Home Renovation Planning Guides NZ
Know what happens in what order — timelines, trade sequencing, consents, and budget stages for common NZ renovations.
Planning by Project Type
Start with the guide that matches your project — each one covers the full timeline, who you need, when to book them, and what can go wrong at each stage.
📋 Order of Trades NZ
The master guide — who goes first, who goes last, and why the sequence matters. Electrician before GIBber, plumber before tiler, and more.
Essential reading🚿 Bathroom Renovation Planning
Week-by-week timeline for a full bathroom reno — demo, waterproofing, plumbing rough-in, tiling, fixtures. What to decide before you start.
4–8 week project🍳 Kitchen Renovation Planning
Joinery lead times, electrical upgrades, plumbing changes, and sequencing the fit-out. Why a kitchen reno takes longer than you think.
6–12 week project🏠 House Extension Planning
From idea to Code Compliance Certificate — consent, design, engineer, builder, and all the stages in between. Allow 12–18 months.
12–18 month projectThe Renovation Timeline — High Level
Whatever your project, the stages below apply in roughly this order. The big mistakes happen when homeowners try to skip stages or book trades before the stage before them is complete.
Know Your Limits — DIY Guides
Before you plan what you want to do, check what you can legally do yourself. NZ has clear rules about what homeowners can self-perform.
⚡ Electrical — What I Can Do Myself
EWRB rules on what NZ homeowners can legally do — and what is restricted to licensed electricians.
DIY limits🔧 Plumbing — What I Can Do Myself
PGDB limits — tap washers are fine, new connections are not. Full breakdown for homeowners.
DIY limits🏗️ Building Without Consent
Schedule 1 exemptions — what you can build without a building consent in NZ.
DIY limits🔨 Can I Be My Own Builder?
Owner-builder rules — what you can self-perform, what needs an LBP, and the finance implications.
DIY limitsUseful Tools
🧮 Renovation Cost Calculator
Estimate your project budget before speaking to a builder or getting quotes.
Calculator💬 Is My Quote Fair?
Compare your tradie quote against NZ benchmarks — spot overcharging before you sign.
Quote checker📄 Contract Templates
Free NZ tradie contract templates — quote acceptance, variation orders, payment schedules.
Templates📮 Post a Job Free
Get quotes from licensed tradespeople in your area — free, no commitment.
Find tradiesReady to find your tradies?
Post your job free and get quotes from verified tradespeople near you.