Warm air to radiator heating install costs

[Bluerange39]

Hello,

Looking to buy a 1960’s 3/4 bed detached house in south west England. It’s all original including the dreadful warm air system. I’m thinking £10-12k to remove the old system and install all new boiler, pipes and rads.
Concrete floors downstairs (I think). Does this sound reasonable or am I undercalling this?

Thanks
Adam

[Lotobear]

Doesn't sound unrealistic but my experience is northern based.

However what you do need to be careful of is that these ducted warm air systems of that sort of vintage often had asbestos materials, usually as panelling in the cupboard where the unit sits - if present the removal costs might be punchy.

[trickywoo]

I had warm air and went rads in the south east. Few years ago now but I d say your budget is about right.

The making good if you want all the ducting removed could be a bigger job than you think if it s in built in wardrobes or anything like that.

[Simpo Two]

How about re-using the ducting for aircon?

[Bluerange39]

Thanks for the feedback.

Not sure I’d want to rely on 60 year old ducting for a new a/c system but I love the idea!!

[SunsetZed]

It's good to budget for but I'd suggest living with the warm air system first and seeing how you find it. If you find that, for example, it's just the living room that doesn't warm up then you could supplement it with additional heating.

My in laws have warm air heating supplemented by a couple of electric radiators all powered by solar and it works well (i.e. their house isn't cold and it's not expensive to run).

[OutInTheShed]

A mate of mine DIY'd changing from ducted air to rads many years ago.

As with any job installing radiators, it can be a lot of work if it's hard to get the pipes to the right place, or quite quick if the pipe runs are easy.
If you have to pay someone to lift a lot of floors it will cost a lot. If you can mostly run the pipes in the ducts, it can be quick and cheap.

One thing led to another though, kitchen units fell apart when moved, so it evolved into a big revamp of the kitchen.

Also you lift a carpet that you've been OK living with and don't want to put it back, and so it goes on!

[Bluerange39]

The current owner freely admits it’s crap so think it’d have to go. The entire house needs doing so unintentional damage wouldn’t be terrible.

Thanks for the responses. It’s helping to identify priorities…