Refurbishments that bring a tired house back to life
New kitchens, bathrooms, wiring and heating, restored period features and a finish planned as one job, not a dozen separate trades.
Sometimes the best home is the one you already own, done properly. A good refurbishment is more than decorating room by room. It is a coordinated upgrade where the layout, the services and the finishes are thought about together, so the work happens in the right order and the finished house feels consistent rather than patched up.
Firtree Build refurbishes homes across North London, Enfield and Hertfordshire. Whether you want a reworked layout to bring more light into a dated ground floor, new kitchens and bathrooms fitted to last, or restored period features alongside a full rewire and replumb, we manage the whole project from strip out to a finished, decorated home.
What a refurbishment with us covers
Layout & light
Reworking tired or dated layouts so the house works for the way you live now. That can mean taking down walls between small rooms, opening a kitchen onto the dining room, or moving doors and stairs to improve flow. We add glazing and roof lights where they make the biggest difference, bringing light into older ground floors that feel dark, with any steels and structural calculations arranged for you
Wiring, plumbing & heating
Renewing the parts of the house you do not see but rely on every day. In older North London homes this often means a full rewire, new plumbing, a new boiler or heating system, and better insulation. Getting these right before the finishes go in avoids ripping out new work later, and every job is signed off to current Building Regulations.
Kitchens & bathrooms
New kitchens and bathrooms, fitted properly and built to last. We handle everything behind the scenes first, from moving waste pipes and drainage to new electrics, ventilation and waterproofing, then the fit out itself. You can choose your own kitchen or bathroom supplier, and we make sure the space is ready for it.
Period features
Restoring the features that made the house worth buying, such as cornicing, fireplaces, sash windows, original floorboards and panelled doors. We repair or replicate what is damaged and set it against clean, modern spaces, so the house keeps its character. Where a property is in a conservation area, we work within the rules that apply.
Decoration to finishing
The final layer that makes a refurbishment feel complete: plastering, skirting, architraves, joinery, flooring and decoration, done carefully in every room. We finish to the same standard throughout, including the parts most builders rush, and hand the house back clean and ready to live in.
Managed as one programme
From strip out and structural changes through first fix, second fix and final decoration, the whole job is run to one plan and one schedule. We understand the existing property before we start changing it, then coordinate the approvals and the order of works so nothing has to be done twice.
Why Firtree for your refurbishment
We are as careful with a full internal refurbishment as we are with a new structure, because the finish is what you live with every day. And because you are often still living in the house while we work, we keep the site clean and considerate, and treat your home and your neighbours with respect.
how it works
Consultation, quote, then a well managed build.
01
Consultation
We visit, listen, and advise on the best option for your home and budget.
02
Quote & design
An itemised quote and a design, with planning handled where needed.
03
Managed build
A well managed build, start to finish, with regular updates.
See the work
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Good to know before you get in touch
What does a full home refurbishment include?
It depends on the property and brief, but a full refurbishment can include strip out, internal alterations, structural work, electrical and plumbing upgrades, heating changes, plastering, kitchens, bathrooms, joinery, flooring and decoration. The advantage of a whole home approach is that these elements can be sequenced under one coordinated scope.
What is the difference between refurbishment and renovation?
The terms overlap. Refurbishment often focuses on restoring and upgrading an existing property, while renovation may describe a more substantial transformation involving layout or structural changes. Firtree can handle both focused refurbishments and more extensive whole home renovations.
How long does a full house refurbishment take?
As a guide, a full internal refurbishment of a three bedroom house takes around 12 to 20 weeks on site, and a single kitchen or bathroom around 3 to 6 weeks. Structural work, a large house or phasing the work while you live there will add time. We give you a programme with your quote.
Can we live in the house during the refurbishment?
Sometimes. A focused or phased refurbishment may be compatible with staying in part of the home. For a full house project involving extensive strip out, structural changes or major electrical and plumbing work, moving out for some or all of the build can be safer, quicker and more practical. This should be discussed before the programme is agreed.
Do I need planning permission for an internal refurbishment?
Not every internal refurbishment needs planning permission. However, the answer changes if the project affects the external appearance, involves an extension, alters a listed building or is subject to other property specific restrictions. Building Regulations can still apply even where planning permission is not needed.
Will Building Regulations apply to refurbishment work?
They can. Structural alterations and many changes to electrics, bathrooms, heating, windows and other building elements may need Building Regulations approval or compliant work through an appropriate competent person route. The exact requirements depend on the proposed work.
Could the Party Wall Act affect an internal refurbishment?
Potentially. Certain work to a shared party wall or structure, and some excavation near neighbouring foundations, requires the relevant notice procedure. Minor work such as ordinary plastering or replacing sockets generally does not trigger the same requirements. The specific design should be checked before affected work begins.
Can Firtree combine a refurbishment with an extension or loft conversion?
Yes. Where the whole layout is changing, coordinating the projects can be more logical than finishing rooms that will later be disturbed by structural or service work. Firtree also delivers house extensions and loft conversions across North London.
Ready when you are
Ready to talk about
your renovation?
Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with honest advice and a clear quote.