Most Expensive Mistakes in Renovation: Why Money Disappears and Results Are Not Visible

Watch all episodes of Repair Movement here:

• Episode 1: Bought a destroyed Stalin-era apartment – what went wrong?
• Episode 2: Relocation: What solution saved our Stalin-era apartment?
• Episode 3: Expensive renovation mistakes.
• Episode 4: How to stay within 3 million rubles? Finish decoration.

We launched a new show "Repair Movement," where we not only show the beautiful end result of renovation but also the process with all its difficulties. In our project, a renovation expert, Ksenia Shahmatova, who has renovated over 250 apartments in 3 years, transforms a three-room Stalin-era apartment with a budget of 3 million rubles. Already in the first episodes, we encountered the same problems that cause money to "evaporate" and make renovation seem stuck in place.

Main points from the article:

• Unforeseen costs for relocation can seriously impact the budget;

• The cost of replacing utilities often exceeds the planned amount;

• Flooding is a frequent companion to renovation, even if the issue isn't with your pipes;

• Proper material procurement strategy helps save time and money.

Pipes and risers: More expensive than you think

One of the most unpleasant surprises in renovation is the cost of relocating and replacing utilities. In our project, what seemed like a simple task of relocating risers cost 100,000 rubles – twice as much as usually expected. "I have never heard of it costing 100,000 rubles. In my head it was no more than fifty thousand, and here it doubled," said the project host.

The reason for such costs is the need to hire specialists from rare and expensive professions: "This is a plumber and a welder. A welder – if we're talking to the younger generation, I recommend everyone go to a technical school and learn welding, because there's no more golden profession... And a gas fitter – another good profession. Welding and gas – these are some real oligarch-type professionals."

Additionally, replacing utilities requires approval from the property management company, as it involves common property in the building, which adds organizational complexity and time.

Walls that stick out at an angle

In old buildings, what seems like a simple task of leveling walls can turn into serious costs. In our project, the team faced a dilemma: use plaster or gypsum board?

"We have specific deadlines, and weather conditions are such that plaster will dry very slowly. So it's faster and more economical to use boards," explained foreman Andrew.

Despite gypsum board consuming precious centimeters of space, it proves more practical in winter renovation conditions. Some walls had differences up to 5-7 cm, and leveling them with plaster would have taken weeks.

Flooding – an inevitable companion to renovation

"If you did a renovation and no one flooded you or you didn't flood anyone, then most likely you didn't do a renovation," this quote from our show perfectly describes one of the most common problems.

In our project, neighbors on the second floor flooded the apartment being renovated. Although it wasn't related to the ongoing work, all blame was initially placed on the renovation team: "The whole building got flooded because of us, they thought it was because of our pipe work. But in reality, the washing machine of the neighbors above leaked."

Flooding during renovation is not just an inconvenience; it's a potential delay in all work, as time is needed for structures to dry: "If it had flooded here completely, we would have waited for it to dry, because you can't carry out such wet work to avoid mold in the future."

Material procurement: optimize the process

An interesting insight from the project concerns material procurement. In the show, Ksenia uses a strategy of pre-creating shopping cart lists in online stores based on the foreman's list: "I put everything in advance by the foreman's list into the cart. This is great because it saves time from both the foreman and the builders, and there's no need to run around stores."

This approach allows:

• To save time for the entire team;

• To avoid downtime due to lack of materials;

• To better control the budget by seeing all expenses in advance;

• To focus directly on the work.

How to prioritize renovation

Another important lesson from the first episodes of "Repair Movement" is proper prioritization. Ksenia Shahmatova emphasizes that electrical work is one of the most important stages in renovation: "Nothing is more important than electricity in a flat, because it's directly related to safety and fire hazard."

In the project, three-core non-flammable wires are used, additionally protected with corrugated tubing. All wiring is run along the ceiling, without splices or junction boxes on the ceiling – any connections are made only in sockets or the distribution board.

This approach not only ensures safety but also avoids expensive future corrections.

Why renovation always exceeds the budget

Ksenia Shahmatova's admission is particularly valuable for those planning renovation: "I worry about staying within the budget, because there are many ambitious ideas and a large area, high ceilings. What I outlined as 3 million rubles – well, those numbers already seem like they're shrouded in fog to me. I hope at least not by a lot."

It's not just about unforeseen costs. Often, new ideas emerge during the renovation process that one wants to implement, such as a sliding kitchen backsplash or organizing two bathrooms where it seemed impossible initially.

Renovation is always a test, not just for your wallet but also for nerves. But if you approach it with awareness of typical problems and risks, you can minimize unpleasant surprises. Our new show "Repair Movement" will help you go through this process better prepared.