PROJECT ADVICE
What changes the cost of a commercial refurbishment?
Two premises with the same floor area can need very different budgets. Before comparing a price per square metre, check the condition, specification and work included in that figure.
Prepared by Vayton Construction Ltd · 28 September 2026 · Updated 29 September 2026
The starting condition
A light refresh of sound surfaces differs from a strip-out that reveals damaged backgrounds or services that need alteration. Existing drawings, a site review and clearly recorded assumptions help define the starting point. Some hidden conditions can only be established after opening up; the quotation should explain how uncertain items are treated.
How much the layout changes
Moving partitions can affect ceilings, flooring, lighting, ventilation and other installations. Relocating a kitchen, washroom or service counter may involve work beyond the visible fittings. Use the proposed layout to identify these connections early, and make clear which designer or specialist is responsible for the supporting information.
Specification and finish
Board systems, ceiling types, floor finishes, joinery and decorating requirements influence both materials and installation time. Preparation matters: a local patch and full-surface preparation are different packages. An agreed finish schedule allows contractors to price the same work and helps prevent later selections from changing the budget unexpectedly.
Building services and equipment
Separate the building work from equipment, furniture, IT, extraction and other specialist installations. Ask whether each is included, excluded or supplied by you. Identify the builders’ work needed around those installations, including openings, boxing, access panels and making good. A complete equipment budget is not automatically part of an interior-refurbishment quotation.
Access, working hours and phasing
Restricted deliveries, upper-floor access, limited storage and short working windows affect how a job is organised. Keeping part of a business open can require separate phases, additional protection and return visits. Discuss whether a short closure or phased approach is practical rather than assume one is always cheaper.
Allowances and changes
Identify provisional items and the basis of any allowance. Keep a distinction between work included in the agreed price and additional work that may become necessary. Request the price and programme effect of a proposed change before authorising it where practicable. Reserve an appropriate contingency based on the uncertainties of your particular project, rather than copying an unrelated project’s budget.
How to obtain a meaningful comparison
Give each contractor the same drawings, work schedule, access information and supply list. Compare exclusions, allowances, tax treatment where applicable and completion requirements alongside the total. Ask for the assumptions to be explained. An early discussion can help identify missing information; a final quotation needs a sufficiently defined scope.
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