Cosmetic renovation of an apartment

When cosmetic renovation is enough

Cosmetic renovation suits an apartment that is technically in order. Check three things. Whether the wiring works and, if there is one, what the latest inspection report says (the Fire Safety Regulations currently in force require an inspection every 10 years). Whether the pipes leak. And whether the floor is level enough for the chosen covering.

For the floor, a specific example: in the instructions for Quick-Step laminate, the manufacturer states that base unevenness greater than 2 mm per 1 m must be levelled. If the floor is much more uneven, floor levelling is added to the cosmetic renovation, or you need to talk about a full renovation.

What a cosmetic renovation includes

• preparing walls and ceilings: removing old wallpaper, filling cracks, skimming
• painting or hanging wallpaper
• replacing the floor covering, for example laminate or vinyl flooring
• replacing interior doors
• skirting boards

Material requirements are set by the manufacturer. For example, the Tikkurila data sheet for Euro Smart 2 paint says that rough, absorbent surfaces and surfaces skimmed with dry mixes must be primed before painting, and the paint reaches its final hardness in about a month. So freshly painted walls are washed gently at first.

The work in its usual order

1. Clearing the rooms Before the work, decide which furniture stays in the room and which is taken out. Write that in the request.
2. Preparation Old wallpaper and skirting boards are removed, cracks and holes are filled.
3. Skimming and priming Walls and ceilings are levelled and primed before painting.
4. Ceilings, then walls Ceilings are usually painted first, then the walls, so that splashes do not damage a surface that is already finished.
5. Floor covering Laminate or another covering is laid following the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Doors and skirting boards Interior doors and skirting boards are installed and socket frames are replaced if needed.

Documents and neighbours

Construction-intent documents are not needed for interior work that does not include renovation, reconstruction or demolition. Liepāja municipality explains that construction documentation is not required for painting walls and ceilings, hanging wallpaper and replacing floor covering. If you are nevertheless moving walls, check whether a construction notice is needed.

In Riga's Regulations on the Maintenance of Territory and Buildings, requirements on the timing of renovation work are not set, but house rules may be adopted by the apartment owners' association. Ask the building manager whether your building has any.

Cosmetic renovation: prices

Cosmetic renovation: from €100/m² of apartment area. Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate.

Example for a whole apartment: a 2-room apartment of 50 m²: 50 × €100 = from €5,000 for labour.

If only one room needs renewing, the price is calculated by the work. A 15 m² room with 40 m² of wall: skimming 40 × €10 = €400, painting 40 × €4 = €160, total from €560. The painting price is per m² of wall, not floor.

The price is affected by:

• apartment area in m² and the number of rooms
• cosmetic or full renovation
• the condition of the walls, floors and ceilings
• whether the wiring, pipes and risers are replaced
• the chosen finish (tiles, floor covering, doors)

What is included in the price