UK home improvement guides

Straight answers on what common projects cost in the UK, when you need planning permission or building regulations approval, and what to check before you hire someone. Each guide links to the free 3D planner so you can try it on your own home.

• How much does a patio cost in the UK?UK patio prices per square metre for porcelain, sandstone and concrete in 2026, what pushes the price up, and when a patio needs planning permission.
• Single-storey rear extension: what it costs and the rulesWhat a single-storey rear extension costs per square metre in the UK in 2026, how far you can build without planning permission in England, and what else you need.
• Solar panels for your home: cost, VAT and the rulesWhat home solar panels cost in the UK in 2026, the 0% VAT relief until March 2027, when you need planning permission, and how many panels fit on your roof.
• Installing a home EV charger: cost, grants and rulesWhat a home EV charger costs to install in the UK in 2026, who can get the £500 government grant, and the rules your installer must follow.
• Bay windows: cost, planning and building regulationsWhat a replacement or new bay window costs in the UK in 2026, when a bay needs planning permission, and the building regulation standards it must meet.