Estimates for renovation work

A question about : Estimates for renovation work

I posted this in the 'In My Home' main thread without much success but thought this might be more suitable.

I’m potentially looking to do some work done on our house and was wondering if anyone could help give a very rough estimate (i.e to the nearest Ј5000) as to the cost of doing so. I’d be looking at doing the following:
Build a single storey extension on the front of the house. Footprint approx. 2x2.5m.
One half of this extension is to be a bathroom (toilet and sink only), so will require plumbing, tiling etc. The other half is just a hallway.
New front door and bathroom window (small) in the extension
New double glazing for the rest of the house (4x medium windows, 1x small)
Remove load bearing wall in kitchen (approx. 2.5 metres long). Place steel beams under the ceiling (i.e. so they will be visible, not hidden between the ceiling and floor above) to take the weight. Vertical beams to support the weight of the new beam to be hidden in the walls.
Moving the gas and electricity meters to a new location (

Thanks for any help.

Best answers:

• For accurate Pricing you need exact dimensions, drawings, finishes s etc otherwise you end up guestimatting which is what many do hence there short at the end or the builders bodge it because they haven’t priced it high enough or commonly over price it to compensate this ? Quantity surveyor, architects, cow etc are really who most should spend there money or time with bring it in on budget on time etc but most see it as an extra which unfortunately allows the cowboys in to price works ,,,,
• As it is front of house i think you need planning permission. So you will have to get drawings done - might as well get building level drawings done in order to get sensible and like for like quotes.
  The only way you will know is to get quotes. Too many unknowns.
  But round my way (Surrey - so fairly expensive). I would ball park Ј6-Ј7k for a basic shell.
  Ј1.5k for toilet room.
  Windows, maybe Ј300 as an average for a standard UPvc window.
  Front door. If composite, about Ј1k.
  Remove load bearing wall and make good. Ј2-3k.
  Move gas and electric meters - only your supplier can do this i think. Bet they sting you for it. Ј1k is my guess.
  Move consumer unit - Ј500?
  Move boiler - Ј1k (if boiler is old you might as well get a new one - 50% of cost is install).
  Soil pipe - depends where it will run. But likely requires digging etc. Ј1k.
  And if you are lazy and just want to hire 1 firm, you will probably pay a 20-40% premium for them organising everything.
  Those are my guesses. Get 3 quotes for everything.