Home renovation budget: stages, contingency and real prices
A renovation budget has three parts: materials, labour and a contingency for the unexpected. The most reliable method is to split the work into stages, measure the quantity for each job (m², pieces) and multiply it by the market unit price. According to the Prayk catalogue on 22 September 2026, the median price in tilers' listings is 13 AZN and in painters' listings 5 AZN — such small amounts cannot be the price of a whole job, so they are unit prices (for example, per 1 m²).
Short answer: calculate the budget stage by stage with “quantity × unit price”, keep materials and labour on separate lines, and hold a separate contingency for hidden work. As of 22 September 2026 on Prayk, the median for tile work listings is 13 AZN (half at 7–15 AZN), painting work 5 AZN (3–10 AZN), tile materials 15 AZN (13–45 AZN), and paints and varnishes 12 AZN (4–32 AZN); the Building materials section has 2,934 listings.
What does a renovation budget consist of?
- Materials — building mixes, tiles, flooring, paint, cable, plumbing fixtures.
- Labour — tradespeople's fees, often charged per unit of work (m², point, piece).
- Ancillary costs — delivery, removal of construction waste, tool hire, post-renovation cleaning.
- Contingency — for hidden work that appears after demolition.
The most common mistake is to price only the materials and leave labour “for later”. On Prayk the median for tile materials is 15 AZN and for tilers 13 AZN. Units do not always match between listings, but the closeness is a reminder that labour is not a small add-on to materials but a separate, serious budget line.
Material and tradesperson prices on Prayk (September 2026)
The table shows the total number of listings in each section and the median of the most recent ones (up to 300). The price unit varies from listing to listing, so use the figures for a first estimate, not as a quote.
| Section | Listings | Median, AZN | Middle half, AZN | What the price covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building materials (all subsections) | 2,934 | 45 | 20–86 | Mixed: piece, kg, bag, m² |
| Tiles, ceramic tiles and cladding | 269 | 15 | 13–45 | m², piece or box |
| Paint and varnish materials | 429 | 12 | 4–32 | Container size (kg, litre) varies |
| Tile work (tradesperson) | 21 | 13 | 7–15 | Unit of work (e.g. m²) |
| Painting works (tradesperson) | 23 | 5 | 3–10 | Unit of work (e.g. m²) |
| Masters: repair and construction (all services) | 1,882 | — | — | Units vary too much for an overall median |
90% of the latest 300 building materials listings and 93% of tile listings are in Baku. There are few tiler and painter listings (21 and 23), so their medians are only a guide — get the actual price after the tradesperson measures up. All tradesperson categories are in the Masters section.
How to build the budget step by step
- List the jobs and measure. For each room, measure floor, wall and ceiling area (m²) and count electrical points and plumbing fixtures. A budget without measurements is a guess.
- Split into stages (table below) and cost each stage separately.
- Every line: quantity × unit price. Keep materials and labour separate. For a first estimate, use the Prayk “middle half” range: the lower bound is the optimistic scenario, the upper bound the cautious one.
- Get at least three quotes. Half of tilers' listings are within 7–15 AZN — a twofold difference for the same job is normal. Post a “Looking for” listing so tradespeople come to you.
- Size the contingency with a risk list (below).
- Tie payments to stages — after each stage is accepted.
| Stage | What it includes | Budget watch-out |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Demolition and preparation | Removing old finishes, waste removal | Delivery and waste removal are often forgotten |
| 2. Rough work | Wiring, water and sewer pipes, plastering, floor screed | The most expensive part to redo later — do not skimp here |
| 3. Finishing surfaces | Tiles, flooring, drywall, ceilings | Buy a little extra material to cover cutting waste |
| 4. Paint and decor | Primer, paint, wallpaper | Buy from one batch to avoid shade differences |
| 5. Installation and finish | Plumbing fixtures, lights, doors, cleaning | Post-renovation cleaning is a separate service |
How to size the contingency
Instead of taking an arbitrary percentage of the budget, list the specific risks that may surface after demolition and put a price on each:
- If old wiring has to be replaced — how much cable and how many points?
- If the pipes are old — which section might need replacing?
- If walls and floors are uneven — how much extra plaster and screed?
- Material prices may change — buy the main materials before the stage starts.
Price each risk with the question “what will it cost if it happens?” and add them up — that is your contingency. In older buildings this list is usually longer than in new ones.
Example: 20 m² of bathroom tiles
Assume both materials and labour are priced per square metre and take the Prayk “middle half” ranges:
| Line | Calculation | Low scenario | High scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiles (material) | 20 m² × 13–45 AZN | 260 AZN | 900 AZN |
| Tiling (labour) | 20 m² × 7–15 AZN | 140 AZN | 300 AZN |
| Total | 400 AZN | 1,200 AZN |
The calculation excludes adhesive, primer, corner profiles and waste removal, and it is only a guide: a listing's unit price may be per piece or box rather than per m². The more-than-threefold spread on the materials line shows that the choice of material can move the budget more than labour — before choosing tiles, compare several listings side by side.
What to put in the agreement with a tradesperson
- The list and quantity of work (m², pieces), the unit price and the total.
- Who buys and who delivers the materials.
- Start and finish dates, and the stages.
- A payment schedule: after each stage is accepted; do not pay everything upfront.
- How the price of extra work will be agreed.
- The tradesperson's obligation to fix defects if they appear.
Under messages asking for a deposit or prepayment, Prayk chat shows both sides an automatic warning — do not transfer large sums before work starts.
Where you can save, and where you should not
- You can save: on finishing and decorative materials (compare listings to find a better-value option with the same result), by doing simple jobs such as painting yourself, and by buying materials in one batch before a stage starts.
- Do not save: on electrics, plumbing and waterproofing — a mistake hidden inside walls and floors later means stripping out all the finishes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a home renovation budget?
List the jobs, measure the areas (m²) and points in each room, then cost each line as “quantity × unit price”. Keep materials and labour separate, split the work into stages and add a contingency based on a list of hidden-work risks.
How big should the renovation contingency be?
There is no single correct percentage. List the risks that may surface after demolition — old wiring, pipes, uneven walls and floors — estimate what each would cost if it happened and add them up. In older buildings the list is usually longer.
How much do tilers and painters charge on Prayk?
As of 22 September 2026, the median of 21 tile work listings on Prayk is 13 AZN (half at 7–15 AZN), and of 23 painting work listings 5 AZN (half at 3–10 AZN). These are prices per unit of work (for example, 1 m²); with so few listings the figures are only a guide.
Why count materials and labour separately?
Because tradespeople's quotes can only be compared on labour, while you may buy materials wherever they are cheaper. On Prayk the median for tiles is 15 AZN and for a tiler 13 AZN — labour is not a minor part of the budget.
Can I pay a tradesperson everything upfront?
It is not recommended. Tie payments to stages: pay the next part only after the previous stage has been checked and accepted. Put the scope, unit price, deadlines and the obligation to fix defects in writing.
Sources and methodology
Listing counts and prices come from Prayk's public catalogue API on 22 September 2026: “Repair and construction → Building materials” (with all subsections), its “Tiles, ceramic tiles and cladding” and “Paint and varnish materials” subsections, “Masters → Repair and construction” (all services) and its “Tile work” and “Painting works” subsections. The median and 25th–75th percentiles were calculated from the most recent listings in each section (up to 300) with an AZN price only. The price unit (m², piece, kg, box) differs between listings and was not normalised; the tradesperson sections have few listings (21 and 23). The bathroom example is an illustrative calculation built on these ranges, not a quote.