Resources
What things cost, what needs permission, and how the common projects actually run. Every figure is a range with its assumptions written down, because anyone quoting you a single number is guessing.
- Guides
- 55
- Cost guides
- 20
- Planning and regs
- 13
- Project guides
- 13
- Damp, leaks and repairs
- 9
Every guide on the site, most-searched first.
What UK home improvement work costs in 2026, with regional variation and the assumptions written down. Every figure is a range, because a single number is a guess.
Planning permission, building regulations and the certificates that follow the work, in plain English. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and each guide says which set applies.
How the common projects run: the options, how long they take, and where they usually go wrong.
Condensation, mould, rot and leaks: what causes each, what you can fix yourself, and when it needs a tradesperson.
- Damp, leaks and repairs
Condensation in your home: what causes it and how to stop it
What causes condensation on windows, walls and in the loft, how to stop it with heat, ventilation and less moisture, the Part F fan rules, and how to tell it from a leak or damp.
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Planning and regs
Building regulations explained for homeowners
Which jobs are notifiable, how the application routes work, what building control inspects, and what a completion certificate is worth when you come to sell.
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Planning and regs
Gas safety certificates: what landlords and homeowners need
Who legally needs a gas safety certificate, what the engineer checks, the 12-month and 28-day rules, what a check costs, and how the rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Damp, leaks and repairs
Woodworm: signs, treatment and whether it is still active
The signs of woodworm, how to tell old holes from an active infestation, what causes it, DIY against specialist treatment, bats in the loft, and buying a house with woodworm.
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Cost guides
New boiler cost: what a replacement really runs to in 2026
Installed 2026 prices for combi, system and regular boilers, what converting to a combi adds, boiler prices by brand, and the lines a full quote should carry.
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Planning and regs
Permitted development: what you can build without planning permission
The permitted development limits for extensions, lofts, porches and outbuildings in England, where the rights do not apply, what prior approval and a certificate cost, and how Wales, Scotland and NI differ.
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Planning and regs
Party wall agreements: when you need one and what it costs
When the Party Wall Act applies, which notice to serve and how far ahead, what your neighbour can do, what a surveyor's award costs, and the rules in Scotland and NI.
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Project guides
Tarmac driveways: pros, cons and what to know before you lay one
What tarmac does well and badly, how long each build lasts, tarmac against concrete, block paving and resin, the front drive drainage rule, and whether you can lay it yourself.
- Damp, leaks and repairs
Black mould: what causes it, is it dangerous, and how to get rid of it
What black mould is, how dangerous it is and for whom, how to remove a small patch safely, why bleach falls short, how to stop it returning and who fixes it in a rented home.
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Cost guides
How much does a resin driveway cost in 2026?
2026 prices per m² and by driveway size, what the base adds, resin bound against resin bonded, London rates, and when a front drive needs planning permission.
- Damp, leaks and repairs
Dry rot: early signs, how serious it is and what treatment costs
The early signs of dry rot, how to tell it from wet rot, how serious it is, how it is treated, what treatment costs, and buying a house with it.
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Project guides
Dormer loft conversions: the complete guide
What a dormer loft conversion costs in 2026, the dormer types, whether your loft has the height, the planning and building regulations rules in each nation, and how long it takes.
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Cost guides
How much does a loft conversion cost in 2026?
Loft conversion prices by type for 2026, including VAT, with London figures, the fees and extras a builder's quote leaves out, and when planning permission applies.
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Cost guides
New kitchen cost in the UK: 2026 prices by size and scope
Supplied-and-fitted prices by kitchen size and range, unit prices by supplier, what fitting and the common extras add, and the VAT and building rules by nation.
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Cost guides
Underfloor heating cost per square metre: wet and electric prices
Kit and fitted prices per square metre for wet and electric underfloor heating, new build against retrofit, running costs at the October 2026 price cap, and when approval is needed.
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Project guides
How long does plaster take to dry before you can paint?
Drying times for skim, bonding, backing and lime plaster, how to tell a wall is dry, how to speed it up without cracking it, and when to mist coat and paint.
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Cost guides
New bathroom cost: a room-by-room breakdown
Fitted 2026 prices for cloakrooms, family bathrooms and en suites, what fitting only costs, fitter day rates by region, and the extras a bathroom quote can leave out.
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Planning and regs
EICR cost in 2026: prices by property size
What an EICR costs by property size and region in 2026, what the price covers, landlord and homeowner costs in each UK nation, and what repairs cost after an unsatisfactory report.
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Planning and regs
Bathroom zones explained: what electrics can go where
Zones 0, 1 and 2 measured out, the IP rating each needs, where lights, fans, towel rails and sockets can go, and which bathroom electrical work needs certifying in each UK nation.
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Planning and regs
Do you need planning permission for a conservatory?
The size limits that let a conservatory go up without planning permission in England, when the building regulations exemption applies and how it is lost, and the rules in Wales, Scotland and NI.
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Project guides
Types of roof: UK roof shapes and coverings explained
How to recognise a gable, hipped, mansard, flat or lean-to roof, what each means for loft space, which coverings suit which pitch and at what price, and the rules for changing one.
- Damp, leaks and repairs
Radiator not heating up? 9 reasons and how to fix each
Nine reasons a radiator stays cold, matched to where the cold sits, with the fix for each, what a power flush and boiler repairs cost, and when to call a heating engineer.
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Cost guides
Garage conversion cost: single and double garages priced
2026 prices for single and double garage conversions by garage type and room, what a quote should include, the fees and VAT around the build, and the rules in each UK nation.
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Cost guides
Window replacement cost: uPVC, timber and aluminium compared
2026 prices per window and for a whole house in uPVC, aluminium and timber, the extras a quote can leave out, and the certificate and planning rules in each UK nation.
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Cost guides
Tarmac driveway cost per m² in 2026
2026 prices per m² and by drive size, what an overlay, a two-layer and a three-layer drive cost and last, the lines on a quote, tarmac against block paving and concrete, and the drainage rule.
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Project guides
Hip to gable loft conversions: cost, planning and what to know
What a hip to gable loft conversion costs in 2026, which houses can take one, the steel it needs, how it uses the volume allowance, the rules in each nation and how it compares with a dormer.
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Cost guides
House extension cost per square metre in 2026
Per-square-metre prices for single-storey, two-storey, side return and kitchen extensions, costs by size, the fees outside the build price, and planning limits by nation.
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Planning and regs
Loft conversion: do you need planning permission?
When a loft conversion needs planning permission in England, the 40 and 50 cubic metre limits for dormers, what a certificate costs, and the rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Project guides
Renovating a house: where to start and the order of works
Where to start, the 9 stages from survey to snagging, what needs approval in England, how long the main jobs take and what to budget, contingency included.
- Damp, leaks and repairs
Roof leak: what to do now, common causes and repair costs
What to do in the first hour of a roof leak, how to tell it from condensation or a burst pipe, the common causes, 2026 repair prices and what home insurance covers.
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Cost guides
Roof replacement cost in 2026: prices by house type and material
2026 re-roof prices for terraced, semi-detached and detached houses and bungalows, by covering and roof area, with scaffolding, extras, timescales and the rules in each UK nation.
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Project guides
Velux loft conversions: the cheapest way into your roof
What a velux loft conversion costs in 2026, whether your loft has the height, the planning rules for roof windows in each UK nation, the building regulations and how long the work takes.
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Project guides
Chimney breast removal: is it worth it, and what permission you need
What taking out a chimney breast costs in 2026 with every fee counted, the approval and party wall notice it needs, steel beam or gallows brackets, and when it is worth doing.
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Project guides
Mansard loft conversions: cost, planning and mansard vs dormer
What a mansard loft conversion is, what it costs in 2026, which houses suit one, the planning and design rules councils apply, and how it compares with a dormer.
- Damp, leaks and repairs
Condensation inside double glazing: why it happens and how to fix it
What mist between the panes means, why it will not go away, what a new sealed unit costs in 2026, when the whole window is worth replacing, and the rules for replacing only the glass.
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Cost guides
What does rewiring a house cost in 2026?
Full rewire prices for 1 to 5-bed homes, London against the rest of the UK, partial rewires and consumer units, making good, how long it takes and what Part P asks for.
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Cost guides
Kitchen fitting cost: what fitters charge to install a kitchen
Labour-only kitchen fitting prices by size and per unit, fitter day rates by region, what the plumber, electrician and gas engineer add, and how retailers price fitting.
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Cost guides
Flat roof replacement cost in 2026: felt, EPDM and GRP compared
Fitted 2026 prices per m² for felt, EPDM and GRP flat roofs, what a garage or extension roof costs, the extras a quote can leave out, and the rules in each UK nation.
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Planning and regs
Do I need planning permission? A decision guide
Which home projects need planning permission in England and which do not, the homes where the answer changes, what a definite answer costs, and how Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ.
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Planning and regs
Do you need planning permission for a garage conversion?
When a garage conversion needs planning permission and when it does not, the building regulations every conversion needs, what the approvals cost, and how Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ.
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Cost guides
How much does a plasterer charge? Day rates and room prices
Plasterer day rates by region, the price to skim or board a room, per m² rates, whole-house costs, Artex and coving, how long the work takes and what a quote should include.
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Cost guides
Plumber call-out charges and hourly rates in 2026
Call-out fees, hourly and day rates, evening and weekend premiums, what common emergency jobs cost in London, and what the law says about agreeing a price.
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Planning and regs
Garden room planning permission: the rules that catch people out
The height, position and use limits for garden rooms, sheds and summer houses in England, when building regulations apply, what a certificate costs, and how Wales, Scotland and NI differ.
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Cost guides
Driveway cost in 2026: block paving, resin, tarmac and gravel prices
2026 prices per m² and by drive size for every common surface, block paving from the sub-base up, the lines a full quote should carry, London rates, and the drainage rule that decides planning permission.
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Planning and regs
Stair regulations UK: the building regs numbers for staircases
The building regulations numbers for a staircase in a house: rise, going, pitch, headroom, width, handrails and balustrades, loft conversion stairs, and what changes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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Project guides
Types of loft conversion: the four main types, compared
Rooflight, dormer, hip to gable and mansard conversions side by side: what each changes on the roof, 2026 prices and build times, planning in England, and which houses suit each.
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Project guides
Side return extensions on a Victorian terrace: cost, rules and build
What a side return extension costs in 2026, when it needs planning permission in each UK nation, the party wall notices it triggers, and how the glazing rules shape the roof.
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Project guides
Orangery or conservatory: which is which, and does it matter?
What separates an orangery from a conservatory, what each costs in 2026, when building regulations treat either room as an extension, and the planning rules across the UK.
- Damp, leaks and repairs
Water leaking from the ceiling: what to do right now
What to do in the first minutes when water comes through the ceiling, how to tell a bathroom leak from a pipe or the roof, who to call, what the repair costs and who pays.
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Cost guides
Painter and decorator day rates and prices per room in 2026
Day rates by region and experience, what a room costs to paint by size and type, whole-house and exterior prices, wallpapering, paint costs and VAT.
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Project guides
Snagging list: what to check before the final payment
A room by room snagging checklist for new builds and renovations: when to snag, what a survey costs, who fixes what, and what to hold back until the list is cleared.
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Cost guides
House renovation cost in the UK: a 2026 breakdown
Per-square-metre rates for light, standard and full renovations, prices job by job, rates by region, and the VAT, fees and contingency that sit on top of the build.
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Cost guides
Cost to tile a bathroom: tiler day rates and prices per m²
Tiler day rates and labour per m², tile prices by material, a costed 4.8 m² bathroom, and the extras that appear once the old tiles come off.
- Damp, leaks and repairs
Damp proofing cost: prices by treatment in 2026
2026 prices for every damp treatment: injected damp proof courses and replastering, penetrating damp repairs, condensation fixes, cellar tanking and the survey that comes first.
No guides in that group yet.