What will your renovation really cost?
Real 2026 prices, researched from UK trade sources — for lofts, extensions, solar, garages, garden rooms and pools. No sales pitch. Then, if you want one, an introduction to a vetted local specialist.
Read the real numbers
Costs broken down by type, size and specification, researched from UK trade sources — before anyone with a quote pad rounds them up.
Check the rules
Planning permission, permitted development limits and building regulations, explained per project in plain English.
Meet one specialist
One vetted local firm per area, introduced free if you want a quote. No lead-selling to five builders, no spam.
Six renovations, real numbers
From dusty attic to the best room in the house
Costs by type — Velux, dormer, hip-to-gable, mansard — plus planning permission limits, building regs and how much value a bedroom upstairs really adds.
The kitchen-diner that changes how the house works
Per-m² prices by size and specification, shell vs turnkey, rear and side-return layouts, the 50% rule and what an extension actually adds in value.
Which solar grants you can actually get in 2026/27
Warm Homes £15,000, ECO4's December deadline, 0% VAT, export payments — every scheme with dates and eligibility, plus a 60-second checker.
The cheapest square metres you'll ever add
Full component line-items, building regs Parts A–L explained, the annexe trap, and why converting beats extending at half the cost per m².
A proper office at the bottom of the garden
Prices by size and tier from real manufacturers, the build-vs-buy maths, permitted development limits and the sleeping-in-it legal trap.
Build costs and the running costs nobody quotes you
Installation by shell type — liner, fibreglass, concrete, indoor — plus honest annual running costs, heat pump economics and planning rules.
Which project fits your budget?
| Project | Typical cost (2026) | Time on site | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage conversion | £10,000 – £30,000 | 3–6 weeks | The cheapest extra room in the house |
| Garden room | £15,000 – £50,000 | 1–3 weeks | An office or studio without touching the house |
| Loft conversion | £25,000 – £100,000+ | 4–14 weeks | A bedroom and en-suite; the strongest value-add |
| House extension | £40,000 – £180,000 | 3–6 months | The kitchen-diner that reshapes the ground floor |
| Solar panels | £5,000 – £13,000 (grants to £15k) | 1–3 days | £500–£1,100 a year off electricity bills |
| Swimming pool | £30,000 – £220,000 | 6–16 weeks | The garden centrepiece — running costs included honestly |
Know the numbers before anyone quotes you.
Every guide is researched from UK trade sources and updated for 2026 — costs by type and size, planning rules, and a calculator. Start with the one that matches your project.