the builders who often made us cups of tea and kept us fully up-to-speed with their progress and asked lots of good questions and made quality recommendations to optimise the project as they went. The end result looks stunning and far better than we imagined - from both inside and out. Even the building inspector when he came to assess the build said that he was really impressed. The whole project was delivered exactly to budget as per the initial proposal which meant I could spend my contingency budget on doing a really nice job of the new en-suite. If you're thinking about getting your loft converted, I'd absolutely recommend Touchstone. read more

Great work Touchstone Lofts Touchstone Lofts undertook our loft conversion project and have completed a fabulous job for us and we are delighted with the outcome. The loft conversion story is however not simple. We were advised by friends to contact an architect to do the drawings and then get quotes for the work. We contacted a number of loft conversion specialists to tender for the project. Five loft conversion specialists provided quotes for the drawing provided by our architect. Touchstone lofts arrived and after inspection of our home and the drawings, pointed out that the architects drawing was flawed. They suggested that the designs were very poor and could not see why a spiral staircase had been used as it compromised the existing landing, bedroom, bathroom and limited space in the loft. Touchstone Lofts also said that the loft floor should not extend across the trusses as it made the barn feel claustrophobic and the existing character and thus height of the barn should remain. We were very surprised at this as other, so called reputable loft conversion specialists had not pointed this out. Initially I was not convinced as we had already obtained Building regulations consent from the local council. The surveyor did a quick scaled sketch and showed me how our bedroom, landing area and main bathroom would not be affected by a proper staircase. It seemed to good to be true but Touchstone submitted drawings to the council who accepted them. The resulting project is amazing. We have got a much bigger loft, timbers were retained which maintained the character of the barn. As the width of the loft did not go across the full width of the barn, the height of the barn was maintained which keeps the character of the barn and the feeling of height in our barn. After the care, patience and expertise displayed by Touchstone Lofts, I felt obliged in providing them with this detailed reference. Although we did not nominate Touchstone Lofts for the recent award they won, I can truly understand how and why this company thoroughly deserves the award and would not hesitate in nominating them for a future award. read more

Faced with spending a substantial amount of money on a loft conversion, and with enough horror stories out there to stop us, we put our most effort on determining which company to use. We narrowed the search down by looking for a company that specialised in loft conversions, and one that was backed by a high level of warranty in this case through Masterbond. Touchstone Lofts gave us the most peace of mind, and also the best quote ! I spoke at length to a previous customer who was very pleased with his conversion. From day one the builders were very pleasant and friendly, took on board my requests, kept disruptions to our daily life to a minimum, and cleaned and vacuumed at the end of the day. They worked through a particularly unpleasant winter ( end of 2010 ), undaunted by the bitter winds, with hardly any complaint, and remained focused on their work. They asked for confirmation of important decisions before doing those tasks ( even when they didn't have to ), and took into account any changes we proposed. Bearing in mind their often substantial travel times they were up early to get a good start and were always good spirited. True attention to detail showed in all their work; from carefully aligning the windows on the loft with those on the rest of the house, to installing door handles with all the screw heads in line. Additionally we had an architect, plumbers, electricians, roofers and plasterers, all of whom did great jobs and came across as genuinely nice people. We had a number of problems external to Touchstone the council, neighbour and scaffolders. Through all of these Paul kept positive and dealt with all of them in a timely and enthusiastic manner. No problem was too big. At the completion of the build there were a couple of nigglies, but these were resolved in a fair manner. Finally the loft itself. Its fantastic ! The outside is very much in keeping with the rest of the house, and the inside is a pleasure to be in. We are mightily impressed with the general finishing and the plastering in particular. The quality of work is superb and we are happy to recommend Touchstone Lofts. read more