Frequently Asked Questions
Construction Cost Breakdown
| Element | % | Estimated £ | Workbook range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction sub-total | 0% | £0 | |
| VAT | £0 | editable | |
| Construction incl. VAT | £0 |
Overall Project Costs
| Project element | % | Estimated £ | Workbook guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total estimated project budget | £0 |
How to read the estimate
For illustration, the workbook treats the total money required to deliver a house (excluding the initial land purchase) as two broad areas: the pure construction cost and the wider project costs needed to get the project designed, approved, serviced and completed.
Overall project cost guidance: Pure construction commonly represents around 60%–70% of the budget; professional and statutory fees around 10%–15%; external works and utilities around 8%–12%; and contingency around 10%–15%.
Construction-only guidance: Superstructure and shell 28%–32%; services and systems 15%–20%; internal finishes 10%–15%; foundations and groundworks 10%–15%; windows and external doors 8%–10%; kitchen and bathrooms 6%–8%; preliminaries/site management 4%–6%.
The workbook also notes that labour can represent approximately 35%–55% of construction figures, depending on whether a main contractor is used or trades are managed directly.