Ground Floor Refurbishment in London: What It Costs and What It Involves
The ground floor sets the tone for an entire home. Kitchen, living room, dining area, hallway, and utility — when all of these are refreshed together, the result is transformative. This guide covers what a comprehensive ground floor refurbishment involves in a typical London property, and what it costs in 2026.
What Ground Floor Refurbishment Typically Includes
A comprehensive ground floor refurbishment usually covers some combination of:
- Structural alterations: Wall removals to create open-plan layouts, new openings for bi-folds or new doors to the garden
- Kitchen reconfiguration or replacement: Layout changes, new kitchen unit installation, worktop installation
- Electrical upgrade: New consumer unit, additional circuits, updated sockets and switches, downlights
- Plumbing: Boiler relocation if required, underfloor heating installation, new radiators
- Flooring: Existing floor removal, subfloor preparation, new floor installation
- Plastering: Re-skimming damaged surfaces or full re-plaster after structural changes
- Decorating: Ceilings, walls, and woodwork throughout
- Joinery: New skirting boards, architraves, internal doors, and door furniture
- Utility room or storage addition: Especially common in terraced and semi-detached London homes
Not every project includes all of these elements — the scope depends on what exists and what the homeowner wants to achieve.
London Property Types and Their Challenges
Victorian terrace (1880–1910): The most common project type in London. Typically three rooms knocked into one or two, with chimney breast removal or retention decisions, bay window steelwork, and the particular character (and challenges) of original floorboards, high ceilings, and period features.
Edwardian semi-detached: Similar challenges to Victorian terrace but usually wider. More room for rear extensions to be incorporated into ground floor projects.
1930s semi or detached: Larger rooms and better natural light, but often needing electrical rewiring and dated plumbing systems. Less likely to have structural changes needed.
Flat (purpose-built or converted): Constraints around shared structure, service access, and lease restrictions. Soundproofing between floors may also be a requirement. Always check the lease before carrying out structural or wet room alterations.
Cost Ranges (London, 2026)
| Project Element | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Structural wall removal with steel (single opening) | £3,500–£7,500 |
| Structural alterations (multiple walls, full reconfiguration) | £8,000–£18,000 |
| Kitchen unit supply and installation (units not included) | £4,000–£9,000 |
| Electrical upgrade and rewire (ground floor) | £3,500–£7,000 |
| Underfloor heating (wet, ground floor) | £4,000–£9,000 |
| Plastering (full ground floor) | £2,500–£5,500 |
| Flooring (labour only, client-supplied materials) | £1,800–£4,500 |
| Decoration (labour only) | £2,000–£4,500 |
| Joinery and internal doors | £2,500–£6,000 |
| Utility room creation | £3,500–£8,000 |
Typical total for a mid-specification full ground floor refurbishment in London: £25,000–£55,000
Higher-end projects in prime London postcodes with premium finishes, complex structural changes, and high-quality joinery can exceed £70,000–£90,000.
What Is Included and What Is Not
RCB's standard scope for ground floor refurbishment includes all labour, structural works, first and second fix, and installation. Under our standard terms, all second-fix materials — kitchen units, tiles, flooring, light fittings, sanitaryware, ironmongery, and paint — are client-supplied.
This is common practice among London principal contractors. It gives homeowners control over their finish specification and allows direct material procurement from trade suppliers or retailers at trade prices.
Programme
A typical London ground floor refurbishment runs from six to twelve weeks on site, depending on structural complexity, extent of M&E alterations, and material lead times.
A realistic programme looks like:
- Week 1–2: Demolition, enabling works, structural works
- Week 2–4: First fix (electrical, plumbing, carpentry rough-ins)
- Week 4–5: Plasterwork
- Week 5–7: Second fix (kitchen installation, plumbing connections, electrics)
- Week 7–9: Flooring and decorating
- Week 9–10: Snagging and completion
Projects that incorporate extensions, external works, or utility rooms at the rear typically add two to four weeks.
Planning and Building Regulations
Ground floor refurbishments that involve structural changes require Building Regulations approval. If you are also opening up the rear wall for bifold doors or a kitchen extension, planning permission may apply depending on size and local constraints.
Internal-only refurbishments with no structural element and no changes to drainage typically do not require formal approval, though electrical work must be carried out by a Part P-registered electrician or notified to Building Control.
RCB Design & Build
RCB specialises in full ground floor refurbishments across Greater London. We coordinate structural works, M&E, plastering, joinery, and all trades in a managed sequence that minimises disruption and gets clients back into their homes as quickly as possible. Contact us for a site visit and professional estimate.