Second Fix

Plastering costs £3,500 – £5,500 for a typical extension. How boarding, skimming, and drying work, what fireboard is, and why your plasterer won't do it all in one visit.

What second fix plumbing costs for a UK extension (£8,000 – £18,000), why bills grow, and how to get your Gas Safe certificate without a year-long fight.

Liquid screed costs £18 – £34 per m²/m² and takes 8-12 weeks to dry. Your builder will underestimate both. Here's what to expect and how to manage it.

What to have ready before your kitchen fitter arrives, how the installation process works day by day, and how to snag the finished kitchen. Labour costs £1,500 – £3,500 for a standard extension.

LVT, porcelain tiles, or engineered wood for your extension? Costs from £50 – £75 per m2 to £50 – £120 per m2/m2, plus the moisture test that controls everything.

Large-format porcelain floor tiling costs £80 – £120 per m²/m² all-in. But buying tiles via your tiler's trade account can save nearly £1,000 on a typical extension floor. Here's how.

Decoration for a typical extension costs £1,500 – £2,500. How the mist coat works, why your decorator visits 4 times instead of once, and what to snag before you sign off.