What should I do first when renovating a house?

Plan, survey and check what permissions you need, then fix anything that lets water in or affects the structure before you work on the inside.

Should I decorate before or after the kitchen and bathroom are fitted?

Usually after the messy work and fittings are in, so your decorating is not damaged. Ask your decorator to plan the order with the other trades.

Who can do gas and electrical work?

Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Electrical work should be done by a competent electrician, ideally registered with a recognised scheme, who can give you the right certificates.

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What order should you renovate a house in?

By the GlowUpp team · 27 October 2026

An old moss-covered tiled roof next to the same building with a new slate roof

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An AI-generated example. Real results depend on your own space.

Doing jobs in the wrong order is one of the most expensive renovation mistakes: you decorate and then someone cuts into the wall, or you lay a new floor and then the plumber lifts it. A sensible order protects everything you have paid for.

1. Plan, survey and get permissions

Decide what you want, get a survey if the house is old or you are changing the structure, and find out whether you need planning permission or building regulations approval. Ask your local council or a professional rather than assuming.

2. Make the house weathertight and sound

Roof, gutters, damp, rotten timber and structural problems come first. Everything inside is at risk while water is getting in, and it is wasteful to finish a room that will be damaged later.

3. Structural changes and building work

Knocking through walls, extensions and new openings come next, while the house is still bare. This is also the time to make any changes to the layout.

4. First fix: pipes, wires and heating

Plumbing, electrics and heating are run before the walls and ceilings are closed. Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and electrical work by someone competent and, ideally, registered with a recognised scheme. Ask what certificates you will receive.

5. Insulation, plastering and drying out

Once the services are in, walls and ceilings are insulated and plastered. Fresh plaster needs time to dry before it is painted, so do not rush this stage.

6. Second fix: fittings and finishing

Kitchens, bathrooms, sockets, switches, radiators and doors go in at this stage, usually before the final decorating so that the decorator can make good as they go.

7. Floors and decorating last

Floor coverings and painting go last, once the messy trades have finished. Protect any new flooring while the other work is completed, and keep furniture out until everything is dry and finished.

Mistakes to avoid

Decorating before the wiring and plumbing are finished.
Fitting a beautiful new kitchen before the damp problem is fixed.
Ordering expensive finishes long before they are needed.
Not telling the trades about each other, so they get in each other's way.

Plan the finish first

Seeing the finished result early helps you plan the order. Upload a photo to GlowUpp to see AI-generated ideas, then talk the sequence through with your builder. Always ask a qualified professional before moving gas, electrics or plumbing, or changing anything structural, and check your lease or local rules if you rent or live in a conservation area.

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Common questions

What should I do first when renovating a house?: Plan, survey and check what permissions you need, then fix anything that lets water in or affects the structure before you work on the inside.
Should I decorate before or after the kitchen and bathroom are fitted?: Usually after the messy work and fittings are in, so your decorating is not damaged. Ask your decorator to plan the order with the other trades.
Who can do gas and electrical work?: Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Electrical work should be done by a competent electrician, ideally registered with a recognised scheme, who can give you the right certificates.