WhOur Home Renovation So Far (UK Project Update)

When we took on our first property project, we knew it would not be a straightforward walk in the park. But like most first-time renovators, we still underestimated the sheer scale of the challenge: how long simple things would take, how many decisions we would have to make every single day, and how quickly the scope of the project would grow behind the scenes.

This is an honest, behind-the-scenes update on where we are at so far. We are sharing exactly what we have achieved, what has taken twice as long as planned, the mistakes we have made, and the real-world lessons we have learned along the way.

If you are currently planning your own project, make sure to read our step-by-step home renovation checklist to understand how all these different phases fit together chronologically.

Where We Started

The property needed a full, back-to-brick overhaul. We were not just dealing with dated wallpaper and tired carpets. We were completely replacing the core utility systems, altering the internal floor plan, and planning a major structural addition to make the property work for the long term.

From day one, our core philosophy has been straightforward: do it properly, not just quickly.

Cutting corners on the infrastructure to save money for visual finishes is a recipe for disaster. We wanted a dry, warm, and structurally stable shell before even thinking about paint colors or furniture layouts.

What We Have Completed So Far

We have been incredibly busy on-site over the last few months, and the house has transitioned from a dusty, unliveable shell back into a functional property. Here are the major milestones we have crossed:

1. Full Electrical First and Second Fix

Getting the electrical infrastructure updated was a massive priority. We have now completed both the first fix cabling runs (including cutting deep channels into the brickwork, routing rings, and setting metal back-boxes) and the second fix installation of socket plates, light switches, and light fittings.

To see how these stages fit together structurally, read our guide on first fix vs. second fix in the UK.

If your own property has not been touched in over 25 years, you should budget for this early. Check out our comprehensive cost of rewiring a house in the UK guide to keep your numbers realistic.

2. New Copper Pipework Installed

We have fully replaced the entire plumbing system from scratch. Every meter of old, degraded pipework has been stripped out and replaced with brand-new copper pipes. This includes hot and cold supply lines, waste drainage, and new heating circuits throughout the house.

While pipework is a classic hidden cost that you do not see once the floorboards are closed up, it is the most critical foundation of a dry home. To compare trade pricing for this phase, see our guide to the cost of replumbing a house in the UK.

3. Major Strip-Out and Demolition

We have completely cleared the site of its old, rotting outbuildings, stripped back the existing kitchen, and dismantled the utility room back to the raw masonry walls.

Tackling this stage systematically opened up the floor plan, allowing us to plan the layout properly and inspect the true condition of the underlying joists and foundations. As expected, peeling back those layers revealed a few surprises, but dealing with them early is always the safest approach.

4. Planning Permission and Extension Approvals

After weeks of drawing, refining, and waiting, we have officially secured planning permission for a large wrap-around extension. This structural addition is a massive part of our long-term plan to improve the layout, add square footage, and build real equity in the property.

If you are planning major structural changes yourself, make sure to read our detailed guide on do I need planning permission to renovate in the UK to avoid expensive mistakes with local councils.

5. Groundworks and Excavation Started

With planning permission in hand, we have officially started groundworks. We have dug out the foundation trenches for the wrap-around extension and are currently prepping the steel reinforcements for the concrete pour.

Groundworks are incredibly heavy and noisy, but they are where the extension starts to feel like a real structure rather than just a plan on a drawing page. To check typical engineering rates for foundation stabilization, read our structural repair cost guide for the UK.

6. Skimming Walls Yourself (The Dalapro Journey)

To keep our spending low, we decided to tackle the wall skimming ourselves. We chose to use Dalapro Roll Nova (a specialized, roller-applied finishing filler that is incredibly forgiving for DIY beginners).

It has been a massive learning curve, and we quickly learned that plastering always looks much easier on video than it is in real life. However, taking our time and sanding lightly has produced fantastic, paint-ready walls. If you want to save money on your own plastering bills, read our hands-on guide on how to use Dalapro Roll Nova for skimming walls successfully.

What Has Taken Longer Than Expected

While we are thrilled with our progress, there is one area that has completely disrupted our schedule: the garden.

What we originally assumed was a simple, quick tidy-up has turned into a massive, physically exhausting chore. Clearing years of overgrown brambles, digging up hidden concrete slabs, and disposing of tons of heavy soil has taken twice as long as we planned.

It has been a sobering reminder that in a home renovation, no job is ever as simple or as quick as it looks on day one.

Real-World Lessons We Have Learned So Far

Managing a building project firsthand is the fastest way to learn how the construction industry actually operates. Here are the five most important rules we follow to keep our project from spinning out of control:

1. Progress is Rarely Linear

Some weeks, you will have multiple trades on-site, and the house will transform rapidly. Other weeks, you will be waiting for plaster to dry or concrete to cure, and it will feel like the project has completely stalled. We have learned to accept that this non-linear flow is completely normal and to focus on consistent, steady gains over time.

2. The Invisible Work Takes the Longest

First-fix utilities, groundworks, drainage, and wall preparation are highly slow, meticulous phases. They do not look impressive, and they do not offer the instant visual satisfaction of a new carpet or a coat of paint, but they take up 70% of your on-site building schedule. Do not rush these foundational steps.

3. DIY is a Trade-Off Between Time and Money

Taking on tasks like wall skimming, stripping wallpaper, and basic demolition has saved us thousands of pounds in trade day-rate charges. However, it requires a massive personal investment of time, physical exhaustion, and stress. If you are debating handling the labor yourself, check out our DIY vs. hiring builders cost and risk comparison to keep your expectations realistic.

4. Sometimes, Paying More to Move Faster is Smarter

This was a tough lesson to learn, but it is one of the most important. For heavy tasks like digging foundation trenches or clearing large outbuildings, trying to save money by doing it manually with a shovel is a mistake.

Paying to hire the right machinery (like a mini-digger and an operator) costs more upfront, but it completes a job in three hours that would take you a week of manual labor. Sometimes, spending cash to protect your timeline is the best financial decision you can make.

5. Layout Decisions Must Be Locked Early

Decinement decisions are highly expensive to alter mid-build. By locking down our electrical socket runs, plumbing pipework layouts, and extension footprint early in the schedule, we have completely avoided paying builders extra daily rates to redo finished work.

Where We Are Now (Our Next Major Steps)

Right now, the heavy infrastructure is complete: the rewiring is signed off, the pipework is pressure-tested, the old outbuildings are gone, and our wall skimming is well underway. The project is officially transitioning from the infrastructure phase into the main structural build.

Our immediate next steps are:

• Pouring the concrete foundations for the wrap-around extension.
• Building up the external blockwork shell and structural brickwork.
• Ordering the long-lead glazing, bi-fold doors, and roof lanterns.
• Beginning the first internal kitchen fit-out. To estimate your own kitchen orders safely, explore our realistic UK kitchen renovation cost guide early in your planning.

Final Thoughts: The Reality of the Journey

If there is one thing we have realized so far, it is that a house renovation is not about grand, dramatic makeovers. It is about a steady, daily accumulation of small wins, solved problems, and consistent progress.

We are sharing this update not to show off a polished end result, but to show the real, messy, dusty reality of the building process. To prepare yourself for the disruption, make sure to read our honest guide on how messy a home renovation actually is and explore our realistic advice on how to live in a house while renovating successfully.

If you are currently evaluating your overall investment options and trying to decide if a fixer-upper is worth the hassle, see our detailed guide on is renovating a house worth it in the UK to protect your hard-earned cash.

To build a secure, realistic budget for your wider project, explore our comprehensive UK house renovation cost guide and learn more about scheduling in our guide on how to manage a renovation project yourself successfully.