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Home renovation – what, when and how. Home renovation is most often associated with headaches, nerves, unforeseen expenses, and sometimes scandals involving craftsmen. The word “renovation” gives a lot of people a headache. Others associate it with putting up new wallpaper or repainting the living room. In fact, renovation is a large-scale, complex process that requires careful planning and a specific sequence of actions, depending on the type and level of complexity of the renovation. Before you start, it is important to consider what final result you want – all your actions after that will determine it.
Will the renovation be cosmetic or major? What interior style do you want to choose, and what will you use the home for – to rent out, to own your own home or for another purpose? What appliances will you buy? Would you like to include a smart control system? Determine your priorities and goals!
The start of a project is to create one
A good renovation starts with a project. Without planning, failure is guaranteed. When renovating, space planning is an extremely important first step that will provide clarity about the desired end result. The project reflects everything: the functional areas in the home, the arrangement of furniture, where and how many electrical outlets and switches should be installed, how the lighting is organised, and even what decoration you will choose.
Create or hire a specialist to create a project in the colours you see in your interior. This will allow you to check whether all the selected shades combine well. Is a harmonious space obtained, or does something need to be corrected? Giving this step careful thought will save you time, effort and of course, money.
Budget for the renovation
Based on the finished project, calculate your costs. It is correct to draw up a budget at the very beginning and take into account all costs. Do not miss anything, it is better to be too detailed than poor and disappointed at the end. Include the necessary materials and tools for each stage. Furniture, decorative elements, plumbing, built-in appliances, lighting fixtures, a smart home system – if you plan one, furniture fittings, electrical switches and sockets, payment for specialists – the so-called craftsmen.
Research your project
Do your own research and look for quality, yet budget-friendly options. Many online stores or construction hypermarkets offer good discounts. There are things you can save on and things you should invest more in. If you are renovating the home you dream of growing old in, it is worth buying higher-quality materials for the floors, walls, and ceilings, as well as better quality plumbing and appliances that will serve you faithfully for years to come.
Create checklists
Creating checklists with priorities and tasks is a great way to manage everything, including repairs. Once you have a project and a budget, it’s time to make checklists. It’s recommended to have several:
Take as much time as you need, because both the project and the lists can save you nerves and money. Regardless of what type of repair you plan, you can implement it yourself or trust specialists.
A hybrid option is often chosen: some tasks are performed by craftsmen, designers, and other prepared people, while others are performed independently. People without experience often overestimate their strength, and the process can drag on longer than planned. Serious mistakes can be made that require repairs by craftsmen. It is not uncommon for cases in which saving money by not hiring specialists to result in even greater costs.
Stage 1 – Preparation and Planning
If you and your family have bought an old property you want to turn into your own home, you should start throwing out unnecessary items and dismantling anything that is in your way. If you have decided to remove walls and have consulted a structural engineer, you should proceed with the removal at this stage. Old doors and frames are also removed so they don`t interfere with the work. In parallel with the dismantling activities, you can explore different options for window frames and request replacement offers. Pay close attention to which hardware pairs well with the style as a whole. Specify whether the price includes the sills, delivery, dismantling of the old and installation of the new window frames. All details matter! A digital operations manual can be also very useful!
Stage 2 – the Actual Renovation
At this stage, the electrical installation is replaced, if necessary. Replace the installation if it is morally outdated and has been repeatedly redone over the years. A modern electrical system can include intelligent functions that will allow you to control your lighting and appliances according to your preferences. The same applies to replacing the plumbing installation. If you intend to live in this property for a long time, invest in replacing all elements before changing the wiring. A plan should be drawn up for placing and connecting the lighting fixtures, switches and high-current networks. With proper planning and execution, there will be no need to use power strips later – this is one of the things that distinguishes professional from amateur performance. It’s good to plan the installation of plumbing equipment. If you do not know how, find a specialist.
Another important point that should not be forgotten at this stage is the slope of the sewer. Check whether the water in the bathroom flows sufficiently and whether the cold and hot water are supplied to the faucets correctly. Each electrical socket must be connected to electricity, and it must be known which automatic fuse in the electrical panel is responsible for what. It is advisable not to experiment with this stage and to allocate the necessary budget for specialists who can competently carry out the installations. This phase is one of the things one should not experiment with or joke about. Accept this as an investment in your household’s health and future well-being.
Inspection of the work
It is good to know that, at different times of day and under different lighting, the walls and ceiling will look different. For example, in daylight, painting flaws can be easily seen, at this stage, it is important to check for various imperfections and small details. There is a rule in renovations: “if something is left unfinished, it will be like that for a long time”. That is why it is important, when you move into an apartment, that everything down to the smallest detail is finished or at least almost everything.
Whatever you decide, the important thing is that you like the end result, that the renovation is completed successfully in the shortest possible time, and that you live happily in your dream home.