Renovation guides
Direct answers to the questions that come up before the work starts: what it costs, how long it takes, what the law requires. No sales pitch.
Process
Bathroom renovation step by step: the order the work has to follow
The order of works is not a matter of preference: it is set by the physics of the job. Change it and you pay in rework, almost always weeks later.
Materials
Bathroom waterproofing in Portugal: what the law requires and what quotes leave out
It is not just behind the shower tiles. Portuguese law requires waterproofing across the entire floor and up every wall to 1.50 m, and that is exactly where most quotes cut corners.
Process
The most common apartment renovation mistakes, and how to avoid them
Mistakes do not all carry the same weight. What decides the cost of fixing one is the moment it happens, which is why this guide is organised by phase, not by importance.
Process
How long an apartment renovation takes, from first contact to handover
The timelines you find online contradict each other because they measure different things. We separate build time from process time, and explain what stretches each one.
Costs
How much it costs to renovate a two or three-bedroom flat in Lisbon, Setúbal and the Oeste
Between 600 and 2,400 €/m², depending on the level. We work the sums for a 70 m² and a 95 m² flat, and explain why you will find such different figures.
Costs
How much a bathroom renovation costs in Lisbon, Setúbal and the Oeste
Between 2,500 and 14,000 € for a reference bathroom of 5 m². What each level includes, how long it takes, and why the figure climbs.
Costs
How much a kitchen renovation costs in Lisbon, Setúbal and the Oeste
By our own calculations, units and worktop are only around 40% of a kitchen budget. We show where the rest goes and what makes the figure jump between levels.
Process
Light, mid or deep renovation: how to choose the right level
The three-step classification is everywhere, but where the boundary between levels actually falls is rarely explained. That boundary decides the budget and the timeline.
Process
How to choose a renovation contractor you can trust in Portugal
Complaints about renovation fraud are rising in Portugal. This guide sets out what to confirm, which documents to ask for, and which signs should stop a signature.
Materials
Kitchen worktops: laminate, quartz or granite, and when the upgrade pays off
The worktop moves a kitchen budget more than anything else, and it is the one surface you touch every day. We compared real Portuguese prices and say plainly when the upgrade is not worth it.