Frequently Asked Questions

What types of projects does Sweet Homes specialise in?

Home and multi-room renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, fitted joinery, garage and loft conversions, home offices and house extensions. The service pages explain the scope and professional boundaries for each.

Do you work on tenements and older Edinburgh properties?

Yes. Tenements need specialist handling: ventilation, shared-stair protection, past alterations, neighbour coordination. Our process is designed specifically for these buildings.

Do you take on small projects, or only full-home renovations?

Yes: fitted storage, box rooms, utilities, hallways, and joinery. What we do not do is one-hour handyman call-outs.

What areas of Edinburgh and the Lothians do you cover?

We mainly work across Edinburgh: Marchmont, Bruntsfield, Morningside, Leith, Stockbridge, New Town, and nearby Lothian areas for full renovations.

Who are these services for?

Sweet Homes’ public service is written for homeowners planning work to their own Edinburgh property.

Do you provide interior design or work with client-appointed designers?

No. Sweet Homes does not provide interior design. Where a project needs design input, we recommend that clients appoint their own interior designer, architect or design team. We work from their agreed drawings and specifications, coordinate construction questions with them and advise on buildability, sequencing, maintenance and cost.

How do I request a call?

Email hello@mysweethomes.co.uk with the property type, general area and work you are considering. We reply by email if the construction brief appears to fit. Any later visit and its terms are agreed for the particular project.

Is a visit or quotation always free?

No blanket promise applies. Sweet Homes first checks the brief by email and call. If a visit or priced construction proposal is appropriate, the scope and any charge are confirmed before it is arranged.

How detailed is your quotation?

The quotation identifies the construction scope, price basis, assumptions, allowances and exclusions appropriate to that project. The related contract sets its payment, change, handover and aftercare terms.

Who will be my main point of contact?

The project contract identifies the Sweet Homes contact and communication arrangements for that scope.

Will I know who is working in my home?

The project arrangements identify the relevant Sweet Homes team and specialist trades. Timing and introductions depend on the scope and programme.

How do you handle communication and updates during the project?

The contract identifies the contact, records and update rhythm for the particular project. Sweet Homes does not promise daily updates on every job.

What happens if something unexpected comes up during the project?

The project contract identifies how concealed conditions, design questions and proposed changes are recorded and decided. A specialist opinion may be needed before construction continues.

Do you offer workmanship and aftercare terms?

The workmanship and aftercare commitments for the particular project are set out in its contract. This page does not add a separate response-time or repair promise.

Who handles building warrants and certification?

The homeowner appoints the architect, structural engineer and building-warrant professional. Sweet Homes is the contractor. Where electrical or gas work is in our scope, certification comes through the electrician or gas engineer arranged through Sweet Homes.

Are you insured?

Yes. We hold full public liability and contractor’s insurance.

What happens if I want to make a change mid-project?

The project contract identifies the variation approval, record and effect on price and programme for that scope.

Do you remove waste and dispose of it responsibly?

Yes. Waste removal is included unless stated otherwise, and we recycle materials whenever practical.

How do you protect stair carpets, bannisters, and communal areas?

The access and protection plan is agreed for the building and construction scope. Any daily check or cleaning commitment belongs in that contract.

What happens after the project is finished?

The project contract identifies the handover checks, snagging route, records and aftercare terms for that scope.

How do you price renovation projects?

We use clear, fixed-scope pricing. Each quotation defines exactly what is included and what is excluded, so you can make decisions confidently and avoid surprises later.

What affects the cost of a renovation?

Costs are influenced by existing condition, structural work, plumbing or electrical changes, tile choice, joinery complexity, access, and unseen historic work once areas are opened up.

What makes tenement renovations more expensive?

Tenements often require specialist ventilation planning, upgrades to older services, careful access protection, neighbour coordination, and extra labour for materials handling via shared stairs.

Do you provide written quotes?

Yes. The level of itemisation follows the construction scope. Assumptions, allowances and exclusions should remain visible rather than being buried in a single total.

Can I get a rough price before a visit?

The public cost guide gives indicative homeowner totals. A construction quotation needs adequate design and property information; Sweet Homes first checks by email what is available and what remains unknown.

Do you match or beat other quotes?

We are not the cheapest and we do not try to be. If you have another quote, we are happy to walk through where the difference sits so you can compare like for like.

Do you use allowances for finishes and fittings?

An allowance may be used where a selection is not final. The quotation should state what it covers and how the final difference is dealt with.

Do you work with written-scope contracts?

Yes. The contract identifies the priced construction scope, assumptions, exclusions and the route for changes or concealed conditions.

How do payment schedules work?

Payment terms are project-specific and appear in the quotation and contract. This page does not publish a universal deposit, progress-payment or final-balance model.

What happens if I want to change something after work starts?

The variation process in the project contract governs the record, approval, price and programme effect.

What if you discover something unexpected inside the walls or floors?

Older properties can hide surprises. If this happens, we pause, explain the options clearly, and provide a written, costed solution before continuing.

How long will my project take?

Timelines are set out in your quotation. We build in realistic durations, include lead times for materials and joinery, and flag known risks upfront. Changes, discoveries, or specification decisions can affect the timeline, and we communicate these as they arise.

What can delay a renovation?

The most common causes are specification changes, material lead times, discoveries inside walls or floors, and access limitations in tenements. Good upfront planning reduces most of these.

Do you offer financing or staged work?

We do not offer financing. Where a project can be divided without creating rework or unsafe interfaces, the construction scope may be quoted in defined stages. Whether that is practical depends on the services, structure and intended end result.

How can I keep costs down without compromising quality?

The most effective savings usually come from simplifying scope rather than choosing the cheapest finishes. Your appointed designer can lead the aesthetic selection. Sweet Homes can explain how proposed materials affect buildability, maintenance, lead times and cost, then price the agreed specification.

What does a kitchen renovation typically include?

A full renovation usually includes layout adjustments, joinery, new flooring, appliances, tiling, electrics, lighting, plastering and decoration. Every item appears clearly in your written scope.

Who handles kitchen design and layout decisions?

Clients appoint their own kitchen designer, interior designer or supplier design service. Sweet Homes reviews the agreed layout for buildability, service routes, ventilation, appliance clearances and installation sequencing before we price and build it.

How long does a kitchen renovation take?

The programme depends on the agreed scope, condition of services, design decisions and supplier lead times. Sweet Homes sets out the project-specific basis rather than publishing a fixed duration here.

Can you renovate a kitchen in a tenement?

Yes. We regularly renovate tenement kitchens, factoring in ventilation upgrades, drainage constraints, older wiring and tight access.

Can I relocate my kitchen?

It may be possible. The homeowner’s appointed designer and, where needed, structural engineer establish drainage, ventilation, structure and the approval route. Sweet Homes checks construction buildability from that information.

Do you install bespoke cabinetry or only pre-made units?

We work with both. Many clients choose bespoke joinery for better use of awkward spaces, alcoves and tenement proportions.

What does a bathroom renovation typically include?

Strip-out, plumbing upgrades, new flooring, tiling, electrics, lighting, ventilation, joinery, decorating and all finishing details.

Why do tenement bathrooms need special planning?

Older plumbing, smaller rooms, ventilation challenges and drainage routes require careful sequencing and compliant installation.

How long does a bathroom renovation take?

The programme depends on the agreed scope, plumbing condition, product lead times and finish complexity. The quotation and contract state the basis for the particular project.

Do you handle ventilation work?

Ventilation design and any approval route must be established by the homeowner’s suitable professional. Sweet Homes can install the defined construction scope within a wider renovation; it does not promise that one intervention will prevent moisture problems.

What counts as a multi-room refurbishment?

Any project involving two or more areas, such as a kitchen plus bathroom, or a combination of living spaces, bedrooms, hallways and storage upgrades.

Do multi-room projects cost less than doing rooms individually?

Combining work may reduce repeated setup, but it can also increase service, access and occupation constraints. The answer follows the priced scope, not a general saving claim.

Do you manage all trades for multi-room projects?

Yes. Joinery, plumbing, electrics, plastering, flooring, tiling and decoration are all coordinated by us.

Can you help me choose tiles, fittings and finishes?

Yes. We guide material choices, moisture-safe options, durability considerations and practical selections that work for Edinburgh homes.

Can kitchen or bathroom work be phased?

Sometimes. The designer and contractor need to test whether a phase leaves safe services and avoids paying to undo completed work later.

Why do tenement renovations need a specialist approach?

Tenements have shared access, older building fabric, structural sensitivities, ventilation challenges and layers of historic alterations. These require careful planning and sequencing to keep the renovation safe, compliant and predictable.

What are the most common challenges inside tenement flats?

Restricted drainage routes, floors out of level, lath-and-plaster walls, old wiring, narrow stair access. All normal in a tenement, and all workable once you have planned for them.

How are ventilation questions handled in tenement bathrooms and kitchens?

The homeowner appoints the suitable designer or specialist to assess the existing arrangement and specify any required change. Sweet Homes prices and installs a defined construction scope within the wider renovation.

Can Sweet Homes build a new opening in a tenement?

Sweet Homes can carry out an agreed structural alteration. The homeowner appoints the structural engineer, architect and building-warrant professional; the verifier decides the warrant application.

My tenement has previous alterations. What happens next?

Existing records and visible conditions should be reviewed before design assumptions are fixed. A building surveyor, architect or engineer may need to investigate; Sweet Homes prices the resulting construction information.

How is the common stair protected during a renovation?

Access, protection and cleaning arrangements are agreed for the building and recorded in the particular contract. No daily guarantee is created by this page.

What do you do if a neighbour complains during the work?

We communicate clearly, respond respectfully and adjust where reasonable. Early updates prevent most issues.

Do tenement renovations require building warrants?

Some do and some do not. The answer depends on the work and any applicable exceptions. The homeowner’s appointed warrant professional checks the route; the local authority verifier decides the application.

Can I relocate my kitchen or bathroom in a tenement?

The homeowner’s appointed design team must establish a workable drainage, ventilation, structural and approval solution. Sweet Homes can then review buildability and price the construction scope.

Will dust spread through my flat?

Renovation creates dust. The contract identifies the work-zone protection, extraction and cleaning arrangements for the project; it cannot promise a dust-free occupied home.

Are tenement renovations more expensive?

They can be due to access constraints, protection requirements, older services and structural considerations. Good planning keeps costs predictable.

Are hidden works photographed?

The project contract identifies the completion records required for that scope, including any agreed photographs and trade certificates.

What counts as a small-but-mighty project?

Work that changes how the home functions without being a full-room job: fitted wardrobes, alcove units, a utility upgrade, shelving, a window seat, storage built for the awkward corners of an Edinburgh flat.

Do you take on small joinery projects on their own?

Yes. If a job meaningfully improves how your home works, we are happy to take it on. We simply do not offer short-notice handyman visits or one-hour repairs.

Why is fitted storage so effective in tenements?

Tenements have alcoves, high ceilings and unused vertical space. Well-designed storage makes these features practical while retaining the character of the home.

Can you work with sloped ceilings, box rooms or awkward layouts?

Yes. The awkward rooms are often the ones bespoke joinery helps most, because nothing off-the-shelf fits them.

Do you match existing period details like skirting and mouldings?

Yes. We can replicate profiles, match proportions and blend new joinery with existing detailing.

What materials do you use for fitted storage?

High-quality MDF, hardwoods, veneers and moisture-resistant options where needed. We recommend materials based on purpose and longevity.

Do you install lighting inside units or shelves?

Yes. LED strip lighting or integrated task lighting can be included where useful.

How much does fitted storage typically cost?

Costs vary by size, complexity, materials and finish. Every project is quoted with a clear, itemised scope.

How long does a small joinery project take?

The programme depends on design, materials, finish, access and surrounding work. Sweet Homes confirms the basis for the particular scope rather than publishing a fixed duration.

Can I combine storage projects with other renovations?

Absolutely. Many clients add storage upgrades alongside kitchen, bathroom or wider home renovations for better value and efficiency.

Will fitted storage add value to my home?

Good storage makes a flat easier to live in and less cluttered, and in a period home that shows when you come to sell. It is not the headline of a valuation, but it counts.