The Ultimate Guide to Home Renovation Costs in Greater Philadelphia

The prospect of remodeling your home in Philly can feel about as chaotic as Gritty’s gameday antics (and a lot less charming). But with a clear plan and the right contractor, your home remodel will turn out to be as iconic as that beloved local mascot. 

Keep reading for tips on how to budget for the latest home renovation costs in the Greater Philadelphia area in 2024.

Overview of home renovation costs in Greater Philadelphia

The total cost of your home renovation will depend on a number of factors (more on those below). But to get a general idea of home renovation costs in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, you can take into consideration the following estimates. 

Estimated Greater Philadelphia home renovation costs in 2024: 

• For cosmetic remodels (think: painting, re-flooring): $50 to $250 per square foot.
• For more complex remodels (think: gut renovation, structural adjustments): $200 to $400 per square foot.

Learn More: How to Start Planning a Home Renovation

What influences home renovation costs in Greater Philadelphia?

Before you start to plan your budget, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with the factors that influence home renovation costs in the Greater Philadelphia area. 

We’ve broken down those costs into the following categories: 

Labor

A key part of any home renovation is the process of hiring high-quality licensed professionals to manage and complete your project. You should plan for your labor costs to account for around 50% to 60% of your budget. These labor fees cover hires like a general contractor, electrician, plumber, HVAC specialist, and any other subcontractors your renovation requires. 

When you partner with Block, we match you with the best contractors in Greater Philadelphia for your unique project needs, so you can easily compare quotes and find the best deal for your budget. 

Design

Especially when it comes to more complex remodels, you’ll save a lot of time and get a better result if you hire an experienced interior designer to help you kick off your project. A designer will support you in refining and bringing your vision to life. For example, an interior designer can help you outline a realistic new layout, pick the best materials within budget, and generally ensure you make smart decisions as you plan your home renovation project. 

Plan for around 5% to 10% of your budget to go toward design fees. Remember: Even if the upfront costs of hiring a designer feel steeper than a DIY approach to design, the fact is that prioritizing the expertise and guidance of a design professional will save you tons of valuable time and money down the line. 

Save even more by partnering with Block—you can get easy access to a variety of quality design services for your renovation.

Materials

Plan for around 30% of your budget to go towards the costs of materials for your renovation. That includes purchasing materials like flooring, paint, fixtures, cabinets, and any other supplies needed for your particular remodel. 

Take the time you need to research your options for materials online, but wherever possible, remember that it’s also useful to shop locally. You’re supporting your local economy whenever you purchase from local specialty sellers. By building relationships with your community’s small businesses, you might even be able to strike deals on some discounted materials. Plus, even if you buy locally at a chain store, your purchase will have a lower environmental impact than shipping goods. 

Wherever you find your home renovation’s materials, it’s helpful to keep in mind both first and second choices for each type of material. That way, if an item runs out of stock or dramatically increases in price, you’ll already know what your backup would be, so you can purchase it without delay.

Unforeseen expenses

Even when you painstakingly plan your budget, once your renovation is underway, it’s totally normal for unexpected issues to pop up—with their expenses in tow. So, just in case your team uncovers issues like black mold or urgent electrical issues, make sure you’re not caught without emergency funds. 

It’s best practice to allocate around 10% of your budget to a contingency fund. That’ll help you be flexible in the face of surprises and keep your renovation timeline on track. 

Additional expenses

It’s likely you’ll need to account for a variety of other costs for your renovation. 

Common additional renovation expenses include: 

• Permits and inspections
• Demolition and debris removal
• Relocation during construction

Most of your budget should be directed toward the costs of labor, design, and materials, but make sure you account for these expenses as well.

 

Cost for gut renovation vs. non-gut renovation

Not every renovation needs to completely gut your space, but you should always consider your options. If your home is older or has endured major damages, gut renovation might be the right choice for you. Otherwise, if you’re planning a simple cosmetic refresh to your space, like repainting, a gut renovation might not be necessary. 

Let’s go over these two renovation options and their costs in the Greater Philadelphia area. 

Gut renovation costs

The gut renovation process involves gutting your home’s interior by stripping the walls, floors, ceiling, and (as needed) the plumbing and electrical systems. Whether it’s a room or the entire house, a gut renovation gives you the freedom to completely refresh and redesign your space.

Gut renovations are significantly more expensive than cosmetic renovations due to the scope and complexity of the work. A gut renovation in the Greater Philadelphia area could cost you as much as $200 or more per square foot. That cost should include the demolition and clean-up disposal phases. 

Cosmetic renovation costs

For less intensive surface-level changes that don’t require structural overhauls, you’re looking at a non-gut renovation process. Cosmetic renovations like these are less expensive compared to gut renovations. The exact cost of this type of renovation will vary, but you can usually expect to pay about half the cost per square foot as you would for a gut renovation. 

Cost of renovating dry spaces vs. wet spaces

The conditions of a space in relation to its environment influences the kinds of renovation that space may need in order to get it up to code. An experienced contractor will consider the following differing needs of dry spaces versus wet spaces in your home. 

Renovating wet spaces

Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens are typical examples of spaces in your home that are regularly exposed to moisture elements like water, steam, and high humidity. These wet spaces tend to be more expensive to renovate because they require specialized labor that dry spaces don’t always need. For example, your bathroom renovation might require updated plumbing and waterproofing, as well as the installation of waterproof fixtures and moisture-resistant paint that can withstand humidity and mildew. 

Due to the need for specialized labor and materials, the costs of renovating wet spaces will be higher than renovating drying spaces. If you don’t hire the relevant professionals for wet space work, you could be setting yourself up for costly mistakes, so be intentional about your contracting decisions. 

Renovating dry spaces

Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms—spaces like these are typically drier than their plumbing-heavy counterparts, so they’re not quite as expensive to renovate. Since you don’t have to worry about precautions like extensive waterproofing in these rooms, the renovation costs tend to be lower. Dry space renovations include things like flooring and electrical updates.

 

Heating and cooling renovation costs

Philly’s climate calls for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer—in other words, your home needs a functional HVAC system. If you’re due for an HVAC installation or major maintenance updates to an existing setup, your expenses run anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. That would cover Greater Philadelphia licensed HVAC specialist labor rates, mechanical renovation permits, and equipment purchases. The total cost will depend on factors like the size, age, and conditions of your home, as well as the model of equipment you’re installing. It’s best to install the most energy-efficient HVAC system—the upfront costs will be higher, but it’ll set you up for lower utility bills and maintenance fees over time. 

Costs of home renovation permits and inspections

Keeping your project on track depends on obeying Greater Philadelphia housing codes and renovation laws. Many types of home renovations require a permit. If your project requires one, you must get that permit before breaking ground on your renovation. 

Generally, permit fees are priced at a rate per home valuation, per square foot, or per hour. Total fees will depend on the type of permit or inspection, and vary by city in the Greater Philadelphia area. Always make sure to visit your city’s website to find out your project’s most up-to-date legal requirements and fees. For example, Philly residents can learn more about building permits on the city’s official site.

Tips for how to budget for your apartment renovation

For a smooth renovation process, be intentional with your budgeting. Plan a budget that’ll cover both the expected and unexpected, and you’ll be able to cut down on both financial stress and project delays. 

Prioritize the essentials and identify savings potential by considering these budgeting tips:

• Determine your project vision and goals: Which areas of your home do you plan to update? Outline a clear vision for your priorities and the renovation’s end goal. 
• Set realistic expectations about how much you can actually allocate to your renovation project. How will you finance these costs? Does your realistic budget mean you need to alter your project vision? 
• Focus on necessities ahead of cosmetic updates. Your dream renovation might include installing beautiful new tiling, but before you drop thousands on those custom tiles you’ve been eyeing, make sure you can afford all the infrastructural work that goes into your remodel before laying tiles. Remember: A renovation is about more than what’s on the surface; it’s also about revitalizing the safety and functionality of your home. 
• Organize your budget into categories: labor, design, materials, permits, and contingency funds. A general rule of thumb is to plan for 60% of your budget to go towards labor, 30% to materials, and 10% to other and unexpected expenses. That percentage breakdown might vary depending on your renovation’s specific needs, but you should always account for that contingency fund so you’ll be prepared to cover any surprises later in the renovation process. 

Learn more: How to Plan Your Renovation Budget

How to select a contractor in Greater Philadelphia

Whatever your project vision, the most important decision you’ll make to bring that vision to life within budget is the decision to hire a contractor. Most home renovations can take months to complete, so it’s crucial to partner with a reliable expert contractor who’ll be by your side, shepherding your project from start to finish. 

This selection process may feel daunting, but Philly homeowners are in luck: Block Renovation makes it simple. Our renovation experts will custom pick 3 top-quality licensed contractors from Block’s elite network and match them with you based on your project scope.

Block’s robust vetting process ensures that every contractor we recommend has:

• Exceptional construction quality and knowledge
• Glowing customer references
• Stellar online reviews with a 4.0 rating or higher
• Proof of many successfully completed projects
• Excellent management and communication skills
• Verified licenses
• A minimum of $2MM insurance coverage
• Zero DOB violations or civil lawsuits
• Clean background checks
• Passed our rigorous four-week vetting process

When you get your customized contractor recommendations from Block, you’ll get the opportunity to schedule site visits to meet those contractors in your home and compare project proposals and quotes. From there, you’ll be able to choose the contractor who’s best fit for your project, so you can kick off your renovation with confidence and a trusted partner.