2 August 2026
The first week: taking out the old
Opening up walls and floors is when old houses tell the truth. Why we price for surprises and how we handle them.
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Every renovation starts by taking things out: old units, tiles, plaster and sometimes whole walls. It is fast work, and it is also the moment we learn what the house is really like.
What usually turns up
In houses built before the 1970s we often find wiring that has to be replaced, joists notched by earlier plumbers, and lintels that are smaller than they should be. None of this is unusual, and most of it is cheap to fix while the walls are open.
- Old wiring or a fuse box that no longer meets the regulations.
- Damp behind tiles or under floors.
- Walls that turn out to be holding something up.
How we price it
Our quote lists what we can see. Anything we find later is priced in writing before we do it, and you decide. Work never goes ahead on a verbal estimate.
Why it is worth it
Fixing a hidden problem during strip-out costs a fraction of opening up a finished room a year later. It is the least exciting week of the project and one of the most important.