Refurbishment planning guides & checklists

Practical answers to read before you order materials, compare quotations or start building work. Browse the complete guide archive, check costs and scope, or use a planning sheet to prepare your project brief.

All project guides

Every published guide, newest first. Each one covers a specific decision, the information to gather and the checks to agree for your project.

Diagram of a lath and plaster ceiling in section between two joists: timber laths in cross-section, plaster below and nibs pushed up between the laths, with a joist behind.

Lath and plaster: how to tell, what goes wrong and how it is repaired

Lath and plaster is plaster, traditionally lime, pressed onto thin timber strips. The plaster squeezes through the gaps and sets into nibs that hold it in place. It is common in older UK houses and is often repairable.

Refurbishment planning guides & checklists

What are you planning?

A kitchen or bathroom

More space at home

A business premises

All project guides

Lath and plaster: how to tell, what goes wrong and how it is repaired

Cracks in new plaster: what causes them and what to do

Paint bubbling on walls: why it happens and how to fix it

Blown plaster: how to tell and what to do about it

Cracks in a ceiling: which are normal and when to get them checked

MF ceilings and bulkheads: how a suspended plasterboard ceiling is built

Tape and joint or skim: choosing a plasterboard finish

Noggins: what they are and where they go in a stud wall

What time can builders start work in London? Hours for every borough

Nursery premises requirements: space, toilets and rooms under the EYFS

Schedule of works: what it is and a blank one to copy

Snagging a refurbishment or fit-out: what to check and record

First fix and second fix: what happens at each stage

Variations on a building job: what a written one should show

Prelims on a builder's quote: what they cover

Provisional sums and PC sums on a builder's quote

How much does a new roof cost in London?

How much does a garage conversion cost in London?

Living room ideas 2027: colours, wood and fireplaces

Hallway ideas for narrow and dark London hallways

Bedroom ideas 2027: colours, panelling and small rooms

Awaab's Law and damp repairs: what private landlords need to know

Kitchen trends 2027: colours, wood and layouts for London kitchens

How much does planning permission cost in London?

Small shower room ideas for London homes

Bathroom trends 2027: finishes, tiles and colours for London homes

Colour of the year 2027: the shades so far

How to get a new kitchen on a budget in London

How to renovate a bathroom on a budget in London

How much does it cost to skim or plaster a room in London?

MDF vs pine skirting boards: what to choose

Lining paper or skimming: choosing a wall finish

Painting over wallpaper: when to keep it or strip it

Building control completion certificates: organise the records

Party wall information for a loft conversion: prepare the hand-off

Commercial kitchen wall cladding: prepare the finish schedule

Porcelain paving vs sandstone: compare the patio package

Dormer loft conversions in London: types, cost and planning

Reusing kitchen cabinets: assess what stays before the refit

Pocket doors: check the wall and opening before ordering

Shower enclosure sizes: measure the finished opening

Levelling over existing tiles: decide what can stay

Kitchen splashbacks over tiles: checks before ordering

Shower panels vs tiles: compare the complete wall finish

CCTV drain surveys before an extension: information for the design brief

Moving a bathroom: checks before choosing a new room

Licence to alter for a flat refurbishment: organise the information pack

Builder payment schedules: agree what each stage includes

Refurbishment asbestos survey: information to resolve before strip-out

Engineered wood vs LVT: compare the refurbishment requirements

Construction waste disposal: agree responsibilities before strip-out

Painting a ceiling after a water leak: check repair and drying readiness

Plasterboard tile weight: check the board, finish and whole system

Rendering in cold weather: check the product and programme

Paving a front garden: planning and drainage checks before the quote

Office toilet refurbishment: cost, time and planning

Garage conversion floor insulation: plan the finished levels first

Loft conversion stairs: where they go and what fits a small landing

Renovation order of work: plan dependencies room by room

Doors before or after flooring? Agree the product and finished level

Shell loft conversion: compare what is included and excluded

How long after plastering can you paint? Check the system first

Moving a kitchen sink: checks before ordering the layout

Bathroom waterproofing before tiling: what to check and record

Salon backwash plumbing: what to confirm before first fix

Construction daywork sheets: what to record and check before approval

Cat A vs Cat B fit out: definitions and specification checklist

Pattressing: plywood backing in metal stud walls

Kitchen installation checklist: what needs to be ready before fitting?

Measure the scope before comparing prices

Drylining rates and measurement

Bathroom fitting and budgets

Loft conversion prices by type

House extension prices by type