How much does it cost to renovate a house?
It can be difficult knowing where to start when budgeting for a renovation project, but it’s an important step to ensure costs don’t spiral out of control.
Download our free renovation budget planner to get you started.
The largest proportion of your budget will likely be allocated for labour costs and materials, unless you intend to do the work yourself. To give you an idea of what to expect, we’ve set out the average daily cost of employing individual trades (in the North of England). If your project is large scale, you may look at hiring a contractor who will deal with each of the trades on your behalf, charging an overall fee for the project. If you’re working with an interior designer, they will provide you with a comprehensive design document, technical drawings of joinery to be built and details of all flooring and finishes. Being able to pass this on to your contractor will enable them to provide you with a much more accurate quote.
| Tradesperson | Average Day Rate |
|---|---|
| Carpenter | £200 |
| Plumber | £300 |
| Electrician | £250 |
| Builder | £200 |
| Painter & Decorator | £150 |
| Plasterer | £250 |
| Roofer | £200 |
| Tiler | £150 |
| Kitchen Fitter | £150 |
| Renovation Task | Average Cost (3 Bedroom House) |
|---|---|
| New Heating System | £6500 |
| Rewiring | £5500 |
| New Windows | £4500 |
| Replaster | £2500 |
| New Kitchen | £10000 |
| French Doors | £2500 |
| Kitchen Extension (12msq build cost) | £20000 |
These costs are estimates and we always recommend obtaining quotes prior to beginning work.
From personal experience we would suggest living in a property (if its condition allows) prior to making any final design decisions. This way you fully understand how you use the space, what you love about it and what really doesn’t work. An interior designer can also help you discover how the space can work for you, and redesign the internal layout to suit your family’s lifestyle. In this scenario you may renovate one room at a time, allowing you to save for the next stage of the project in between. Below we’ve set out average renovation costs per room (including furniture), based on the level of finishes.
| Room | Budget Friendly | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallway | From £1500 | From £3000 | £5000+ |
| Kitchen | From £5000 | From £15000 | £40000+ |
| Bedroom | From £3000 | From £8000 | £15000+ |
| Bathroom | From £2500 | From £10000 | £15000+ |
| Living Room & Dining Room | From £5000 | From £10000 | £20000+ |
The final thing to consider are design fees, which can vary greatly dependent on the specialism, and consultants’ level of experience. If you are building an extension, you will need to factor in architects and structural engineers fees, as well as the cost of planning permission. If you’re unsure whether your project requires planning permission, check out our blog post ‘7 questions to ask yourself before renovating’. However, if all of the layout changes are internal, hiring an interior designer will offer greater value for money, on making the best use of existing space (architects don’t always consider how you will use the internal space). Also, interior designers will often receive trade discounts on materials and furniture, which they will pass on to you as a client.
Unsure which design specialist you need for your project?
Check out the flow chart below.
As a ballpark, we recommend allocating 10% of your budget to design fees. Considering this may also help you to decide who to hire, and which of their services are appropriate. As an example, let’s say you have around £3000 budgeted for a spare bedroom, don’t let that put you off working with a designer if you need help. Like us, many interior designers offer standalone consultations to give you ideas and offer advice on the areas you’re struggling with. Ours is £270 for an hour one to one, which conveniently still fits my 10% guide!
