Renovation costs: what does a home renovation cost per m²?

What does a home renovation cost per m²?

The price per square metre is a rough measure for a renovation, because no two projects are the same. Still, it helps to know the order of magnitude. The breakdown below is based on the floor area you are renovating, not the whole house.

A light renovation involves new floors, walls and interior doors. In a medium renovation the layout changes and installations are partly renewed. In a major renovation the house is stripped back to the shell and almost everything is replaced, including insulation.

• Light: roughly €250 to €600 per m²
• Medium, with a new layout: roughly €600 to €1,200 per m²
• Major, back to the shell: roughly €1,200 to €2,000 per m²
• Contingency: 10 to 15 percent on top of the budget

Which renovation costs are often forgotten?

Besides the building work itself, there are costs that are not immediately visible. Think of drawings, a structural engineer if a wall is coming out, the municipal fees and possibly temporary storage or accommodation. Together that can be roughly 5 to 10 percent of the budget. What an opening costs, you can read under the cost of removing a load-bearing wall.

Changes during the work also cost money. Extra work is often more expensive than if it had been included from the start, because the schedule has to be adjusted. Whether you need a permit, you can read under a permit for a renovation.

• Drawings and possibly a structural engineer
• Fees for an environmental permit or notification
• Removal of demolition waste and a skip
• Temporary kitchen, storage or other accommodation
• Extra work due to changes during construction

How much VAT do you pay on a renovation?

On labour and materials for a renovation you generally pay 21 percent VAT. One exception is the labour for insulating homes older than two years: the reduced rate of 9 percent applies to that. The insulation material itself is still charged at 21 percent. More explanation can be found under renovating and VAT. If in doubt, check it.

If you include insulation in the renovation, you benefit from that lower rate on the labour. Also take a look at sustainable renovation and insulation.

How do you keep a renovation within budget?

A renovation is rarely decided overnight. It often takes a few months of thinking before the plan is right. That time pays for itself: a clear drawing and an itemised quote prevent discussions afterwards.

At Bouwbedrijf R. Vlieland, quality is matched to your wishes and the budget comes first. One dedicated project manager runs the whole project, from discussing your wishes to the handover. If you are living at home during the work, also read renovating while you live there. More about our approach is under renovation.

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