Real Example: What to Consider When Renovating an Old Building

Renovation in an old building is a task that requires not only financial investment but also careful preparation. Such apartments may hide numerous surprises: outdated utilities, weak electrical systems, heat loss due to old windows, and uneven walls. Often owners encounter unexpected problems during the work, which leads to increased budgets and timelines. But if you approach the update thoughtfully, you can achieve a comfortable and modern space without unnecessary complications.

As part of the project "Renovation DVI," we and Yandex Market are working on renovating a flat in a Stalin-era building from 1958. In a five-part mini-series, we analyze a real case: the main task is to update the interior while preserving original elements and avoiding complex re-planning.

Video (26 minutes): Updating the Electrical System Without Damaging Walls

Stalin-era buildings were constructed in an era when the number of household appliances was minimal, so the old electrical system is simply not designed for modern loads. Leaving the wiring in its original form is unsafe, but this doesn't mean you have to chisel walls throughout the apartment.

• Instead of a full replacement of electrical wiring, you can use surface-mounted cable channels that will harmonize with the interior design.
• Additionally, you can install distribution boxes and lay new lines over the walls.
• It is important to plan in advance how many outlets you need: if there aren't enough, you will have to use extension cords, which is inconvenient and unsafe.
• For network protection, modern circuit breakers and RCDs (Residual Current Devices) must be installed to prevent overloads and short circuits.

Important to Remember: in old buildings, aluminum wiring is often found, which becomes brittle over time and can cause contact issues. It is better to replace it with copper wiring, and for high-power appliances like stoves, water heaters, or air conditioners, run separate lines.

Such work requires tools: drills, screwdrivers, voltage testers. Before purchasing equipment it is important to compare prices to avoid overpaying. On Yandex Market, you can immediately see the cost of products from different sellers and choose the best option. This is especially useful during large-scale renovations where even a small price difference can result in significant savings.

If the tools are urgently needed, you can use one-click delivery. As soon as the product arrives in the darkstore, a "Deliver" button will appear. Click it and a courier will deliver your purchase within 15 minutes. Convenient if you need a screwdriver, measuring tools, or paint during renovation.

Checking Hidden Utilities

One of the biggest problems with old buildings is hidden utility systems. They may look normal from the outside, but inside they can be worn out and require replacement. In our case, neighbor pipes run directly through the bathroom ceiling, which creates additional complexity.

• If the pipes in your apartment look satisfactory, this doesn't mean they don't need to be replaced — it's important to check their internal condition.
• In high-moisture areas like bathrooms, it's better to plan access to utilities in advance to avoid full removal of finishing during leaks.
• To avoid losing ceiling height, we opted out of gypsum board ceilings and used suspended covers instead.
• On the kitchen and bathroom, water filters should be installed as old buildings often suffer from pipe contamination that affects water taste and the lifespan of household appliances.

For small repairs and fastening work, a Nocord drill-driver is ideal. You can buy it on Yandex Market in Split — divide the payment into parts without overpaying.

Splitting Payments Is Easy

If the renovation requires several major purchases, you can split the payment into parts:

1. Select the necessary tool, for example, a Nocord drill-driver suitable for fastening and cable channel installation.
2. Add it to the cart and proceed to checkout.
3. In the payment methods section, select Split.
4. Confirm the conditions: the system automatically divides the amount into equal parts.
5. Pay the first installment and receive the product immediately! The remaining payments will be deducted according to the schedule.

Besides, Yandex Market has over 8 million products for construction and renovation. These include original products from well-known brands: Makita, DEKO, Greenworks, Resanta, Zitrek, as well as tools under the Nocord brand. Thanks to a wide supplier network, you can find a suitable option for any budget.

Pay Attention:

Polymer CL51 waterproofing ready to use, buy

Universal Boxbot tool kit, buy

Professional construction foam TechnoNikol 65 MAXIMUM, buy

Zitrek construction mixer, buy

Updating Walls: Painting Instead of Wallpaper

In old apartments, walls are rarely perfectly flat; it's important to properly prepare the surface before finishing. In our project, we chose painting over wallpaper replacement as a more durable and convenient solution.

• Primer is essential: it improves the adhesion of paint to the wall and extends the lifespan of the coating.
• It's better to choose moisture-resistant and breathable paints, especially if there is high humidity in the apartment.
• If decorative elements like cornices are present on the walls, they can be refreshed and painted instead of being removed.
• In areas with potential mechanical damage (corridor, kitchen), it's better to use paints with high wear resistance.

Important to Remember: in old buildings, plaster may not adhere as well as in new construction. Before painting, a strength test should be done: if the coating flakes off under light pressure, it must be reinforced again. To refresh the interior, walls can be updated with Dulux paint, which is easy to apply and provides even coverage,— it can be easily purchased on Yandex Market.

Sometimes New Parquet Is Better Than Old

In our apartment, there is an original parquet from the end of the 1950s— it was laid during finishing work after the building was constructed. Despite its age, it remained relatively intact, but there were several reasons why we decided against restoring it:

• The parquet was only in one room. In other spaces, there was no wooden flooring, and old floor covering only in one zone among modern materials would look odd.
  
• Too Simple Design. Unlike parquet patterns you might find in historical interiors, this design lacked expressive texture or interesting ornamentation. Visually it was quite simple, and restoration wouldn't make it more appealing.
  

Major Mistake: many people insulate walls from the inside without additional ventilation, which can lead to condensation and mold. It's better to use breathable materials and plan the ventilation system in advance.

Renovating an old building is not always complex re-planning. It's important to work correctly with existing elements and use modern solutions.

Follow updates on the project "Renovation DVI": there's still a lot of interesting content ahead!