Renovating an older house: where to start and what it costs in 2026

An older house with a plot is usually cheaper than a new build — but only until you underestimate its true condition. Here is how we approach older houses and what money to expect.

What to assess first

1. Structure: cracks in load-bearing walls, sagging ceilings, truss condition. Structural defects are the most expensive — a structural engineer's report is the best few thousand you'll spend.
2. Damp: stains on walls, the cellar, missing ground-moisture insulation. Remediating damp masonry is a long haul.
3. Roof and truss: leaks, wood-boring insects or fungus.
4. Services: aluminium wiring, lead or galvanised pipes, an old boiler — in houses over 40 years old, budget for complete replacement.
5. Windows and insulation: they determine your future heating bills.

What house renovation costs in 2026

A 120 m² house in poor condition thus costs CZK 2.2–2.8 million to renovate completely — still less than a new build, but always keep a 15% reserve: old houses can surprise.

In what order to renovate

The golden rule: top-down, rough to fine. Roof and structure first, then damp, services and windows, then surfaces, and the interior last. The reverse order means doing things twice.

Is it worth it at all?

For houses with sound structure — almost always: you save on foundations, the shell and connections. For houses with serious structural defects and widespread damp, demolishing and rebuilding is sometimes cheaper. That's exactly what we assess during a free inspection: we'll tell you straight whether renovation makes sense and prepare an itemised budget for free.