8 Often Overlooked Renovation Costs That Can Blow Your Budget

Because they DO add up.

Over 60% of homeowners in Singapore exceed their original renovation budget – including those who do their research beforehand. This can arise from unforeseen circumstances, homeowners changing their minds on details mid-renovation and more.

Additionally, there are also para-renovation costs that may not fall under your interior designer’s purview, but expenses you have to fork out nonetheless.

While not terribly expensive on their own, these extras can add up in the thousands. So, save yourself the unnecessary heartache and take note of these items that homeowners often forget to budget.

1. Sub-surface damage repairs

Particularly so for older units, things like termite infestation or water damage may (literally) be hidden under the surface. Unfortunately, this means that such issues can only be uncovered after hacking works have taken place.

Depending on the extent of damage, resolving such issues may add hundreds, or even thousands, to your expenditure.

2. Electrical re-wiring

As interior designers typically outsource rewiring works to electricians, most renovation quotes will only include a rough estimate for electrical works. A precise quote – which may be more than the initial estimate – will only come after you have pointed out where you want electrical points to the electrician on-site.

Further, you may realise mid-renovation that you require additional power points in certain areas like the study or kitchen. Regardless, electrical rewiring works for each additional socket you wish to include will cost somewhere between $90 to $150.

If you’re taking over an old resale unit, there’s also a chance that the existing wiring is faulty and requires a complete overhaul.

Explore: Homeowner’s Guide to Electrical Wiring: Costs, Mistakes and More

3. Concealed wiring

Giving your home a minimalist look often goes hand-in-hand with creating sleeker spaces, and that means getting all the wiring organised – no exposed bits or overhead trunking should be left hanging in plain sight.

However, doing so will cost you a fair bit more. Concealed sockets tend to cost a fair bit more (approximately $25 to $30 more per socket) than their exposed counterparts, so be sure to factor this in when budgeting for your renovation.

4. Half-walls

Does building a half-wall cost 50% less than a full wall? We hate to break it to you but partial structures like these tend to cost as much (or even more) than a full wall.

The reason is because more work has to be done to create a half-wall. First, the original full wall has to be hacked away completely (because it isn’t possible to lop a wall in half). This alone will cost you upwards of $400.

Then, be prepared to set aside $500 to $800 (or more, if you plan to install a see-through glass partition) to build the new half-wall to its desired height.

5. Door frame removal

If you don’t like the doors/door frames that come with your unit, be prepared to fork out $600 to $900 for each door frame that you’re planning to replace. Yes, there’s a labour cost involved that’ll be charged for each door frame that’s removed – and that’s not even factoring in the cost of supplying and installing the new doors.

6. Floor protection

Be it drilling, demolishing walls or moving your furniture in, renovation-related tasks that involve heavy manual work will put your floors at risk of cracks and scratches.

If you’re planning to retain the original flooring of your resale home or have new flooring installed, protection in the form of protective sheets/boards is a must-have, and depending on the size of your home, this could cost you a few hundred dollars.

7. Debris removal and haulage

There’s no way your household vacuum cleaner is going to take care of all the leftover debris from your renovation – you’ll need a dedicated team to provide the necessary manual labour and it’ll cost you approximately $200. The exact amount will depend on a) the size of your home and b) the amount of debris present.

8. Post-renovation floor washing

Another post-renovation service that most homeowners often overlook when budgeting is floor washing. These specialised cleaning services (that sometimes involve acid or chemical washing) often take place after key renovation works like flooring installation and painting are completed.

Ensuring your floors are free of grime, paint stains and/or cement marks will cost you upwards of $200 if you aren’t planning on doing it on your own, but it’s definitely going to save you plenty of cleaning time that's better spent on relaxing in your newly-renovated home!

Ready to renovate?

While the list isn’t exhaustive, being aware of the above will give you a better sense of costs to factor in when putting together a budget.

With that out of the way, it’s time to speak to interior designers to kickstart your home makeover! Click on the button below to tell us your renovation requirements, and we will get you renovation quotes from local interior design firms – free of charge!

(This article was originally published on 16 March 2017 and last updated on 17 July 2025.)

Got a question? Let us know in the comments below! 👇