Renovation estimate - what it contains and how to read it

What a renovation estimate consists of

An estimate is made of three things: what has to be done, how much, and at what price. The quantity multiplied by the unit price gives the sum of each line, and the sum of the lines is the total for the work. Materials, for example tiles, paint, floor covering and plumbing fixtures, are in a separate part or a separate estimate.

• Work: for example “wall skimming”, “laminate installation”, “toilet installation”.
• Unit: m² of apartment area (for the renovation of the whole apartment), m² of wall or floor surface (for individual work) or pieces (doors, points, radiators).
• Quantity: how many m² or pieces. For wall work this is the area of the walls, not the floor area.
• Unit price and the sum of the line.
• What is not included: materials, removal of construction waste, documents, other work.

Renovation estimate sample: a room of 15 m²

For a room with a floor area of 15 m², the wall area, excluding the window and the door, is 40 m² in the example. The walls have to be skimmed and painted, new laminate laid and one door installed.

Materials are not included in this sample: filler, primer, paint, laminate with underlay, doors and skirting boards. If the old wallpaper first has to be removed or the floor levelled, those are additional lines.

Bathroom renovation estimate

A bathroom estimate has more lines, and they are smaller. This sample shows only five jobs in a bathroom with 18 m² of surface to be tiled and 5 m² of waterproofing.

These are only five jobs. A whole bathroom renovation (demolition, waterproofing, tiling, installation of plumbing) costs from €3,000, because a real estimate also contains preparing the walls and floor, the slope towards the drain, installing a bath or shower and other work that depends on the room. More on the page bathroom renovation.

How to check an estimate before signing

1. Compare the quantities There are more m² of walls than m² of floor. If an estimate gives the floor area for wall work or the other way round, ask why.
2. Check the units A price per m² of apartment area and a price per m² of surface cannot be compared. Compare offers only in the same units.
3. Find what is not included Materials, removal of construction waste, documents and work on common property, for example risers, may be outside the estimate.
4. Agree in writing A contract concluded orally can be valid, but in a dispute the customer has to prove what was agreed and what was paid. That is why it is better to put the estimate and the contract in writing.

What to send to receive a renovation estimate

In the request the following will help: the address, the apartment area in m², the building series or year of construction, which rooms to renovate, what work is needed and the condition of each room. If you will choose the materials yourself, write that too.

An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment. Some things cannot be seen from a description or a photo: the evenness of the walls, the condition of the floor under the old covering, the condition of the wires and pipes.

The prices used to calculate an estimate

For the renovation of the whole apartment: cosmetic renovation from €100/m², full renovation from €280/m² of apartment area, turnkey renovation from €600/m². Prices for individual work are on the page apartment renovation prices. Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. Construction waste removal is not part of the renovation estimate.

The estimate total is affected by the apartment area in m² and the number of rooms, cosmetic or full renovation, the condition of the walls, floors and ceilings, whether the electrical wiring, pipes and risers are changed, and the chosen finish. We agree the price and the list of work before the job starts.