Planning guide
Planning a Full House Renovation in Hull & East Yorkshire: What to Expect
What actually happens on a full house renovation, in what order, and what to plan for before work starts.
A full house renovation involves more trades, in a stricter order, than most people expect. Getting the sequence right is one of the biggest factors in keeping a renovation on schedule, so this guide walks through what typically happens and when.
The typical renovation sequence
- Structural work and strip-out: removing anything being replaced, and any structural alterations (e.g. removing a wall), signed off against building regulations where required.
- First-fix plumbing, electrics and insulation: pipework and cabling run before walls are closed up, plus any insulation upgrades.
- Plastering: skimming walls and ceilings once first-fix work is complete and inspected.
- Kitchen and bathroom installation: cabinetry, tiling and fixtures fitted once plaster has cured.
- Flooring: fitted once messier trades are finished.
- Decorating: the final stage - filling, painting and finishing throughout.
- Second-fix and snagging: sockets, switches, door furniture and a final walk-through to catch any outstanding details.
Do you need planning permission or building regulations approval?
Most internal renovation work - new kitchens, bathrooms, re-plastering, rewiring - doesn't need planning permission. Structural changes, such as removing a load-bearing wall, loft conversions and some electrical or plumbing work, do need to meet building regulations, and some may need a building control inspection. Properties in conservation areas (parts of Beverley, for example) or listed buildings may have additional restrictions on materials and alterations.
How to budget and plan
- Build in a contingency for unexpected issues found once walls, floors or old fittings are opened up - this is common in older East Yorkshire housing stock.
- Decide on kitchen and bathroom specifications early, since lead times on cabinetry and fixtures can affect the schedule.
- Agree a payment and project schedule up front so you know what happens and when.
- If you're staying in the property during the renovation, plan which rooms will be affected and when, particularly for kitchen and bathroom work.
How long does a full renovation take?
Planning a renovation?
Send us a rough scope of what you're planning and we'll arrange a site visit to talk through sequencing and pricing.