Apartment and house renovation in Mežaparks - for villas and inter-war detached houses

A garden city from 1901: villas and functionalism

Wikipedia writes that the detached-house district of Mežaparks began to be developed in 1901 and is one of the first realisations of the garden city in Europe. The development alternates between Art Nouveau villas from the early 20th century and inter-war functionalist detached houses. Mežaparks is a green northern neighbourhood by Ķīšezers, with large recreation and cultural areas.

For a renovation it matters that these historic types differ. An Art Nouveau villa may have timber floors between storeys, high ceilings, decorative ceiling profiles and old parquet that is worth keeping. A functionalist house has simpler forms, but it too was built in the inter-war years, and its wires and pipes may have been changed several times or not at all. In both cases you first assess the condition of the structures, wires and pipes, not the choice of finishes.

In Riga, for buildings older than 50 years that are not state-protected, the City Development Department (Pilsētas attīstības departaments), when reviewing a construction proposal, can determine the cultural and historical value and the permitted action. If the house is a cultural monument, the solution is agreed with the National Heritage Board (Nacionālā kultūras mantojuma pārvalde) or the municipal cultural heritage unit.

Reconstruction or extension: which documents to choose

If you change only the finishing, paint, hang wallpaper or change the floor covering, construction documents are not needed. If the work changes the volume of the house, for example an extension or converting the roof space, under the Construction Law (Būvniecības likums) it is reconstruction. Technical improvements without changing load-bearing structures, volume, use or facade are simplified renovation. An opening in a load-bearing wall is simplified reconstruction, and an explanatory memorandum is submitted for it.

The regulations do not have a separate type called “replanning of rooms”: the type is chosen according to the content of the work, and the designer can recommend the most suitable one. Approval of reconstruction in Mežaparks takes place at the Riga municipality's City Development Department (formerly the Riga City Building Board), and work with an explanatory memorandum or a building permit may start only after the building board's note that the conditions for starting have been met. If approval is needed, write it in the request. More: private house renovation and attic renovation.

Parquet, ceilings and wiring in an old villa

Old parquet can be sanded and varnished if its condition allows. If that is not possible, new parquet is laid on a dry base; the manufacturer Ceresit states that under parquet the cement base moisture without heating is up to 2.0%, and with underfloor heating up to 1.8%. See parquet sanding and pre-war building apartment renovation.

In an old house the wires are checked before finishing, so that the new plaster does not have to be opened afterwards. If the electrical wiring is reconstructed, since 01.07.2025 it must have residual current protection, and for socket and lighting circuits the tripping current of the protective device is no greater than 30 mA. In the request, write in how many rooms the wiring is changed. The work: electrical wiring replacement.

Meža prospekts and Kokneses prospekts: what to write in the request

Mežaparks is reached along Meža prospekts and Kokneses prospekts, and there is also a tram. During large events traffic in the neighbourhood changes significantly, so in the request write whether the house has its own driveway or gate and where materials can be placed. If the house is among trees, also write whether a lorry can reach the entrance.

• The building: an Art Nouveau villa, a functionalist house or a newer private house; the year of construction.
• A whole house, or an apartment in a villa divided into apartments.
• The number of storeys and the total area in m².
• Which rooms: bathroom, kitchen, rooms, the roof storey.
• Whether you will change the heating, wires, pipes or walls.

If the villa is divided into apartment properties, the common property rules apply to it: load-bearing walls, floors between storeys, the roof and the building's utility systems belong to all owners, and work that affects them needs the association's consent.

A bathroom and underfloor heating in a detached house

In a detached house a bathroom can be fitted even where there was none before, but then the sewer fall, ventilation and waterproofing must be planned. In residential buildings the bathroom and toilet are ventilated through natural exhaust ducts. Underfloor heating in a detached house is not a common property matter, but electric heating is subject to the same residual current protection. See bathroom renovation and underfloor heating.

If the new bathroom will be upstairs above a timber floor structure, the base must be stable and dry before waterproofing is applied. The manufacturer of Ceresit CL 51 recommends at least two layers so that the dry layer is 0.5 mm, and for the tile adhesive Ceresit CM 17 it states that a cement screed under tiles must be at least 28 days old.

Prices in Mežaparks

• Cosmetic renovation: from €100/m² of apartment area.
• Parquet sanding and varnishing: from €23/m².
• Electrical wiring replacement in an apartment: from €20/m² of apartment area.
• Underfloor heating installation: from €16/m².

Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. Example: parquet sanding and varnishing in a 20 m² room: 20 × €23 = from €460 (labour). In a house the price changes with the area and the number of rooms, the condition of the walls, floors and ceilings, and the chosen finishes. An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment, and for a detached house after seeing the house.

Work: house renovation in Mežaparks, parquet sanding in Mežaparks, electrical wiring replacement in Mežaparks, underfloor heating in Mežaparks, cosmetic renovation in Mežaparks.