Where to Start with Renovation? 8 Pro Tips + Estimated Budget

Renovation is one of the most challenging periods in the lives of apartment owners. Any mistake here costs a lot, so it's important to approach the process carefully. To make renovation a fairy tale rather than a test, follow the advice of professionals who know all about it. Sergey Cherkassov from @planidesign, based on a 64 m² apartment, shared the main points that everyone planning to renovate their home must consider.

Budget Planning

Renovation is always associated with significant expenses, and it's important to plan the budget in advance. According to the expert, demolition will cost approximately 150 thousand rubles, and garbage removal — about 50 thousand. Once you get rid of the unnecessary, rough work begins.

If you live in a new building or secondary market flat, you'll need to plaster the walls and pour a screed. In the apartment that Sergey examined, this cost about 90 thousand rubles. The final step is electrical work and finishing.

The ideal option is to contact a certified organization first, and only then hand over the project to workers. Pro tip: you can use online renovation calculators, which are easy to find on the internet.

Choose Workers Carefully

A good renovation depends not only on the quality of materials but also on the professionalism of the construction team. To avoid mistakes in choosing workers, Sergey recommends asking for photos of previous work or visiting the sites yourself. Pay special attention to how builders cut external corners at 45 degrees: not all specialists handle this task well.

Look for Gaps in the Developer's Plan

If you're planning a renovation in an apartment with finishing, carefully review the developer's plan. You may find gaps and voids that were filled during the renovation. Make this space functional. For example, in a niche in the bathroom, you can place a water heater and storage systems, while voids above the bathtub can be used for shampoo storage.

Don't Forget Ventilation Channels

Another thing that suits any apartment is the installation of reverse dampers in ventilation systems. Sergey explained the necessity of installing them through his personal experience: in his new building, he didn't install a damper in one of the risers. When the fire suppression system activated, the ventilation turned off, then came back on and started pushing air in the wrong direction. Unpleasant odors began entering the apartment. If you install a damper, you'll never encounter such problems again.

Check Windows

Don't forget that windows are an important structural element of your apartment. Often, the windows provided by the developer are of poor quality. Few people want to live in an apartment with constant drafts. To ensure that your building has good windows, hold a lighter near the window and observe the flame. If the fire burns evenly, you're lucky and don't need to replace the windows.

Take Care of Sound Insulation

A solid and healthy sleep is ensured by sound insulation. Ideally, you should do full sound insulation of walls, ceilings, and floors, but if that's not possible, limit yourself to ceiling insulation. Also, check whether the door frame has sound insulation. How to do it? There are small holes in the frame: if there is mineral wool in these holes, the door frame is sound-insulated.

Order an Electrical Project

As mentioned earlier, it's better to order the electrical project from a certified organization. It's not advisable to cut corners here. When builders assemble the electrical panel, the expert recommends ordering an electrical audit to verify the work. The costs might seem excessive, but it's much cheaper than having to completely redo the electrical system later.

Smartly Expand Space

The right solution is to illuminate all zones in the apartment separately. Center lighting can be decorative: designer chandeliers often don't provide enough light. Sergey also recommends installing tall doors. This visual technique raises the ceiling, giving more air and light in the apartment.

More tips in our video (17 minutes)