Add jobs you have priced, or your own tasks. Get the right order of work, a schedule, the trades to book and a budget tracker. Free, saved on your device.
The order of works
Before anything is ripped out: get written quotes, check whether you need planning permission or building regs, order long-lead items and line up who is doing what.
Removing what is there: old fittings, flooring, tiles. Messy but mostly unskilled, so a classic DIY saving. In older homes, check for asbestos before disturbing textured coatings, boards or lagging.
Everything that hides behind walls and floors: pipework, cables, ducting and new stud walls. Plumbers and electricians come in now, before plastering closes it all up.
Walls and ceilings are boarded and skimmed. Fresh plaster needs time to dry before you paint, so the schedule leaves a few days of drying time.
The big fixed items go in: units, bath, shower tray, doors, fence panels, deck boards.
Tiles and grout go on once fittings are in and surfaces are ready.
The visible finishing connections: sockets, switches, taps, light fittings and appliances. The same trades return for this.
Floors go in late so nothing drips on them: carpet, laminate or vinyl.
Painting, wallpapering and woodwork, once the dusty work is finished.
Sealant, snagging, cleaning and final checks, plus certificates from your electrician or gas engineer. Hold back final payment until you are happy.
Who to book
Book about 2–4 weeks ahead
Ask for WaterSafe approval; they must also be Gas Safe registered for any gas work.
Book about 2–6 weeks ahead
Look for NICEIC, NAPIT or another Part P competent-person scheme. You should get a certificate for notifiable work.
Book about 2–4 weeks ahead
Ask to see photos of recent jobs and get the price per m² in writing.
Book about 3–6 weeks ahead
A busy trade, so book early. Ask about drying time and what finish they will leave.
Book about 2–6 weeks ahead
Agree the number of coats and who supplies the paint before they start.
Book about 3–8 weeks ahead
Confirm whether they also handle plumbing and electrics, or whether you need separate trades.
Book about 1–3 weeks ahead
Check whether the quote includes gripper, underlay and removing the old floor.
Book about 1–4 weeks ahead
Must be on the Gas Safe Register. Check their ID card and the register before work starts.
Book about 1–2 weeks ahead
Get a day rate or fixed price in writing, and confirm who brings the tools.
Lead times are rules of thumb. They vary a lot by area and time of year.
First-timer tips
Strip out first, then hidden work (first fix), then plastering, fitting, tiling, second fix, flooring and decorating. Reversing it means redoing work.
Good plumbers, electricians and plasterers are often booked weeks ahead. Line them up while you are still planning.
Ask for 2 to 3 itemised quotes. Check what is included and whether VAT and waste removal are in the price.
Most renovations uncover at least one surprise, such as damp, bad wiring or hidden pipes. Allow around 10% on top.
New plaster needs a week or more to dry before painting, and adhesive and grout need time to cure. Rushing causes problems later.
Electrical and gas certificates matter when you sell. Collect them before you make the final payment.
The usual order is: plan and get quotes, strip out, first fix (plumbing and electrics behind walls and floors), plastering, fitting (kitchen units, bath, doors), tiling, second fix (sockets, taps, appliances), flooring, decorating, then snagging. The planner lays your jobs out in this order automatically.
First fix is all the hidden work before the walls are plastered: pipes, cables and stud walls. Second fix is the visible finishing work afterwards: sockets, switches, taps, light fittings and appliances. The same trades usually do both.
Start with the jobs you want done, price each one, and put them in the right order of work. Then decide what you will do yourself and what you will hand to a trade, book the trades ahead, and set a budget with a contingency. This planner does each of those steps for you.
It depends on the job. A bathroom is typically one to two weeks of work, a kitchen a bit longer, and a room redecoration a few days. Add your start date in the planner and it lays the stages out end to end, including drying time after plastering.
As a rule of thumb: plasterers and kitchen fitters often need several weeks of notice, electricians and plumbers a few weeks, and decorators a couple of weeks. It varies by area and season, so ask early. The Who to book tab suggests a book-by date from your start date.
Yes, on your device, in your browser. There is no account and nothing is sent to us. Download a backup from Settings to move your plan to another phone or computer.