Apartment and house renovation in Vecāķi - for wooden summer houses and seaside detached houses

Summer house plots from 1898 and the wooden buildings typical of Jūrmala

In 1898 the first 30 summer house plots in Vecāķi were leased out. Later Vecāķi took on the outlines of a resort, and the wooden buildings typical of Jūrmala were built. Today's development includes detached houses, summer houses, low-rise residential buildings and leisure and catering sites.

A wooden summer house built for summer living has different requirements from a winter house. In detached houses and low-rise buildings the typical work is restoring interiors, fitting bathrooms and kitchens, and reconstructing or extending the living part. In an old summer house this means checking the timber structures, the wall thermal insulation, the floor and the wires before choosing the finishes. A description of this work is on the page summer house renovation in Vecāķi.

Vecāķu prospekts, the railway and summer crowds

Vecāķi is reached along Vecāķu prospekts and by train. In summer access and parking are busier, because the beach attracts visitors. In the request, write whether the house has its own driveway and at what time of year you want the renovation.

• the type of house: a wooden summer house, a detached house or an apartment in a low-rise building
• the approximate time of construction and whether the house has already been reconstructed
• whether you will live in the house all year and how you will heat it
• the area in m², the storeys and the rooms you will renovate
• a short description of the condition of the rooms; you can send photos or a plan to the specialist when they contact you

A wooden house with a history: what you may change

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 you plan an extension or a facade reconstruction that needs a construction proposal, the department can determine the building's cultural and historical value. For window restoration or replacement documents are not needed if the existing window division, proportions and frame colour are kept; in a historic building check this with the building board.

For interior work that does not involve renovation, reconstruction or demolition (painting, wallpaper, floor covering), documents are not needed. For a wooden house, internal insulation can be chosen without changing the facade; before the work find out from the building board whether your work needs a document, and choose the solution according to the construction of the specific wall. See internal wall insulation in Vecāķi and wooden house apartment renovation. Approval of reconstruction in Vecāķi takes place at the Riga municipality's City Development Department (formerly the Riga City Building Board), and the documents are submitted in the BIS.

Wooden floors and parquet in an old summer house

If a summer house has a board floor and the boards are sound and the joists dry, the floor can be restored: sanded, the gaps repaired, and varnished or oiled. If the floor is worn, parquet or laminate can be laid on a stable base. The Quick-Step laminate instructions specify 48 hours of acclimatisation for the panels in the room where they will be laid, and a gap of at least 8–10 mm on all edges; in a damp, unheated house this must be taken into account before laying in winter.

In the request, write whether the floor is on piles, on joists or on concrete. See wooden floor restoration in Vecāķi and parquet laying in Vecāķi.

Wiring and heating if the summer house will be lived in during winter

The electrical network of a summer house may not be designed for a large load, but winter living needs heating, hot water and more appliances at the same time. If the wiring is reconstructed, since 01.07.2025 the installation must be fitted with residual current protection, and the Fire Safety Regulations currently in force require an inspection of the electrical wiring once every 10 years.

Electric underfloor heating in a bathroom or hallway is one way to get a warm floor in a wooden house without radiators. In the request, write the connection capacity, if you know it, and in which rooms you plan heating. See electrical wiring replacement in Vecāķi and underfloor heating.

A first bathroom in a wooden summer house

In a wooden house a bathroom needs a stable, load-bearing and dry base, because waterproofing and tiles do not tolerate a floor that flexes. The manufacturer (Ceresit CL 51) recommends applying waterproofing in at least two layers, pressing tape into the joints, and working at +5 to +30 °C. Tiling and the installation of plumbing fixtures follow. Plan the ventilation of the bathroom from the start, because in residential buildings it is ventilated through an exhaust duct. See bathroom renovation in Vecāķi.

A café or guest house by the sea

Vecāķi also has hospitality and catering sites with seasonal operation. If you are renovating a café, guest rooms or premises for holidaymakers, the work can be planned outside the season. In the request, write the floor area of the premises, which surfaces must be restored and whether the layout of the kitchen or sanitary rooms will change. The price is by estimate and depends on the same factors as for an apartment. See café renovation in Vecāķi.

Prices in Vecāķi

• Parquet laying: from €25/m²
• Parquet sanding and varnishing: from €23/m²
• Cosmetic renovation: from €100/m² of area
• Bathroom renovation (all the work): from €3,000
• Underfloor heating installation: from €16/m²

Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. Example: a summer house room of 16 m², parquet sanding and varnishing: 16 × €23 = from €368 (labour). For internal wall insulation and wooden floor restoration the price is by estimate, because it is determined by the wall construction and the condition of the boards. An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment.