Do-it-yourself apartment renovation where to start - this question was asked at least once in a lifetime by every homeowner. As a rule, this upcoming event evokes positive emotions among those who have received or purchased their own housing for the first time. Those who have already dealt with the work of bringing the apartment in order know how much trouble they bring, and how much effort they will have to put in to achieve the desired result.
But, if it's time to start updating the apartment, then you will have to be patient and a decent amount, the amount of which depends on what type of repair it was decided to carry out.
Types of repairs in the apartment
Repairs can be major or cosmetic, covering the entire apartment or its individual premises. But you should be aware that repairs in some rooms can become more time-consuming and require more effort and effort than work in other rooms.
Overhaul
Capital works involve renovation from scratch in a new apartment or redevelopment with the replacement or transfer of installed elements in an old housing. The amount of work will depend on what changes it is decided to make in the apartment.
The total scope of work may consist of the following activities:
- It may include the demolition or installation of partitions, the consolidation or division of rooms, the transfer or expansion of doorways. If at least one of the listed actions is planned, then it is imperative to consult with a specialist who will determine whether this process is possible. All repair work related to the dismantling or installation of walls in a multi-storey building must be confirmed by the permission of the commission of the managing organization.
- Replacement and relocation of plumbing fixtures, radiators, electrical outlets, additional lighting.
- Replacement of windows and doors.
- Replacing old wall and floor ceiling finishes.
- Embedding furniture, if this process is included in the plans.
A major alteration in an apartment is a lengthy process that cannot be done in two days or a week, while you will have to free the rooms from furniture and all things, as they will interfere with work or may be damaged by building materials. You may have to carry out repairs in turn in each of the living rooms, in this case, you will have to take care of buying a dense plastic film to curtain the doors from construction dust and dirt. But, as a rule, a major overhaul still implies that the family will have to live elsewhere for this time.
Redecorating
Redecoration usually involves replacing decorative finishes in one, several or all rooms. Perhaps, having removed the old coating, you will have to adjust the corners, surfaces of the ceiling, walls and floor.
When performing a cosmetic repair option, preparing surfaces for new decorative materials can be called one of the most important processes. No matter how expensive the chosen wallpaper, linoleum or paint may be, if they are laid or applied on uneven surfaces with cracks, the expected effect will not come from them. Therefore, in order for the decorative finish to look properly, it is impossible to do without leveling the surfaces with putty or self-leveling floor.
Having chosen the repair option that is suitable for a particular apartment, you can proceed to further work.
Drawing up a repair plan
The first thing to do is to draw up an apartment plan, which will display exact data on the area and height of the ceilings of each of the rooms, with or without partitions, in a word - in the form that the apartment should appear after repair work.
General rules for repair planning
The design project should show the desired color of flooring, wallpaper, as well as at least an approximate arrangement of furniture. Using this project plan, it will be easy to calculate the necessary building materials and accessories for each of the premises of the apartment. Of course, it will not be possible to take everything into account, but this will save you from some mistakes that are typical for non-professional craftsmen:
- Given the arrangement of furniture and various household appliances, you immediately need to determine the location and number of electrical outlets and switches.
- We must try to avoid the shortage of certain finishing materials, since if they have to be bought in addition, it will be very difficult to perfectly match the shades of the same tile or wallpaper.
- Having made a project in color, you can visually verify the correctness of the decorative coatings selected by color, and how they will harmonize with the shades of the furniture.
In the process of drawing up such a plan, many ideas for decorating the premises may appear, so it is recommended to make a project in several colors, and then choose the one you like best.
The plan can be drawn up using a computer program or on a regular A4 sheet. It must be carried out in compliance with the dimensions corresponding to the present, but on a reduced scale.
If the plan is drawn up by hand, then having drawn it once, then you need to make several photocopies on which you can apply different shades or different arrangements of furniture.
The presence of a graphic plan will allow you to "play" with the styles of decoration and furniture arrangement You can draw up a plan of the entire apartment to see its color scheme in full or make a design project for each of the rooms.
In addition, it is very convenient to put down the stage number on each of the plans, and plan a certain work on each of them. For example, in one of the drawings you can show the redevelopment of the walls, in the other - electrical wiring and the placement of sockets, as well as the connection of various appliances, in the third - the future arrangement of furniture and color scheme.
Dividing a room into zones
To know where to start repairing each room, you need to determine what will be located in it.
- In the children's room, it is desirable to separate, if the area allows, a sleeping place from the play area or from the place for the child's activities.
- The kitchen should be spacious, so it must also be properly divided into zones, defining a working and dining place, as well as installing various appliances.
- If you plan to separate or combine a bathroom, then on the very first drawing it is worth measuring and indicating its dimensions and the arrangement of accessories.
- If it is started with the desire to divide it into two separate rooms, you need to measure everything very carefully both on the drawing and on the spot. In this case, you need to immediately determine the thickness of the partitions, since they also occupy a certain area.
Sometimes such a redevelopment can also affect the hallway, since in some apartments it occupies a fairly large area. Here it is important to determine what design the partition has that separates the hallway from the rest of the rooms. If it is capital, then you cannot touch it without permits.
- If it is not possible to divide the room with a partition for some reason, you can install a closet or shelving as a "barrier". It should also be noted on the plan.
Selection of materials for decorative finishing
In the next plan-drawing, it is worthwhile to deal with the finishing material and its color, since the comfort of being in the room will depend on these factors. Deciding on the finish, you need to choose it wisely. Naturally, the safest for human health is natural material, such as cork, wood, paper, ceramics and the like, however, some types cannot always be used due to the high price or inconsistency with the chosen design. So, what materials can be used for different rooms:
- Children's room and bedroom for adults. For premises of this purpose, it is necessary to use as much as possible a natural finish that does not cause allergic reactions, “breathes” and has soundproofing qualities. If a major overhaul is being carried out, then before installing the decorative finish, the walls can be provided with a soundproof layer - materials such as texound, acoustic drywall, cork and others are suitable for this. As a finish for walls and ceilings, it is best to use plastering and coating with water-based paints or pasting with paper or cork wallpaper. Today, in building stores, these materials can be found for every taste and color.
- Living room. For this room, you can choose from a wider range of finishes. Here, linoleum, laminate, parquet, carpet, cork and other modern materials can be laid on the floors.
What you need to know about linoleum
Despite the fact that many new floor coverings have appeared, linoleum is not going to give up its popularity at all. Useful information about is available in a special publication of our portal.
Plastering and painting, pasting with cork, paper, non-woven, vinyl, textile, glass and other options can be used to decorate the walls.
The ceiling can be plastered, covered with a stretch ceiling, single- or multi-tiered suspended structure, or also covered with wallpaper.
Modern solution - suspended ceiling!
In this matter, perhaps, there are no boundaries for the imagination of creative owners. In a special portal article dedicated to, you can find out a lot of useful information and even, perhaps, choose one of the options for decorating your own apartment.
- Hallway. Materials for the walls and floor of the hallway must have a pronounced resistance to abrasion, and be easy to clean, since dirt and dust from the street first gets into this room.
Floors can be covered with linoleum or ceramic tiles.
The walls are pasted over with vinyl wallpaper or sheathed with plastic, wooden or laminated clapboard.
The ceiling in the hallway should be made light, since in this room most often there is no natural light. Therefore, a light-colored suspended ceiling with built-in lighting is perfect here.
- Bathroom. or a separate bathroom should have a moisture-resistant finish that is easy to wet clean and is not afraid of household chemicals. The traditional material for these rooms is ceramic tiles - it does not hide the already small area of the rooms, and is also a durable, non-abrasion and easy to clean material. Ceramic tiles are perfect for both walls and floors.
In addition to tiles, plastic panels have been increasingly used for cladding the walls of the bathroom, especially since today a wide range of this material is presented in hardware stores.
The ceiling in the bathroom can be made of the same plastic panels, moisture-resistant drywall for painting, but the stretch ceiling will be the best option for a bathroom or a combined bathroom.
Special requirements - to the ceiling in the bathroom!
High humidity, high probability of direct water jets - all this imposes specific requirements for finishing. How to decide on the type - read in a special article of our portal.
Color spectrum
An important role in the design of the apartment rooms is the color scheme, as it should fully contribute to the creation of a comfortable environment. Therefore, this factor must be carefully considered.
The harmony of the design of the rooms will depend on the shades correctly matched to each other. In this process, you can focus on this table.
To make the room light, you should select soft white-beige warm shades. This is especially true of the ceiling surface, as its light color enhances electric lighting. Therefore, quite often in modern interiors, the shades of lamps and chandeliers are not turned down, towards the room, but towards the ceiling.
You always want to make a children's room bright, so that its colors evoke joy and optimism. However, you can’t get carried away at the same time, it must be remembered that the child will not only play in this room, but also relax, so it is recommended to decorate the recreation area in calmer colors.
The bedroom for adults should be conducive to relaxation, and therefore it is recommended to decorate it in pastel soft and fairly light shades, which will help you fall asleep pleasantly in the evening, and wake up with an optimistic mood in the morning.
The color selection affects the psychological and physical state of the body, because if a person does not get enough sleep or does not rest properly, then his vitality and immunity decrease, so the selection of shades should be taken seriously.
Dark shades in combination with lighter colors can only be used in a well-lit room, otherwise they will act on the psyche, especially children, very depressingly.
Having decided on the materials and their colors, they measure all the surface areas on which the selected finish will be made. Next, a list of necessary materials is compiled with an indication of their quantity.
With the list compiled, you can go shopping for the necessary materials.
- It must be said right away that it is not worth buying everything you need for repairs in spontaneous construction markets, where, although prices are lower, no one will give a guarantee of quality. Counting on such "savings", sometimes you have to pay double or even triple the price. Cheap material applied to walls or laid on floors is not known how it will behave, and you may still have to replace it with a quality one anyway. And this is not only unnecessary spending, but also wasted time and effort. Cleaning surfaces from a new low-quality finish is an extremely unpleasant task, as the mood will be completely ruined. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase building material from a trusted seller who can provide quality certificates for all products.
- You need to purchase material with a margin, approximately 15% of its total calculated volume. This approach will help you do the work calmly, without fear that something will not be enough. By the way, you can immediately clarify whether the store accepts the remaining surplus back - this approach is often practiced.
- When choosing products for quality, you should examine them very carefully, as well as study the certificates that you need to request from the seller. For example, when purchasing materials such as ceramic tiles, laminate or wallpaper, you must definitely check the batch number of the product on the package - it must be the same, otherwise products in different packages may differ significantly in shade and even in quality. This difference can sometimes be noticed only in the process of work, by combining piece copies or canvases from different batches side by side - this moment can also complicate the process of high-quality repairs.
- The choice of new doors and windows must be taken very seriously, since replacing them later will be quite difficult and expensive, since this process will necessarily affect recently repaired surfaces.
Reliable front door - a guarantee of safety and comfort
The front door not only protects against uninvited "guests", but also ensures that a comfortable microclimate is maintained in the apartment. It is not cheap, and in order to avoid mistakes when, read the useful information in a special article on our portal.
- Carefully choose accessories for the bathroom. You should not succumb to the currents of fashion to purchase plumbing items made from newfangled materials, as they may not always be suitable for specific cases. First, it is recommended to study their characteristics and calculate all the "pros" and "cons".
- Heating radiators are also carefully selected. Nowadays, these devices made from various materials can be found on sale, but not all of them can be suitable for installation in a central heating system. When purchasing radiators, one should rely not only on their operational capabilities, but also pay attention to the manufacturer and the availability of a quality certificate.
Useful information about heating radiators
These heat exchange devices cannot be chosen only in terms of their appearance - it is necessary to take into account their operational capabilities and thermal power, which depends both on the area of \u200b\u200bthe room and on some other important criteria. About all this - in a special publication of our portal dedicated to .
- A few words should also be said about the compositions that will be needed to treat surfaces before installing finishing materials on them - these are various primers and antiseptic solutions. Such products will create better adhesion between materials and protect walls and ceilings from mold stains.
After the necessary materials are acquired, the repair can begin a phased repair.
Stages of repair and construction works
Surface preparation
One of the most important stages in carrying out any type of repair is the preparation of surfaces, since this will determine how neatly and firmly the finishing materials will adhere to the walls and ceiling. The preparatory stage includes such activities as cleaning surfaces from old coatings and repairing any flaws that may have appeared during the operation of the housing.
1. The first step is to remove old wallpaper or paint from the walls.
Wallpaper can be removed in several ways, depending on how tightly it adheres to the wall:
- With the help of a spatula, with which the canvases are picked up and carefully removed completely or in large pieces.
- If the wallpaper is glued securely and does not want to come off, they need to be wetted with water using a roller, and these manipulations must be carried out several times. When the paper gets wet, it can be easily removed with a spatula.
- The third option is suitable if vinyl wallpaper is securely pasted on the walls, which are quite resistant to water. In this case, they can be steamed using a special device - an iron or a steam generator. If there is no such device, but there is an iron with a steam function, then you can use it, but you cannot apply a metal surface to vinyl. It is brought to a distance of 100 ÷ 150 mm to the wall and treated with steam. After that, the old decorative coating should move away from the wall and can be carefully removed with a spatula.
The paint coating is removed using a building hair dryer or a grinder with a brush attachment installed.
2. Next, you can move on to cleaning the ceiling. If the ceiling plaster has cracks and chips, and it is not planned to make a false ceiling, then the old whitewash, and sometimes the plaster, will have to be removed. This process is quite laborious, and it is also carried out with the help of water, which is first soaked on the surface, and then the old coating is removed with a spatula or a grinder with an iron brush.
"Weak" places of the old plaster must be cleaned off If a suspended structure is to be mounted, then it is not necessary to remove the coating from the ceiling - it will be enough to treat the surface with an antiseptic and strengthening primer.
3. The next step is to remove the floor covering. However, when redecorating, sometimes this process is not carried out, especially in cases where the floor is in good condition and suits the owners quite well.
4. After removing the old coatings, cracks or other fairly large defects will be found on the walls and joints of the planes. They must be repaired, otherwise they may show through the new decorative finish.
To do this, small cracks expand, primed and sealed with cement mortars, putties or sealants. , which sometimes appear at the joints of surfaces, can be filled with mounting foam.
5. After cleaning the walls, the electrical cable is laid out if it was planned to reinstall the sockets. For cable routing in some rooms, you may have to cut strobes in the walls to hide the wiring in them.
6. If the heating circuit is to be replaced, then at the time when the walls are cleaned, markings are made for brackets for radiators, and holes in the walls are also prepared. This must be done on the walls without finishing, so as not to spoil it later.
Replacement of windows and doors
The process of removing and installing these interior elements is usually carried out by specialists, as this is a rather laborious work that requires certain skills and accuracy, special tools. Therefore, if there is no such work experience, then it is better not to undertake such work on your own.
It is also better to entrust the installation of the front door to qualified specialists, because the safety of housing will largely depend on the reliability of its installation.
Interior doors are installed at the final stage of work, so this work can be postponed for now.
Dismantling and installation of partitions
The next step is the dismantling or installation of the partition, if it is planned and permissions have been obtained for these works. Both the construction and demolition of the wall can be done independently.
How difficult is it to build a light interior partition?
With knowledge of technology and careful performance of work with a similar task, you can completely cope on your own. How to conduct, and what materials are needed for this - this information with detailed instructions can be found in a separate portal publication.
You can also dismantle the partition between the bathroom and the toilet yourself if it is built of brick or gypsum boards. This process will require a puncher, a sledgehammer and, possibly, a grinder with a metal disk - if the partition is reinforced with a reinforcing mesh.
This is not to say that this work will be easy, but as a result, you can get a fairly large room in which it is quite possible to carry out the planned redevelopment.
Leveling the ceiling and walls
When the windows and doors are installed, and the cracks and gaps that have been repaired are completely dry, you can proceed to. This process is simple, anyone can perform it - the main thing is to carry it out carefully, without missing a single surface area. The primer is carried out with a roller, and hard-to-reach places are processed with a brush.
Then, after complete drying of the primed walls and ceilings, they need to be leveled. To do this work, you need some experience, therefore, before diluting a large amount of putty, you should try your hand at a small section of the wall by applying a little mortar.
If the walls have a fairly even surface with minor flaws, it will be enough to use a putty composition. But in the case when the surface has large distortions, the alignment will have to be carried out by plastering along the beacons. However, if the area of \u200b\u200bthe room allows, then the walls can be leveled with sheets of drywall.
A very laborious, but very important stage - leveling the walls No matter what technology the surface leveling process takes place, after the layer of plaster and putty has dried, the walls and ceiling should be primed again.
The ceiling requires perfect alignment if it is not planned to be covered with a stretch or false ceiling.
How to properly level the ceiling surface?
The process of carrying out is quite complicated and requires special skill. Therefore, if a decision is made to do this work on your own, you should pay attention to the recommended article of our portal.
The process of leveling surfaces also includes the finishing of slopes on window and door openings. They can be ennobled with drywall, plastic panels or plastering.
floor leveling
The next, fifth stage, the surface of the floors is leveled. This process in the apartment can be carried out in different ways - this is a bulk self-leveling mortar, a dry screed or installing a floor on logs, followed by closing it with plywood or other sheet material.
All these processes may well be carried out independently, after a thorough study of the technological instructions, which can also be found on our portal.
Use of self-levelling building compounds
One of the methods for leveling the floor surface is the use of special construction mixtures. The technology is described in detail in the corresponding publication of our portal.
If you are not sure that you will be able to qualitatively cope with such work on your own, then it is better to turn to specialists.
Decorative wall decoration in living rooms
The next step is to finish the walls - pasting them with wallpaper or painting. These works are not so complicated, and can be done on their own, so it is quite possible to save on them.
If the decoration will be carried out with wallpaper, and they have a certain pattern, you must immediately calculate its step so that the ornament matches perfectly on the wall.
Before cutting the canvases, the wall is marked vertically and horizontally. The lines are beaten off with a colored cord along the ceiling and one of the corners. The first sheet of wallpaper will be aligned along the vertical extreme line, and the subsequent ones are already guided by it and the upper horizontal color strip.
If it is planned to paint the walls, then it is carried out using a roller, which is put on a special bar for convenience.
The wallpaper glued and dried on the walls is framed along the top line with a foam or paper border, which completes the overall design of the room.
Installation of flooring in rooms
The process of laying the flooring must be carried out very carefully so as not to damage or stain the decorative wall finishes. If linoleum or carpet is laid on the floors, then before fixing it to glue or under the baseboards, it is laid out and left for about a day in order for it to straighten out. Cloths of this material are cut in length, approximately 10 ÷ 12 mm less than the length of the room, and laid 5 ÷ 7 mm wide from the wall. Such gaps are necessary for free thermal expansion of the material.
It should be noted that any material laid on the floors must have such gaps. So, when laying a laminate, special inserts are used, which are removed only after the flooring is completed over the entire area of the room.
The installation of the floor covering is completed with the installation of skirting boards.
Installation of interior doors
Interior doors are installed at the last stage of work, so as not to be mistaken in the height at which the door will be installed, since the leveling layer and floor covering will raise the floor and change the level of the floor.
In the enumeration of the stages of work, the issue of repairing the bathroom was deliberately omitted. This event has its own nuances that must be considered separately.
This is the approximate procedure for preparing for repairs in the apartment and its phased implementation. It is quite understandable that the homeowner wants to do this at minimal cost, relying on their own strengths and abilities. But still, you should soberly assess your capabilities - it is possible that the best solution would be to contact specialists.
At the end of the publication - an interesting video with expert advice on the initial stages of repair in the apartment.
Video: how to start repairing an apartment
After reading the recommendations, cosmetic repairs can be done even by those who have never held a spatula in their hands. The article is written based on personal experience. If a non-professional woman was able to update the room, then you will succeed all the more.
Not everyone has the means to hire a construction team to carry out repairs. In addition, people who are not always found on the ad will really do everything in good faith. If you do not need a global reorganization of the premises, you can do the cosmetic repairs yourself. This is a very fun and easy process. The main thing is to purchase everything you need, follow the phased work, do everything carefully and with soul.
Necessary materials, tools
Here's what you need to purchase before you start your redecoration:
- Spatulas - wide and narrow;
- Primer;
- Putty (dry or ready-made);
- Wallpaper;
- Ceiling tiles and glue for it;
- Flat brush, rag;
- Skirting boards for floor and ceiling;
- Floor covering (linoleum, laminate);
- Roller on a long handle;
- cuvette;
- Glue for linoleum (if you lay it);
- Film, adhesive tape for covering furniture.
Preparatory work, wallpaper removal
Remove furniture to free up space. Put things from the cabinets in large bags, bags and also transfer them to another room. If the cabinet is heavy, there is no way to tilt it to another room, disassemble it by carefully folding the components. If this method does not suit you either, move the cabinet away from the wall, cover it on all sides with a wide cellophane film, secure it with a stapler or tape.
After everything unnecessary has been removed from the room, proceed to dismantling. First tear off the old skirting boards. If they are wooden, it is convenient to remove them with a nail puller. If these are plastic skirting boards with screws, a screwdriver or screwdriver will help.
If you are doing Khrushchev repair with your own hands, you want to save money, you can lay linoleum on the floor. To do this, it is rolled out, put with the wrong side up, allowed to rest, then glue is applied, turned over and glued to the base. If the floor is uneven, you can lay a solid underlay, such as plywood.
When the wallpaper is completely dry, drape the top of the wallpaper with a ceiling plinth. To do this, apply glue for PVC tiles on its wrong side, attach to the desired place and hold for 10-15 seconds. Once you've glued the first one, move on to the second one.
You will remove the wires in the wall part of the floor plinth, screw it onto the screws. After that, put on the top of the plastic plinth.
- Read the article about yourself.
Video about cosmetic repairs in 3 days:
Where should you start repairs in an apartment or a separate room in order to do everything in the optimal time, not overpay and get exactly the result you are counting on? the site put everything on the shelves so that your repair turns from a state into a process.
We have prepared a list of questions that you should ask yourself and the construction team before starting a renovation. The answers will help you finish the work faster and spend less money and nerves.
Capital
When more global changes are required, major repairs begin. It includes redevelopment of space, demolition and construction of new partitions, replacement of pipes, electrical wiring and heat supply elements. Such repairs are an order of magnitude more expensive than cosmetic ones and last longer - but after it you get a completely updated home.
Repair with a contractor or do it yourself?
Any type of repair can be done independently or with the help of specialists. The first option is less expensive, but does not guarantee a 100% result. If it is closer to you, check out our useful instructions and master classes - they will help you do the work no worse than an experienced master.
Repairing with a contractor seems like a more reliable choice, but there are pitfalls here too. How to choose a good specialist? How to draw up a building contract? Exhaustive answers to these questions are collected below.
How to calculate the cost
and make a budget?
The most burning side of the future repair is financial. First of all, you need to decide how much the selected work will cost and what is enough money for; on what and how you can save, and what is better not to skimp.
Another important aspect is the preparation of a repair estimate, on the basis of which its approximate cost is estimated. There are other questions regarding the budget: for example, is it worth spending money on repair insurance?
Our advice will help you deal with all the financial subtleties. And with the help of simple and understandable calculators, in just a couple of clicks you will calculate the approximate cost of repairing an apartment or a separate room and the cost of building materials.
In addition to the previous article in this column, we will allow ourselves, dear readers, to tell you one short story that happened last summer with one gentleman, and show you a certain table, which the performer called the estimate.
Why it is so significant, you will soon understand.
Starting repairs, the diligent owner first of all picks up a calculator. However, he will receive close to real amounts of expenses only if he takes into account various factors and nuances, including non-obvious ones.
Apartment renovation calculator
Specify the main parameters of the apartment, select the type and cost of work and materials, and find out how much it will cost to repair your apartment.
Outcome 0 ₽
Design projects you might like
How to compose
repair plan?
In order for the repair not to stretch indefinitely, it is necessary to plan it correctly. To do this, it is necessary to take into account the procedure and terms of repair work, familiarize yourself with the legal framework, find out what documents will be needed for the transformations and how to draw them up. And that's not all. It is important to understand whether it is worth contacting a designer for help and how to think over the redevelopment so as not to drown in a series of approvals.
Knowing all these details, you will save time, money and nerves, but, most importantly, you will be able to be in your new apartment as soon as possible.
Do you want to be surrounded by a modern interior, but you cannot formulate how it should look like? Do you like something in the apartments of your friends, something attracted you in magazines, it’s hard to decide on something ... Is it much easier to say what you don’t want categorically? Only a professional will help you understand your preferences and make the best decision.
On the forums of potential new settlers, battles over finishing from the developer have not subsided for many years. Is it worth spending extra money on ready-made standard repairs, or is it still cheaper to buy an apartment and do the finishing yourself?
What can and can not be done when redevelopment? What types of work are not included? In what cases can a balcony or loggia be attached to a room? We answer the main questions about the global change of the apartment.
1. A good mine in a bad game.
100% polyester silk. Stone-like tiles, parquet-like linoleum, onyx-like laminate, Trekhgorka under Ralph Lauren. Porcelain stoneware "under the python". “Artificially aged” something there ... It’s embarrassing to even think about it. Alas, the number will not pass. Look through good interior magazines. There, everywhere, a stone is a stone, and a tree is exactly what a tree is. If there is no money for parquet, and a simple laminate is beneath your dignity, look for a good engineering board. As a result, you will get a floor that looks much more expensive than the money spent on it. A good alternative to porcelain tiles for kitchens, bathrooms and hallways is cement tiles. The result will look more expensive a hundred times.
2. Leave the ceiling alone.
Everyone has become obsessed with ceilings! If you think sensibly, riveting attention to the ceiling, you only remind everyone of its existence. And according to his height. Ceilings with a height of two sixty will not turn, even if cracked, into majestic vaults melting somewhere in an unthinkable height. This cannot be, no matter what the "decorator tricks" promise you. Just accept it. Tall doorways can do a lot more for your home than a ridiculous five-layer neon-lit ceiling. Let the interior doors be two, say, twenty high. And lower the door handles a little, five to seven centimeters. Having shown a non-standard approach, you will be pleasantly surprised by the result.
3. Choosing paint for the walls, consider the movement of color around the house.
Neighboring . If you have a bright living room, consider painting the entryway a deep, relatively dark color. In any case, the cost of paint will be the same, and the result may look really expensive.
4. Buy modular laminate cabinets from the store, and order the doors to them in a good carpentry workshop.
This will give you significant savings, which, however, no one will ever notice. The same is true for kitchen equipment.
5. If you still purchase ready-made cabinet furniture, let the veneer of the facades be dark, and the door panels - simple (rectangular).
Remember: light wood always looks cheaper. Avoid yellowish and reddish shades of veneer. And, saving on the furniture itself, splurge on good pens!
6. If there is no money for a good carpet, look for viscose carpet or mixed fibers, imitating a silk or wool pile carpet.
Choose the color and texture that suits you and order a piece of the size you need. For additional small money, its edges are swept with braid.
7. Plant the curtains on a thick lining.
Even inexpensive curtain fabric will seriously benefit from this. Look for fabrics that are three meters wide. This results in significant savings. If you are not ready to spend a lot, give up printed textiles (fabrics with a pattern). When cutting fabrics with a pattern, due to the need to properly join the fabrics, there are a lot of scraps. The more rapport, the more waste. Do not use curtain tape for curtains. Let the seamstress lay the "manual" folds. It's not that expensive, and the folds gathered on the braid look very cheap.
8. Set-headset-set. The same things in the interior are allowed only in one case: if they are paired things that form a symmetrical composition. and leave a sconce from one set to those to whom God did not give imagination. He also - sets of upholstered furniture "sofa-two chairs" and similar tender sadness. For more details, see the next paragraph.
9. Ready-made solutions.
Bad news: there are none. At least for us. The shower room is being built using the construction method because it is a room. Unless you run a student hostel or an underground massage parlor with a striptease, a shower stall (it's a sad structure of yellowish acrylic and skewed doors) will not work for you. Do not spend money on "designer" plumbing. Let the appearance of the sanitary equipment of the bathroom (kitchen, bathroom) be dictated by the function. Buy washbasins and faucets with simple shapes, without inappropriate decor. The toilet bowl should be invisible and cope with its duties. No one will love them, right?
10. Paintings, prints, prints, photographs and posters frame in simple but deep frames with glass and be sure to passe-partout.
Even a picture printed on a home inkjet printer (or a naive children's drawing) looks very significant in such a frame. Play with the size of the passe-partout. A small work in a very wide passe-partout looks very “designer”. And, by the way, cardboard for a passe-partout can be almost any color.
11. Comfort. Another collective fetish.
According to my observations, what is called “comfort” in our Palestinians is, in 99 percent of cases, poetic crampedness. In many ways, this is a bodily memory of a bygone childhood, of a warm and affectionate meager Soviet life with carpets teeming with saprophytes, a kind grandmother, Czechoslovak crystal and Dreiser, unread by anyone, in the polished Polish wall "Hanka". The coziness will not be added by an expensive demon like a round bed with music and a minibar, a bar counter with a built-in aquarium, etc. The same is true for such rich things as a lambrequin, a garland and a swag. Do not worry: in a good, thoughtful interior, coziness inevitably comes naturally. That's why…
12. ... Farewell, Gypsy Sera!
Duvet covers made of coarse calico in a small Nefertiti, towels in scarlet roses, pillowcases with “stray-eye” shades, nylon blankets with Shanghai leopards. All these are attributes of collective farm chic, forgive me for being direct. They don't add comfort. Motley coloring is often necessary for these things solely to hide their exceptionally lousy quality. Let the bed linen and bath towels be plain white (options: ivory, ecru). But from excellent Egyptian cotton.
13. However, it is also important not to overdo it with ivory.
Peach, beige, sand… The average nuance range is good for chain hotels. Because their stencil interiors are bound to please everyone. Your interior should please you. After all, he is a manifestation of your essence, right? Pick up a fan-palette of any paint manufacturer. Do you feel a pleasant heaviness? These are your opportunities. Don't miss them!
The word "renovation" immediately causes negative emotions for many. This feeling is due to the fact that this is a very laborious, lengthy and costly process. Especially if the work is done independently. This article describes in detail how to start repairs in an apartment, depending on its type, what materials to choose and in what sequence to carry out the work so that the repair goes without problems, and the result exceeds all expectations.
The stages of apartment renovation and the cost of work depends on the condition of the premises, the type of repair and the size of the area covered, i.e. it can be the entire apartment or its individual premises. There is a major, cosmetic and renovation. Each of them has its own clear sequence of actions, the correct implementation of which determines the final result and the duration of the period of operation.
Overhaul is considered the most ambitious and time-consuming, which will require not only a lot of effort, but also significant financial costs. It involves a complete reconstruction of the apartment with a possible redevelopment, replacement of windows, doors, utilities, ceiling, wall and floor coverings. It usually starts from scratch.
How to legalize an already done redevelopment of an apartment. How to get permission to redevelop your own home.
Choice of interior design
Where to start repairing a room or apartment as a whole? With the choice of style of decoration of the room. Properly selected interior design will help create a comfortable and stylish home. His choice depends on the taste, character and outlook on life of the owner of the apartment. Today there is a variety of interior styles with distinctive features that should be studied before making repairs in order to be able to successfully bring the chosen direction to life.
Designers divide all existing style directions into certain groups:
- classic, which includes Provence, Empire, Baroque, English and antique style;
- ethnic style covers Japanese, Egyptian, African, Scandinavian and Chinese directions;
- modern style combines country, modern, classicism and minimalism.
The most popular is the classic interior design. Splendor, grandeur, functionality, defiant aristocracy and noble grace are considered characteristic features of the direction. All elements of the interior indicate the high status of the owners of the apartment.
The rooms are decorated in restrained pastel colors. Massive expensive furniture with carved handmade patterns becomes a visiting card. An unusual painting rises on the ceiling. Large-sized apartments are often decorated in the classical style, in which you can not save on free space.
Modern youth prefers to decorate the room in a modern style. This is especially justified for apartments with a small area. Here everything should be simple, restrained and concise. The premises contain a minimum amount of furniture, which should be compact, mobile, functional and modern. You can dilute the calm palette of decorative interior decoration with the help of bright decor elements.
The ethnic direction reflects the owner's predisposition to a certain culture, the main features of which are embodied in interior design. With the help of modern technologies and finishing materials, you can make your dreams come true and create an imitation of your beloved country in your apartment. This direction is chosen by non-standard-minded people with a great love for adventure and travel. You can more clearly see each style in the photo of renovated apartments.
How to start apartment renovation: the main strategy
After the design project of the apartment has been developed and the question has been resolved in what sequence to make repairs, you can begin to perform work, which consists of the following stages:
- preparatory stage;
- draft work;
- finishing of the room.
How to start repairing an apartment with your own hands? From the preparatory stage, which consists in the implementation of a complex of dismantling works. This applies to both new buildings and old apartments. Regardless of what kind of repair is planned, cosmetic or major, all surfaces must be cleaned of the old finish. At this time, window blocks are being dismantled with the subsequent installation of better products. The front door also needs to be replaced. Here you may need to expand or reduce the doorway. Based on the project, partitions are dismantled and erected, doorways are sealed or arranged to install interior doors or create arches.
Useful advice! Do-it-yourself room repair should begin with the dismantling of interior doors.
Surface preparation is one of the most important steps in DIY repairs. Where to start the process depends on the state of the foundation. This stage includes cleaning the walls, ceiling and floor from the old coating and eliminating all flaws on the surface of the structures using building materials. It is on the quality of the work at this stage that it will depend on how firmly and accurately the new finishing coating will hold.
First of all, the ceiling is cleaned of the old coating. Whitewash is washed off with a brush dipped in water. Old putty is removed using a grinder with an iron brush.
You can remove ordinary wallpaper from the walls with a spatula, after wetting them with water. Vinyl wallpapers are quite resistant to moisture, so you can remove them with a steam generator or ironing. If there is no such device, you can use an ordinary iron with a steaming function, which is brought to the wall at a distance of 10-15 cm. Under the influence of steam, the wallpaper easily moves away from the wall. You can remove the paint using a grinder with a special nozzle or a building hair dryer. The next step is to remove the old flooring.
Useful advice! If the project provides for the installation of a suspended or stretch ceiling, the old coating can not be removed. It is enough to treat all problem areas with a strengthening primer and an antiseptic.
Where to start repairing an apartment with a rough finish in a new building
Where to start finishing the apartment depends on the state of its structural elements. Usually, the developer performs the necessary minimum of work, strictly not adhering to the technology of their implementation and without using high-quality building materials. Therefore, all elements of the premises need a rough rough finish of the apartment with their own hands or with the help of specialists, which consists in performing the following activities:
- dismantling of old and construction of new non-bearing structures based on a new layout;
- window replacement;
- preparation of holes in the walls for laying new engineering communications according to the developed scheme;
- electrical wiring;
- installation of technological communications: water supply, sewerage, heating, ventilation, air conditioner inter-unit line;
- leveling of all concrete surfaces;
- installation of insulation and sound insulation;
- floor screed.
After completing the rough repair work in the apartment, the finishing of the premises is carried out. The solution to the question of how to plan repairs at the final stage will depend on the type of finishing material and the way it is laid. For example, if the walls and ceiling are painted or wallpapered, then the finishing work starts from the ceiling, then the walls are lined and the flooring is laid. In the case of a suspended ceiling, installation work is carried out after finishing the walls.
If parquet is being installed, then the work is carried out before finishing the walls and ceiling, so as not to damage the surface. Doors can be mounted both before and after finishing the walls. If there is no platband, then the installation of the door leaf is carried out before finishing, in order to be able to seal the joint between the wall and the door frame. In the case of a platband, the gap is filled with foam, and the platband is attached to the wall after finishing the walls.
After completing all the finishing work, they proceed to the installation of skirting boards, sockets, switches, platbands, lighting and plumbing fixtures. Then a general cleaning is carried out, after which you can proceed to the arrangement of furniture and decor elements. It is in this sequence that repairs are carried out on their own.
How to start repairs in a rough apartment: installation work
The list of installation work when performing repairs from scratch includes:
- erection of non-bearing partitions;
- replacement of windows and doors;
- work related to the laying of electrical wiring and other communications.
The construction of non-bearing interior partitions is carried out on the basis of a previously developed plan. For the installation of structures, gas, foam concrete blocks, brick or metal frame with plasterboard finish can be used.
Concrete blocks create a solid structure that can withstand a significant cantilever load. Therefore, this is the most suitable option if a TV or wall cabinet will hang on the wall. The surface needs base plaster for further decorative finishing.
Much less often, partitions are erected from building bricks. This is due to the fact that the design occupies a significant part of the free space. Indeed, in order for it to be stable, the thickness of the partition must be at least 170 mm. In addition, this design creates a significant load on the base.
The most popular option is to create a partition from a metal frame, which is sheathed with drywall. The design has good sound insulation and does not create a significant load on the supporting element of the building.
Useful advice! In plasterboard partitions, it is necessary to provide for the installation of embedded parts that will withstand the load from possible hinged structures. .
The installation of windows and entrance doors should be entrusted to specialized organizations, the quality of which will determine the nature of the protection of the apartment from the cold and the likelihood of burglars entering.
Features of installation of communications
How to start do-it-yourself repairs after redevelopment of an apartment? With the implementation of electrical wiring and laying of other engineering communications. First you need to do all the plumbing work. New radiators are being installed, and pipelines are being connected to the common house heating system. Pipework is being carried out to connect faucets, a toilet bowl, a washing machine, a sink, a bathtub, a shower cubicle, a water heater and a dishwasher. Before installation, you should clearly know the location and connection features of all devices.
Hot and cold water pipes can be hidden in wall niches or mounted in plasterboard or plastic boxes. As a material for pipes, it is recommended to use polypropylene, which has high strength and performance characteristics.
Useful advice! The size of the holes for laying plumbing communications should be twice as large as the diameter of the pipelines, which is associated with a high value of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material.
Wiring is usually hidden. All cables and wires are laid in wall strobes, above a suspended or stretch ceiling, or in the floor under a screed.
Important! When repairing panel apartments, wall chasing for future electrical wiring is carried out only vertically. Horizontal sections are mounted at the junction of the wall and floor or under the ceiling.
Work must begin with the markup, which is carried out on the basis of the developed plan of the apartment. According to this marking, wall chasing is performed. The size of the holes is determined by the number and thickness of the cables to be laid. In new buildings, all electrical wiring is installed from scratch, starting from the electrical panel. In old apartments, when performing a major overhaul, you can also completely change the electrical cables, or mount its individual sections necessary for connecting electrical appliances based on a new design project.
At this stage, it is necessary to provide for the laying of cables for the intercom, TV, telephone and Internet, which can also be hidden.
How does ceiling repair begin in an apartment?
How to start repairing a rough apartment? All repairs in the apartment are usually carried out from top to bottom. So, you need to start from the ceiling. In new buildings, it is presented in the form of a monolithic concrete slab, the surface of which must be cleaned, plastered, primed and lined with decorative trim. If the repair is carried out in an old apartment, then at the first stage the surface should be cleaned of the old finishing material.
The further plan of action depends on the chosen design option for the ceiling. If the surface is perfectly flat, then the easiest and cheapest option is to whitewash or paint it. If the base requires preliminary elimination of defects using plastering, then this option will be very laborious and costly.
Another budget, but not so time-consuming option is the installation of ceiling tiles, which even a beginner can perform. The surface of the base does not need to be pre-levelled. The main thing is to choose the right quality finishing material and glue.
A more acceptable, but expensive solution is to create a hinged drywall structure, which can be of any shape and have several levels, which determines the cost and time of work. Thanks to this solution, it is possible to obtain free space between the ceiling and the structure for laying and installing spotlights.
A modern solution today is the creation of a stretch ceiling made of PVC fabric. The result is a perfectly even base of any texture and shade. Installation is carried out in a matter of hours by a specialized team. Before performing work, you must first prepare wall structures. Because the installation process of a stretch ceiling involves the execution of edging from baguettes. In addition, all dirty work must be completed in the room so that dust and possible pollution do not settle on a clean ceiling.
Finishing of wall structures
Alignment of the walls is an important event, the quality of which depends on the durability and aesthetic appearance of the future decorative finish. Usually, when repairing apartments with a rough finish, they encounter fairly even concrete walls that need only slight adjustments with the help of plaster mixtures. However, if the walls are made of expanded clay blocks, gas silicate or brick, rather laborious and costly work is required to level them.
Before proceeding with the alignment of the walls, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the surface of the old coating. This is a mandatory step for the overhaul of old apartments. All detected cracks or other defects need to be sealed. To do this, problem areas must be embroidered, primed and sealed with cement mortar, putty or sealant. Wide gaps and cracks in the corners can be filled with polyurethane foam.
Wall alignment can be done in two ways:
- plastering walls with building mixtures;
- wall decoration GKL and GVL sheets.
The first option involves the use of plaster mixtures based on gypsum or cement. If the wall has minor irregularities, visual alignment is performed using the building level. If the surface has a significant difference, then it is advisable to carry out the alignment according to the beacons. This is especially important when the walls will be painted. When installing furniture along a flat wall, the likelihood of cracks is eliminated.
Together with the alignment of wall surfaces, it is necessary to finish the door and window openings. To do this, you can use plaster, drywall or plastic panels.
The second option is preferable when the walls are made of brick or have significant irregularities. The use of plaster is unreasonably costly and time-consuming. GKL or GVK sheets are mounted on a previously installed metal frame. As a result of such a finish, a gap is formed between the wall and the cladding, in which various communications can be hidden. This process is characterized by the absence of dirty work and low labor intensity. The walls do not need further plastering before finishing with decorative material.
The main disadvantage of this design is its fragility. Therefore, if hanging furniture or appliances will subsequently be located on the surface, care should be taken about the embedded parts that are mounted before performing the leveling layer.
Where does floor repair begin?
The apartment begins with the implementation of the screed, which is used to eliminate significant damage and irregularities in the base relative to the horizon. This is done by backfilling or pouring the floor with a special composition, which forms a perfectly flat surface, necessary for further laying of the floor covering. In addition, the screed serves to strengthen the surface of the concrete slab and increase its strength characteristics. Before its implementation, it is necessary to create a sound and heat insulating layer. For this, expanded clay is often used, which is laid with a thickness of at least 5 cm. Due to the leveling layer, you can raise the floor level or make a technological slope.
Useful advice! In the bathroom, it is advisable to set a certain slope of the floor for water flow in the event of a flood, which will prevent the entire apartment from being flooded.
Floor screed can be:
- concrete;
- cement-sand;
- self-levelling;
- dry;
- semi-dry.
The traditional way to correct the floor surface is the use of concrete or cement-sand mortars, which are advisable to use to eliminate significant irregularities and surface damage. They are used in the installation of heat and sound insulation.
The most practical and modern solution is the use of self-levelling compounds, consisting of two mixture options: leveling and leveling. The first is used to eliminate significant irregularities in the base, the second is a finishing layer that creates a flat and smooth surface without defects.
However, despite the less laborious process when using these compositions, their cost significantly exceeds traditional mixtures. Therefore, it is advisable to use self-leveling compounds when the height difference relative to the horizon does not exceed 4 cm.
A semi-dry or dry version is used to level the base when the height difference reaches more than 3-5 cm. This is a good alternative to traditional compounds, however, the new layer will create much less pressure on the concrete slab. Therefore, this method is recommended when repairing apartments in old houses and for laying carpet and laminate.
Floor screed procedure
First you need to prepare the base of the floor. To do this, the old floor structure is opened with the dismantling of skirting boards, flooring and the old screed. Next, the surface is cleaned of construction debris and dust. In case of detection of cracks, potholes and chips, it is necessary to carry out repair work using sealing mixtures. To eliminate deep damage, the jointing method is used, which consists in making cuts perpendicular to the crack with a depth of 20 mm and a thickness of 5 mm. Further, all damage must be repaired with concrete mortar.
Leveling the floor begins with its marking, namely the determination of the lowest and highest points relative to the horizon. A level is indicated on the walls, which indicates the thickness of the future fill layer. Based on the markup, beacons and guides are installed. Pouring the mixture starts from the far corner of the room. The solution is distributed and leveled using a metal rule.
The concrete screed should dry for three weeks. After 24-30 hours after completion of work, the surface must be moistened once a day.
Useful advice! In order to obtain a solid and high-quality foundation, it is not recommended to disturb the natural process of moisture evaporation with the help of heating devices and ventilation of the room.
Similarly, the floor surface is leveled with a semi-dry mortar, which is evenly distributed and compacted with a conventional shovel. After complete drying, the surface must be treated with a wooden grout. The process is carried out until the floor surface is perfectly flat.
Dry screed involves laying a layer of expanded clay with a fraction of 1-5 mm, on top of which gypsum fiber boards are mounted. They are interconnected using self-tapping screws with smearing the end edges with special glue. This is the easiest way to level the floor, which allows you to get a coating of increased strength. After the floor screed is completed, you can proceed with the installation of the selected floor covering.
Turnkey apartment renovation. Price per square meter
Regardless of what kind of renovation is planned in the apartment, you can do it yourself or use the services of professionals. You can also involve specialists to perform specific types or stages of work in the entire apartment or in a specific room.
The cost of cosmetic repairs includes the following list of works:
- dismantling of the old finish from the elements of the room;
- painting or whitewashing the ceiling;
- partial alignment of the walls;
- sticking non-woven or paper wallpaper;
- laying flooring;
- partial replacement of electrical and plumbing;
- laying tiles.
The cost of such a list of works starts from 2500 rubles / m², which depends on the complexity of the process. Repair will cost 85 thousand rubles, two-room - 110 thousand rubles, three-room - 120 thousand rubles. This is all without taking into account the cost of materials.
If it is necessary to perform draft work, which includes the installation and dismantling of wall structures, the alignment of all elements of the room and electrical work, the price for services is an average of 3500-4000 rubles / m².
When it is necessary to perform all turnkey electrical work in a new building, the price of work will be 25 thousand rubles for a one-room apartment, 35 thousand rubles for a two-room apartment, and 45 thousand rubles for a three-room apartment.
The cost of a turnkey overhaul is an average of 5500 rubles / m². It all depends on the condition of the apartment and the total area of \u200b\u200bthe room. Many experts offer premium repairs, which include the development of an individual design project. The price of such a repair is about 7500 rubles / m².
Turnkey apartment renovation price with materials
The cost of repair work, taking into account materials, depends on many factors: the area of \u200b\u200bthe apartment, its current state (new or second-hand housing), the volume and complexity of the stages of work and the quality of the building materials used. You can roughly calculate the cost of repairs using an online calculator, which is located on specialized sites. It takes into account the average cost of repairing an apartment per square meter. More accurate information can be obtained only after drawing up an estimate in each individual case.
So, the cost of budgetary repair of an apartment in a new building with materials will cost an average of 6-6.5 thousand rubles / m². If more expensive building materials are used to repair an apartment, the price of the work will be about 11-12 thousand rubles / m². Those who want to decorate their homes with exclusive finishing products must prepare at least 20 thousand rubles / m². The repair price of secondary housing will be 10-15% lower, which is determined by the condition of the apartment.
Also, the cost of repairs with materials is affected by the functional purpose of the premises. So repairing a living room will cost 6,000 rubles / m², a corridor - 6,500 rubles / m², a kitchen - 8,500 rubles / m², a bathroom - 8,000 rubles / m², a loggia or balcony - 5,000 rubles / m².
When deciding where to start repairs in a house or apartment, it is necessary to study each process in detail. Especially when it comes to do-it-yourself work. If you are not confident in your own abilities, it is better to entrust the execution of all work or a specific stage to professionals who will offer a clear apartment renovation plan. As a result, the work will be performed qualitatively and in a short time.
Loading...