Apartment renovation in Zasulauks - for wooden and pre-war masonry apartment buildings

Wooden buildings after the fire of 1812 and plots in the mid-19th century

After the fire of 1812, the construction of new wooden buildings began in Zasulauks in the 1820s. In the mid-19th century part of the territory was divided into plots on which residential buildings were built. Today Zasulauks is a residential and railway neighbourhood between Āgenskalns and Imanta with pre-war wooden and masonry development, detached houses, apartment buildings and commercial areas.

In old wooden and pre-war masonry buildings the typical work is restoring floors, walls and electrical wiring, because the buildings are old and often have timber floors between storeys. For pre-war masonry buildings the sources also mention non-standard windows, high ceilings and that without reconstruction there is no lift. More about both types of building on the pages wooden house apartment renovation and pre-war building apartment renovation.

Kalnciema iela, Jūrmalas gatve and Zasulauks station

Zasulauks is reached along Kalnciema iela and Jūrmalas gatve, and by train to Zasulauks station. The railway and the arterial roads affect noise and access, so in the request write from which street the entrance to the courtyard is and where you can stop.

In an old apartment building the request benefits from:

• whether the building is wooden or masonry and the approximate time of construction
• the floor, the type of stairs and whether there is a lift
• the ceiling height and the apartment area in m²
• whether the apartment has stoves and whether they will stay
• whether you will change the wires, pipes or a riser
• the condition of the floors, walls, windows and bathroom

A timber floor structure: what it means for the floor and the bathroom

If in a wooden building the floor rests on timber joists, that determines what can be put on it. A thick cement screed or a layer of self-levelling compound is heavy and may not suit a moving base, so before levelling you must find out the condition of the joists and boards. A floor of sound boards can be restored: sanded, the gaps repaired and varnished.

In a bathroom on a timber floor structure, waterproofing needs a load-bearing and stable base; the manufacturer (Ceresit CL 51) recommends two layers and tape in the wall-to-floor joints. A riser is the common property of the apartment owners, so replacing it is agreed with the building manager. See wooden floor restoration in Zasulauks and bathroom renovation in Zasulauks.

High ceilings and old walls in a masonry apartment building

In a pre-war masonry apartment building, high ceilings mean a larger wall area, so the price of wall work is calculated per m² of wall, not of floor. Old plaster can be uneven or crumbling; it is restored with plastering and skimming, but rough and absorbent surfaces are primed before painting, as the paint manufacturer requires (Tikkurila Euro Smart 2).

In an old building a check of the electrical wiring is also useful: the Fire Safety Regulations currently in force require it once every 10 years. If the wires are changed, the reconstructed installation has, since 01.07.2025, been fitted with residual current protection. See wall plastering in Zasulauks and electrical wiring replacement.

Stoves, flues and windows in an old building

If a stove has survived in the apartment, first decide whether it will stay as a heat source, as part of the interior or be demolished. A stove that is fired cannot be connected to a ventilation duct: the Fire Safety Regulations currently in force prohibit using natural ventilation ducts to discharge flue gases. When a stove is demolished, the floor and wall in its place must afterwards be restored, and this must be included in the estimate.

Windows in the outer wall of an apartment building are common property. The owner may restore or replace them at their own expense in agreement with the building manager; the association may decide that its consent is also needed. Documents are not needed if the existing window division, proportions and frame colour are kept. See window reveal finishing in Zasulauks and demolition.

A kitchen with a room in an old apartment

In an apartment in an old apartment building, to combine a kitchen with a room you first need to know the role of the wall. According to the Riga municipality's explanation, to demolish a non-load-bearing wall an architect prepares a plan, and a construction notice is submitted in the BIS as a simplified renovation. An opening in a load-bearing wall needs an architect and a structural engineer and an explanatory memorandum, and, if the building is divided into apartment properties, the consent of more than half of the owners.

Approval of reconstruction in Zasulauks takes place at the Riga municipality's City Development Department (formerly the Riga City Building Board). For buildings older than 50 years that are not state-protected, the department can determine a cultural and historical value and the permitted action. If the kitchen has a gas cooker, it may be replaced or moved within one room in agreement with the gas supplier; moving it to another room requires the supplier's technical conditions, a report and a building design. See a kitchen with a room in Zasulauks and wall demolition.

Prices in Zasulauks

• Full renovation: from €280/m² of apartment area
• Parquet sanding and varnishing: from €23/m²
• Wall plastering: from €8/m²
• Electrical wiring replacement in an apartment: from €20/m² of apartment area

Prices are for labour only, and materials are calculated separately in the estimate. Example: a one-room apartment of 33 m², full renovation: 33 × €280 = from €9,240 (labour). For wooden floor restoration the price is by estimate. The total changes with the condition of the walls and floors, the replacement of wires and pipes, and the chosen finishes. An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment.