Renovation Costs Guides
Renovation Costs calculators
Kitchen Cost Calculator
Estimate your kitchen renovation budget from cabinetry, worktops, appliances and finish level.
Bathroom Cost Calculator
Estimate your bathroom renovation budget from sanitaryware, tiling, plumbing and finish level.
Renovation Cost Calculator
A whole-project budget estimator across multiple rooms — bathroom, kitchen, extension, loft and more, all at once.
Herringbone, Metro and Subway Tile Patterns Explained
How herringbone, metro and subway tile patterns differ, what they suit best, and how much extra they cost to install compared with a standard grid layout.
How Long Does Tile Adhesive Take to Dry Before Grouting?
How long tile adhesive typically needs to cure before grouting, what affects the timing, and what happens if you grout too early.
Tile Spacing and Layout: Getting It Right First Time
How to plan tile spacing and layout properly before you start, so joints stay consistent and you avoid awkward cut tiles at edges.
Tile Adhesive Types Explained: Which One for Which Surface
The main types of tile adhesive, what surfaces and tile types each one suits, and how to pick the right one for your project.
Tile Trims and Edging Explained
What tile trims are, the main types available, and when they're worth using instead of a raw cut tile edge.
Waterproofing and Tanking a Shower Before Tiling
Why waterproofing (tanking) a shower area before tiling matters, what it actually involves, and what happens if it's skipped or done badly.
How Payment Stages Work on a Renovation Project
What a normal payment structure looks like for UK renovation projects, why staged payments protect both parties, and warning signs to watch for.
How Much Contingency Budget Should You Set Aside for a Renovation?
A realistic approach to renovation contingency budgeting in the UK — how much to set aside, and why underestimating this is one of the most common causes of renovation stress.
How Much Does Replastering a Room Cost?
What replastering a room typically costs in the UK, the difference between skimming and full replastering, and why it's often underestimated in renovation budgets.
VAT on Renovation Work: What You Need to Know
How VAT typically applies to UK renovation work, when a reduced rate might apply, and why it matters when comparing contractor quotes.
Renovation Timeline: How Long Does Each Type of Project Take?
Realistic UK timelines for common renovation project types, from a single-room refresh to a full house renovation, and the factors that most often push a project beyond its original schedule.
Deposits and Contracts: What's Normal for Renovation Work
How much deposit is reasonable, what a proper renovation contract should cover, and what's a warning sign rather than standard practice.