If you are planning work on a Kent home this autumn, the market is shifting in a couple of ways worth knowing. Prices on some materials are creeping up, but builders are quietly getting busier again after a slow spring. Here is the picture.
Roofing and insulation prices are edging up with oil
Roofing suppliers have been signalling further price rises through 2026. Felt, bitumen membranes and PIR insulation boards are all petrochemical-based, so when oil prices climb, the cost of a flat-roof recover or a warm-roof upgrade climbs with them. If a re-roof or an extension is on your list, it is worth getting firm quotes now rather than leaving it several months. One roofing supplier explains the link.
Building materials are about 6% dearer than a year ago
The government’s latest figures put building materials for all construction work around 6% higher in June 2026 than a year before, and still edging up. That feeds into everything from a new bathroom to a single-storey extension, so build a little headroom into your budget and ask trades to date their quotes rather than assume a spring price still stands. The government commentary has the numbers.
Builders are getting busier, so book early
Activity is turning a corner. The closely watched S&P Global UK Construction PMI rose to 44.7 in July from 38.4 in June, its slowest fall for four months, with house-building declining at the gentlest pace since October 2025 and several firms reporting a revival in enquiries. The sector is still contracting overall, but the direction has changed, which means good local trades will start filling their diaries. For an autumn project in Kent, get on a reputable builder’s list sooner rather than later. See the July construction figures.
