What your renovation quote covers, and what costs extra

Most renovation quotes price a standard version of each item, with upgrades on top. The examples below come from one renovator's package. Every firm draws the line in a different place, so check your own quote line by line.

Tiling

Tile size. Standard sizes, from about 30 x 30 cm to 60 x 60 cm, are usually covered. Small mosaics take longer to lay and large-format tiles need more hands, so both often cost extra.

Edges and trims. The basic options are a PVC cap or a 45-degree mitred corner. Stainless steel trims and inlays are usually an upgrade.

Grout. Cement grout, coloured to match or contrast the tile, is standard. Epoxy grout costs more and suits some tiles and finishes.

Ask: which tile sizes does the price assume, and which edge finish is drawn?

Carpentry

Carpentry is usually the biggest variable in a quote, because so much depends on the design.

• Height. "Full height" has a limit, for example 2.6 m. Taller units are often charged in proportion to the extra height.
• Edges. Square 90-degree edges are standard. Rounded edges, curves and organic shapes cost more.
• Doors and outer surfaces. Laminate is usually covered up to a set price. Real wood veneer, stained or lacquered, and spray-painted finishes are upgrades.
• Insides. Behind a door, the inside is usually a textured, water-resistant PVC surface. Open shelves with no door show their insides, so they need laminate or veneer, which costs more.
• Handles. A handleless finger groove or push-to-open doors are often standard. Handles and recessed handles are extras.
• Built-in appliances. A cut-out for a slot-in oven or dishwasher is usually covered. A fully integrated appliance behind a matching carpentry panel is an upgrade.
• Drawers. A quote may include a set number of drawers per length of carpentry, for example 3 sets per 10 ft. Premium runners, extra racks and accessories cost more.

Ask: what height counts as full height, how many drawers are included, and which laminate range is covered?

Lights, fans and sockets

Lights, fans and their accessories are often left out of the quote. Budget for them separately, or ask your renovator to source them.

Basic white sockets usually come with the electrical works. Coloured or premium sockets cost more.

Plumbing

Ask which pipes will be used. Stainless steel pipes, concealed or exposed, last longer and are easier to repair if one bursts.

Some concealed fittings need extra work that only shows once the site is opened up. Two common ones:

• a frame inside the ceiling to hold a rain shower
• an extra wall built out to hide a shower mixer

Ask your renovator to price these upfront, or to tell you how they will be charged if they are needed.

Before you sign

• Go through the quote line by line and mark what is standard and what is an upgrade.
• Ask for the size, finish and brand of anything that matters to you to be written in.
• Check the renovator's grade. How a firm's grade works explains how to read it.
• Keep the signed quote. It is part of the record of what was agreed.

More on this in Before you sign.