Knowing what to budget before you start can save a lot of painful surprises midway through a project.
Flooring Costs Per Square Metre
The cost of carpet will be less expensive than engineered wood flooring, typically costing around £15-30 per m² fitted including underlay. Higher quality engineered wood flooring will cost around £30-60 per m² fitted including underlay, depending on the quality of the board and the state of the subfloor. For a small double room around 12m², this would cost more towards the higher end of the price as you have to include the cost of the underlay and threshold strips.
Decorating Day Rates
This means that you will be charged around £150-£200 per day for a painter and decorator to complete your required tasks. A plasterer on the other hand will typically charge between £250-£400 for skimming a single room. He may charge more for larger rooms with very high ceilings and odd shaped walls, and less for smaller rooms with very straight lines and smooth surfaces. It is also worth noting that a plasterer will charge more to skim over existing cracked or uneven plaster than it would for him to resurface the entire room from scratch with new plaster before he starts to paint.
Built-In Versus Freestanding Furniture
Freestanding furniture such as wardrobes can start from as low as £200 for a high street retailer’s offering and can go up to £500 or more. A built-in wardrobe that covers a full wall will start from around £1,500 supplied and fitted to £3,500 or more for a premium offering and designer range. A built-in is perfect for rooms that are very long and thin, as it will make the most of the room and add plenty of storage. See also Bedroom Renovations.
Electrical Additions
Additional electrical sockets are charged at around £100-£200 for 2-3 new points. For a new lighting circuit, including recessed downlighters, expect to pay around £300-£600 for work to include installation of new points and related work. This cost can vary depending on the number of points to be added and the extent of work needed to complete the job, i.e. whether ceiling voids need to be opened up.
Room Size and Condition
The cost to renovate a small bedroom that is in decent condition would likely be in the region of £1,500 to £3,000. However, a larger room with issues such as cracked walls, outdated wiring and very worn flooring could cost anywhere from £6,000 to £10,000+.
Getting Accurate Quotes
Write down a list of what you require and then ring around for quotes. It’s essential to provide each trader with a detailed specification, including floor area, the number of additional points required for electrical work, and the required finish.
Getting the initial budget right is the key to making all the subsequent decisions right.
