Repair in the apartment can be different. If the last renovation was made not so long ago, if the furniture is still functional and looks good enough, then you can probably get by with cosmetic repairs. With this option, engineering systems and global changes in the project of the apartment are not affected – only the design changes. Redecoration is when you just want to freshen up the interior of your home: change the wallpaper, update the floor, paint the ceiling.
An overhaul of an apartment involves replacing engineering systems, leveling walls or floors, redevelopment (demolition or installation of new walls in an apartment), making changes to the water supply system and other communications. Simply put, a major overhaul is the complete demolition of the entire old device of the apartment, the replacement of all systems with new ones, the installation of new equipment and the complete replacement of all finishes – walls, ceilings, floors, doors and other things.
The difference, of course, is in price. On average, major repairs will cost 30-35% of the cost of the entire apartment in the old house and 20-25% of the cost of an apartment in the new house. Old houses in this regard are much more complicated, since you often have to deal with communications and their replacement. Redecoration, of course, is much simpler, easier and cheaper – its cost depends on how expensive materials you will purchase and how many rooms in the apartment to repair. But to have approximate guidelines, you can use the following table:
- construction, installation and finishing works – 40%;
- materials – 25%;
- furniture and appliances – 25%;
- design project – 5%;
- contingencies – 5%.
If desired, you can find finishing materials and furniture for any budget.
Instructions for apartment renovation or where to start repairs in an apartment
Rushing into repairs without a plan is like jumping into the open ocean without a lifeline: dangerous, risky, and irresponsible. Any apartment renovation should start not with a piece of wallpaper, but with a piece of paper, where you clearly spelled out all the stages, made a detailed plan, when and what you will repair, and, of course, made an estimate. In order not to miss anything, let’s go through the steps in more detail.
Drawing up a detailed apartment renovation plan: useful tips
Why is the plan important? To technically immediately calculate possible errors and think over communications. For example, installing sockets where it will be impossible to use them, creating uncomfortable lighting, placing a door so that it cannot open – seemingly banal, but such common mistakes.
What not to do:
- transfer “wet zones” – a bath, a bathroom, a kitchen;
- demolish load-bearing structures, demolish walls between the kitchen and living room;
- combine a balcony and a room (or kitchen).
And now let’s move on to the ill-fated outlets. What’s wrong with them? The fact is that they are very related to the arrangement of furniture and lighting in the room. You need to determine in advance where the work area will be in the room and make an outlet in this place so that it is convenient to use a computer or laptop. But the work area is not only a computer, so we make a spot from 2-3 sockets at once so that you can charge your phone and connect additional devices.
Consider lighting: you need it in the work area, in the recreation area, so that you can read a book, do needlework, etc. Be sure to think over the lamps in the part of the room farthest from the window.
If you are renovating a kitchen, then it is important to immediately understand how much equipment you will have and, based on this, design sockets. If you do not want to be left without water and plan to install a water heater, you need a separate place for it in the project (and in the estimate). If you want to make a warm floor, then you also need to calculate which zones you want to make warm and which not. Do you need an extractor? Where will the refrigerator be located so that the door can be easily opened? What width and length do you need a countertop and where exactly to place the sink (remember the working triangle refrigerator-stove-sink)? All these questions need to be answered before you empty all the credit cards in the hardware store – perhaps you will be able to not only make a convenient project, but also save a decent amount.