When it comes to home renovations, there is a lot to consider, whilst they can be great for adding value to your home, as well as giving you some much-needed extra space, you will need to take into account budget, type of extension you want, and the average cost.
In this blog post, we will be looking at the average extension cost, popular areas to renovate, and how to budget as a homeowner.
Looking for a quick answer? Check out our interactive menu below!
- What are house renovations?
- How do I know what renovation is right for me?
- How can I find the right property to renovate?
- What to look for in a home renovation project
- What to assess when you renovate a house
- Structural assessment
- Will you be able to get planning permission for your renovation?
- Full structural survey costs
- How much does it cost to renovate a house?
- How much will a house extension cost me?
- How much will a new kitchen cost?
- How much does a new bathroom cost?
- How much will a loft conversion cost?
- What is the estimated cost of treating damp?
- How much will it cost to renovate a garage?
- What is the average cost to replace doors and windows?
- How much can I expect to pay for a new roof?
- Additional costs
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What are house renovations?
Before we start looking at the costs of home renovations, we must first look at what home renovations are. A home renovation can be as big as gutting your entire house and starting again or as small as adding an extension to your property or treating yourself to a new bathroom.
How do I know what renovation is right for me?
Deciding on which renovation is right for you is one of the most crucial steps of your home renovation journey. Do you want to buy a fixer-up and have a full home renovation done, or are you looking at remodeling your kitchen or perhaps a new bathroom? Deciding on what you want is the first step in your home renovation journey and will help you decide whether this is a project you want to undertake in your own home, or whether it is one that you wish to do on another property that you can renovate and sell on.
How can I find the right property to renovate?
When it comes to looking for the right house to renovate, there is no set way to go about it. The best option you have is setting your budget for how much you are willing to pay for a “fixer-upper” and searching through property portal sights such as Rightmove and Zoopla. You will need to keep in mind the type of project you want to undertake. If you are looking at getting a big extension then ideally you will need to be looking at a bungalow or a small house situated on a large plot.
If the project you have in mind is more along the lines of remodeling the interior, then you may wish to turn your attention to older semi-detached or terraced houses within your price budget.
Once you have reached a decision on the kind of property you wish to buy, you are ready to start looking and viewing, to find your property renovation dream.
What to look for in a home renovation project
Now that you know what you are looking for when it comes to home renovations, it is time to find the project itself. As exciting as this is, you will need to be realistic about things and not get carried away.
Whilst a property is always full of potential you will need to consider the aspects of the house you will be unable to change, things that will hold the property back. Below are some of the factors that will need to be considered when house hunting for your renovation project.
Location
One of the most crucial factors to consider when searching for your fixer-upper is the location. Is it in a nice area? Are there good transport links nearby? What amenities does it have to offer? These are all important to buyers, so they will need to be important to you. There is no point in falling in love with a property that is in a poor location as when the time comes to sell it, you will find yourself struggling to find a buyer, no matter how nice the interior of the home is.
Parking
Another factor that will need to be considered is the parking situation. If the property has nowhere for potential new homeowners to park their cars and no potential to add it, then you may as well hold the breaks on the project and start looking for a new property immediately.
Neighbourhood
When you find a property that you like the look of, it is a good idea to take a look at other properties nearby. Have they had extensions fitted, or other work done? If so, this should give you an idea about how amenable the local planning committee is.
Restrictions
When you find a property that you think is suitable for renovation you should get details about any restrictions that may be in place. Should the property be located in a conservation area, be a leasehold, or be subject to a restrictive covenant then the changes that you can make may be fairly limited.
What to assess when you renovate a house
Once you have found a property that you are confident meets the previous criteria, you are ready to start to access the renovation potential. This can often prove quite difficult as people’s first port of call is to often bring in an architect or a professional designer, however, this can be incredibly expensive during the research phase. This means that deciding the amount of renovation potential your property holds is directly down to you.
The first thing you should do is consider the basic work that is required in order to bring your property up to the standard you are envisioning. Will you want to add any extra bedrooms or bathrooms? Do you want to extend the kitchen? Will adding more bedrooms take away from the living space in the property?
You will now want to take the layout of the property into consideration. How does the property flow? Are the rooms in the right position? Do any of the rooms come with focal points already, like a view into the garden, or a fireplace? How many toilets are there on the property? How large is the main bedroom? Is the bathroom in a convenient location for homeowners?
The last step of your renovation potential assessment is to check the exterior of your property. Is there enough room for your extension plans? Would you want to replace any windows/doors? Is there enough room for a loft conversion?
Structural assessment
Once you have assessed your property’s renovation potential, you are ready to perform a structural survey. This will check the structural work of your property and make sure that everything is up to scratch. While you may want to bring in a professional later down the line, you will be able to check for some of the basics:
- Damp – When you are looking for damp on a property, the main giveaway to its presence is flaky plaster, a smell of damp, cold walls, and watermarked ceilings or walls.
- Cracks – Another structural issue to be on the lookout for are cracks. These can appear anywhere but the best places to look for them are where extensions join the end of terrace walls and bay windows.
- Roof – An important aspect of the house to ask about is the roof. Find out how old it is, what materials are used on it, and whether they have had any work done to it. If the property has a flat roof, you should check if the material used as a membrane is better than asphalt and gravel.
Whilst you can perform a quick check by yourself, if you are serious about buying the property, then you will need to bring in a professional before you purchase.
Will you be able to get planning permission for your renovation?
Chances are you may need planning permission in order to carry out your home renovation plans. Before you commit to a house or a project, it is a good idea to do some online research. The first port of call should be to check the planning authority to see if any previous planning permissions have been rejected, You should also take note of any similar planning applications that have been allowed on similar neighbouring properties. It is a good idea to have a meeting with your local planning officer to discuss any ideas you have for the property renovation and see if they would have any objections to them.
Full structural survey costs
Once you have more of an idea about where you stand with your home renovation plans, it is a good idea to get the skeleton of the home properly checked. You will need a professional to check for any damp, structural issues, wiring problems, and other issues your property may have.
On average a full survey will cost around £500-£1,500, but it will highlight any issues that may crop up, will save you money further down the line, and can help you make properly informed decisions about where you will spend your home renovation budget.
How much do structural repairs cost?
The cost of fixing structural repairs varies from property to property. If the structural repair survey highlights subsidence as an issue, you may find yourself footing a fairly large bill. In the worst-case scenario, you could be facing up to £50,000 to underpin the property.
However, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors estimates that this scenario is only necessary in less than 10% of cases. You are more likely to be footing a £6,000 bill. That is the average claim made on insurance for subsidence according to the Association of British Insurers.
How much does it cost to renovate a house?
Budget is an important factor when it comes to home renovations. How much you are going to spend depends upon how much work you plan on having done. Obviously, a simple renovation project such as a kitchen extension will be a lot cheaper than a full house refurbishment, however, prices will vary depending not only on the project but the builders you use.
Whilst it is hard to give an exact figure on how much a kitchen renovation or how much a new bathroom cost, below is the average you can expect to pay according to HomeOwners Alliance:
| PROJECT | HOUSE RENOVATION COST |
| Extension | £26,000 – £34,000 |
| Loft conversion | £45,000 |
| New bathroom | £6,000 |
| New kitchen | £10,000+ |
| Garage conversion | £6,000 |
| Subsidence | £6,000 |
| Damp | Up to £16,000 |
| Double glazing | £400-£600 per window |
| Installing central heating | £4,000 |
| New boiler | £2,700 |
| New roof | £4,500 – £12,000 |
| Fixing rot | £1,000 – £2,000 |
| Woodworm treatment | £450 – £800 |
How much will a house extension cost me?
If you are looking at extending your property then this is likely one of the biggest costs you will be facing. The exact cost of an extension will vary from project to project and depend upon the size of the extension, the structural work needed, and where in the country the project will take place. According to MyBuilder, the average 4m x 6m extension costs £26,000 to £34,000.
How much will a new kitchen cost?
Another great way to add value to your home is through remodelling the kitchen. However whilst it can add value, it can also cost thousands. The average house renovation cost for a new kitchen is usually between £10,000 to £20,000. But around 10% of people spend over £50,000 on a kitchen renovation project.
How much does a new bathroom cost?
A new bathroom is a great way to add value to your property. The average cost of fitting a new bathroom is around £6,000 however depending on the luxury of the items used this can quickly rocket upwards.
How much will a loft conversion cost?
A loft conversion is a great way to improve and add value to your property. The usual cost for undertaking a loft conversion is around £20,000 but can rocket upwards depending on what you need to have done in order to complete the project. According to MyBuilder, a loft conversion with dormer windows and adding a bedroom and ensuite bathroom costs around £45,000.
What is the estimated cost of treating damp?
If you believe that you have spotted signs of damp on your property, the first call of action will be to identify the source. Your builder should be able to identify the source as there could be any number of culprits, from condensation to penetrating dampness.
Exactly how much it will cost you will vary from builder to builder, so it is a good idea to get various quotes from several different builders. Other factors that will affect the cost of fixing include the age of your property, where you live, the location, and how extensive the damage caused is.
How much will it cost to rewire my property?
If you are purchasing an older property with the hopes of remodeling it, you will need to get the wiring checked. Faulty wiring is common in older properties and can result in house fires. Signs that your wiring may be out of date include old-fashioned fuse boxes, dated light switches, and fabric-coated flex leads.
The exact costs vary depending upon a variety of factors such as the age, location, size, and condition of the property. It is a good idea to shop around for quotes and look carefully at the reviews given.
How much will it cost to renovate a garage?
A cost-effective way of adding space and value to your home is to undertake a garage conversion. The average cost of conversion is around £6,000 making it a popular choice with those looking to renovate.
What is the average cost to replace doors and windows?
Whilst it can tempting to jump in head first when it comes to double glazing, you will first need to check to make sure you have the relevant permissions. Once you have the all-clear you can expect to pay around £400-£600 for an average-priced uPVC window installation including RICS.
How much will new central heating cost?
If the property you have bought in the hopes of fixing it up has no central heating, then you can expect to find yourself footing the bill of around £4,000 to install it in the average 3-bedroom house. If the property that you have purchased already has central heating but is in need of a new boiler, then you can expect to pay around £2,700 to purchase a new combi boiler according to British Gas.
How much can I expect to pay for a new roof?
One of the biggest costs you may be faced with when it comes to renovating your property is the roof. Should you get the results of the survey back and they recommend a new roof, then you will need to factor in a price of anywhere between £4,500 – £12,000 into your budget. The type of roof tile you want and whether or not the rafters need replacing will all have an effect on the cost.
Additional costs
An additional unexpected cost you may not have factored in is how much rot treatment will cost should it be found on your property. Often occurring in older properties, dry and wet rot can cause extensive damage in a very short time scale. On average you can expect to pay around pay £1,000-£2,000 for a specialist firm to treat the rot, according to AXA Insurance. You will also need to factor in the additional costs to repair or replace damaged timber.
Another additional cost you may encounter if you have an older property is woodworm. Woodworm usually only causes superficial damage and can be removed with pesticide. They create lots of small holes (usually around 2mm wide), and you can check if they are fresh by looking for sawdust around them. The cost of getting rid of woodworm varies from property to property but on average it costs around £450-£800 to get a 3-bedroom house professionally treated. If you are looking to cut costs you can do this yourself for around £50.
This covers everything you need regarding home renovations. If you have any further questions, queries, or insight into the matter, please feel free to get in touch.
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Alexandra is a junior content producer who enjoys writing articles and finding out more about the property market. Read more about Alexandra here.
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