New-build apartment fit-out - from grey or white finish to move-in ready

Grey finish and white finish: what to check

See the purchase contract or the developer's finish description for what exactly the grey or white finish includes in your apartment. The names are the same, but the content can differ between developers, so the list of work depends on what has been done in the apartment. More on the differences in the article grey or white finish.

In your request, information about the following will help:

• whether the floor has a screed and how level it is
• whether the walls are plastered or already skimmed
• where the electrical outlets and the distribution board are
• where the water and drainage outlets are in the bathroom and kitchen
• whether the heating is by radiators or underfloor heating
• where the ventilation ducts are in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet

In your request, write what finish is already there; you can send the apartment plan and photos to the specialist when they contact you.

New screed and moisture

In a new building the screed and plaster may still be damp. Manufacturers give figures for this. The technical data sheet of Ceresit CM 17 tile adhesive says that a cement screed and plaster under tiles must be at least 28 days old with moisture below 4%.

Under laminate, parquet and flexible coverings the requirements are stricter. The Ceresit CN 76 technical data sheet gives the moisture of a cement base as up to 2.0% without heating and up to 1.8% with floor heating. So before the floor covering, the moisture of the base must meet the limits stated by the manufacturer.

Order of work in a new apartment

1. Description and condition Compare the finish description with the actual condition of the apartment.
2. Electrical and lighting plan Before the wall finishing, it is decided where extra sockets and lighting points are needed.
3. Wet rooms In the bathroom and shower, waterproofing is applied before tiling. The manufacturer of Ceresit CL 51 recommends at least two coats, and waterproofing tape is worked into corners and joints.
4. Walls and ceilings Skimming, priming and painting.
5. Floor coverings When the moisture of the base meets the manufacturer's limits, laminate, vinyl flooring or parquet is laid.
6. Completion Interior doors, skirting boards, plumbing, light fittings.

What to decide before the work

If you want to change the layout, non-load-bearing partition walls belong to the apartment. The Riga municipality explains that for removing a non-load-bearing wall a certified architect prepares a plan and a construction notice is submitted in BIS. If approval is needed, write this in your request.

When planning a kitchen extractor hood, take into account LBN 231-15: the ventilation ducts of kitchens and sanitary rooms may be connected to a common ventilation system only each in its own duct. And one more thing: in your request, write whether you will choose the materials yourself.

How much does it cost?

For a new-build apartment fit-out the price is drawn up as an estimate. Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. Construction waste removal is not part of the renovation estimate. Kitchen furniture assembly is not part of the renovation estimate. The nearest price lines:

An example for a bathroom: tiling 18 m² × €24 = from €432, waterproofing 5 m² × €6 = from €30, installing a floor drain from €100, in total from €562 for these three jobs only. A whole bathroom renovation costs from €3,000.

The price is affected by:

• the apartment area in m² and the number of rooms
• whether the walls are in a grey or a white finish
• the levelness and moisture of the screed
• the chosen finish (tiles, floor covering, doors)

What is included in the price