Project Type
Renovation & Alteration Estimating Services in New Zealand
What is renovation and alteration estimating?
Professional Estimating provides renovation and alteration estimating across New Zealand. We measure 8 scope items for renovation & alteration work from your PDF, DWG or Revit drawings, deliver an Excel quantity schedule and marked-up PDF plans in 3–5 business days, and confirm a fixed fee in NZD before any work starts.
Renovation, extension and alteration estimates that separate strip-out, making good and new work, with stated allowances for what is hidden.
Renovations are harder to price than new builds because part of the work is hidden until the walls come down. Rot, old wiring, missing insulation and out-of-level floors are common in older New Zealand homes, and an estimate that assumes everything is sound will almost always be short.
We measure alterations in three parts: removal and strip-out, making good to the existing building, and the new work. Splitting it this way shows where the cost really sits and makes it easier to compare builders' prices, which often bundle these together.
Where the drawings cannot tell us the condition of existing work, we include stated allowances, for example for replacing a percentage of framing in a bathroom or upgrading a switchboard. These are listed so they can be confirmed or removed after site investigation.
Scope
What do we measure in a renovation & alteration takeoff?
| Item | Unit | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Strip-out and demolition | m² / item | Linings, fittings, walls and finishes to be removed. |
| Disposal | m³ / load | Waste removal including skip hire. |
| Structural alterations | item / lm | New openings, beams and posts where walls are removed. |
| Making good | m² / lm | Patching linings, floors and ceilings to the existing building. |
| New work | m² / no. | Extensions, new rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. |
| Services upgrades | item | Rewiring, replumbing and switchboard work where required. |
| Hidden condition allowances | $ / % | Rot, asbestos and other unknowns stated separately. |
| Protection and temporary works | item | Weather protection and protection of retained areas. |
Deliverables
What do you receive?
Renovation estimates show strip-out, making good, new work and risk allowances as separate totals so each can be reviewed.
Download the full estimate summary sample (PDF, 30 KB)
| Itemised quantity sheet | Excel + PDF |
| Marked-up plans | Colour-coded PDF |
| Material and labour schedule | Excel |
| Assumptions and exclusions list |
Who it is for
Who is this estimate for?
- Builders
- Price alteration work with risks visible to the client.
- Subcontractors
- Quote their part of a renovation with clear quantities.
- Developers
- Budget refurbishment of existing buildings before purchase.
- Architects
- Give homeowners a realistic budget before detailed design.
Process
How does a renovation & alteration estimate run?
STEP 01
Upload plans
Send existing and proposed plans, plus photos of the existing building if you have them.
STEP 02
Scope confirmation
We confirm the scope of removal, retained areas and known site conditions.
STEP 03
Takeoff and review
Strip-out, making good and new work are measured separately, with risk allowances added.
STEP 04
Delivery
You receive the estimate, assumptions and a list of items to check on site.
New Zealand context
Which NZ standards apply?
Under section 112 of the Building Act 2004, an altered building must continue to comply with fire and access provisions at least to the same extent as before, and some alterations trigger upgrades. Councils may require improvements to means of escape or accessibility as part of the consent, which should be allowed for.
Many New Zealand homes built before 2000 may contain asbestos in linings, flooring or cladding. Under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, an asbestos survey is required before refurbishment or demolition work. We include an allowance for the survey and list removal as a provisional item until the result is known.
We measure and price to the drawings. Design compliance and building consent remain with your designer and building consent authority.
Cost drivers
What drives the cost of renovation & alteration work?
01
Age and condition
Older homes are more likely to need rot repair, rewiring, replumbing and re-levelling, all of which add cost beyond the visible scope.
02
Structural changes
Removing load-bearing walls or adding a storey needs engineering, new beams and foundations, and often temporary support.
03
Living in during works
Staging work around occupants adds protection, cleaning and time to the job.
04
Code upgrades
Alterations may trigger upgrades to fire, access or insulation that were not part of the original brief.
Where do renovation & alteration estimates go wrong?
Renovation budgets most often fail on hidden conditions. If an estimate has no allowance for rot, old wiring or uneven floors, it is assuming the best case. We state allowances clearly so the client can see the risk.
Making good is the second gap. Every removed wall leaves a floor, ceiling and adjoining walls to patch and repaint, and matching old finishes takes time.
Finally, temporary works such as weather protection, propping and dust control are often left out, especially on extensions where the existing roof is opened up.
FAQ
Renovation and Alteration Estimating: frequently asked questions
How do you price what you cannot see?
With stated allowances for likely hidden work, listed so they can be confirmed after investigation.
Do you include asbestos removal?
We include the survey and list removal as a provisional sum until results are known.
Can you price extensions?
Yes. Extensions are measured as new work with the connection to the existing building.
Do you need existing plans?
They help. If not available, measured photos and a sketch can work for smaller jobs.
Do you cover heritage buildings?
Yes, with allowances for specialist materials and methods where required.
Related services
- Residential Estimating
Estimates for new homes, townhouses, alterations and additions, measured from your consent drawings and laid out the way builders price.
- Demolition Estimating
Demolition and strip-out quantities by material, with disposal volumes and hazardous material allowances shown separately.
- Carpentry Estimating
Measured carpentry scope beyond the frame: decks, cladding installation, interior trim, stairs, doors, hardware and fit-off.
- Finishes Estimating
The fit-out that clients notice: tiling, splashbacks, cabinetry, fixtures, accessories and fit-off, measured from the finishes schedule.
Get a quote
Send your plans for a renovation & alteration estimate
Upload your drawings and we will reply with a fixed fee and turnaround before any work starts. No obligation.
- — PDF, DWG and ZIP accepted
- — Fees in NZD, excluding GST
- — Prefer email? Use the link in the footer