10 ways to save on apartment renovation without losing quality

How to save on repairs: little tricks

If the walls in your apartment are noticeably uneven, then there are two main options for solving this problem: you can spend a lot of money on puttying and leveling the walls, or you can choose materials that will hide all the roughness and irregularities. Thick vinyl wallpaper will hide small differences. But in order to quickly solve the problem of very uneven walls, professionals advise using decorative plaster, which can be applied in large strokes. Such an artificially created relief will help to give the walls a spectacular look with a minimum of investment.

If your house has brick walls, then you can refuse to finish one or more of them. Such interiors are now in fashion, besides they look stylish and spectacular. You can pick up several accessories for them, only emphasizing the loft style.

Parquet on the floor can not be changed, even if it does not look very good. Open the tree with a new layer of varnish. In extreme cases, it is necessary to sand the surface well before applying a refreshing coating.

In the most difficult situation, when such measures do not save, and the parquet still does not look very good, it can be hidden under a carpet or a large plain carpet. This natural base is great for carpeting.

Popular stretch ceilings look very stylish and practical, but are not cheap. It is much easier to paint the ceiling with the chosen paint. If necessary, the color can always be refreshed.

Flooring

An unfortunate repair solution is to lay the cheapest "temporary" flooring with the expectation of replacing it in the future. If the wallpaper can be re-pasted and the walls repainted without serious “destruction”, then it is quite difficult to dismantle the old floor and put in a new one. Especially if porcelain stoneware or ceramic tiles were chosen as the flooring. These jobs are among the dirtiest and most expensive. For example, the cost of laying floor tiles is currently 700-1000 rubles. and more per 1 sq. m. Therefore, it is better to immediately choose such a finishing material for the floor, which will remain attractive and delight for many years, even if its cost is slightly beyond the planned budget.

Save on flooring

If the screed on the floor is uneven, additional leveling can be done by mixing cement with sand. After complete drying, you can lay the floor covering. We refuse expensive parquet in favor of a budget laminate: it often looks no worse than its counterpart. Linoleum costs about the same, but it is it that is preferable in a new building, since the laminate can absorb moisture, which the building will give off, and lead the boards.

When choosing a tile, you should pay attention to cheaper products from Russian manufacturers. In terms of quality, it is almost as good as expensive tiles, and it will save

Planning and organization

Renovation is a stressful and ordeal for the whole family. It requires special preparation. Because repairs without a headache are the exception rather than the rule. And in order for everything to work out successfully and the repair does not last for years, you need to draw up a well-thought-out plan.

We start with an idea and an understanding of how we would like to see our apartment after renovation (we decide on the style, color, design). At the same time, we try to harmonize our desires with disabilities by honestly answering ourselves a few questions:

• how much would a repair like this cost?
• how much will it cost for materials?
• what can i do myself?

It would not be superfluous to know at least the basics of repair work, so that the hired craftsmen could not deceive you, and you could easily control the quality of the work performed and eliminate shortcomings in time.

Save money on wall repairs

Referring to the list, look for finishing materials, accessories, appliances and tools in stores. It takes a lot of time, but you will know exactly where and at what price you will find something that is useful for repairing walls.Don't rush to buy. Ask about discounts and promotions.

• Now bare walls in the loft style are in fashion. A neat brickwork or a bare concrete wall with decorative elements looks stylish and unusual. Such a design does not require almost any costs.
• Drywall or plywood will help to save on leveling very curved walls. The trend of the season is OSB-plate, which looks great on walls and ceilings without additional finishing.

Thick vinyl wallpapers do an excellent job with small wall defects.
Wall decoration with decorative plaster, the price of which bites, can be done with your own hands using ordinary putty.
Pay attention to domestic manufacturers of building materials. Many of their products can compete with imported analogues, and allow good savings, being 1.5–2 times cheaper.

Reduced repair time

I want to celebrate a housewarming in a purchased apartment as soon as possible. Especially if during the repair you have to spend much-needed money to pay for rented housing. However, the first thing you should not save on is time! After watching TV shows devoted to repairs, you may get the impression that you can turn an apartment from "concrete" into "candy" in just a few days. In fact, weeks and months of work remain behind the scenes. For example, plaster applied with a layer of 1 cm dries for at least 10 days, and a cement-sand floor screed - 25 days or more. Any violation of technology and a forced reduction in terms is fraught with the appearance of cracks and other unpleasant consequences. Therefore, excessive haste during repairs is a big risk of problems in the future.In addition, practice shows that when there is a shortage of time, materials are often bought “in a hurry” and more money is spent on them than with a calm and careful study and comparison of offers from different sellers.

What not to save

Architectural project

The project is needed not only to visualize what the apartment will be like after the repair, it is also a technical task for the builders. Contact an architectural bureau or a private designer to develop a design project and calculate an estimate.

Ideally, you should have the following set of documents in your hands:

1. Planning decision - a drawing of the apartment (top view) indicating the location of walls, furniture, plumbing, lamps, household appliances. The more detailed the better.

2. For a fee, you can also get sketches and 3D visualization to understand the volume of the interior, with a recommendation of furniture and finishing materials.

3. Working documentation and drawings for the team. This is a plan of floors, ceilings and a sweep of the walls. The document should contain as much detail as possible about all hidden wires, underfloor heating, air conditioning routes, an intercom, a bell, a power shield device and a low-current shield device, if any.

4. Specification of materials and equipment to be used in the implementation of the plan.

5. Schedule of work indicating the timing of each stage and a plan for the delivery of materials. This does not apply directly to the architectural project, but can be done as an annex to the work contract.

With such a detailed plan and estimate, you can effectively organize the process and avoid costly mistakes as much as possible.

Draft materials

Too cheap building mixes, grout and wallpaper paste should not be used. For example, low-quality plaster can crack and ruin even the most expensive paint. And because of a bad screed, the floor will begin to sag, creak and diverge. As a result, new repairs will have to be done much earlier than you planned.

Electrical and engineering systems

The comfort, safety and quality of life in the apartment directly depend on how well the electrics, gas, water supply, ventilation and heating systems are made. Therefore, such work should be trusted to professionals. In addition, in case of problems, fixing errors will be really difficult and expensive.

Acceptance of works

Not every foreman can competently take all the stages of work, so it makes sense to invite a professional technical supervision engineer.

Acceptance of rough work

Checking electricians by an electrolaboratory

The finished electrician must be checked with an electrical laboratory specialist. He must confirm that the wires inside the walls are in order, the system is assembled correctly, there is no short circuit or break anywhere. In addition, it will measure the insulation resistance to make sure the voltage is correct. Calling an electrical laboratory costs 5000–6000 ₽, and this is the price of your own peace of mind: if the apartment has problems with electricity, living there is not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous.

Pressure testing of the heating system (if possible) and water supply

Pressure testing is a hydraulic test during which water supply and heating systems tested for strength.The system is given pressure that exceeds normal operating pressure to detect potential weaknesses and design defects or manufacturing defects in materials.

Ways to save on building materials

When selecting materials for repairs, you need to save carefully so as not to degrade its quality. There are such ways to reduce the cost of materials:

1. Buy building materials at an average price. It is not recommended to purchase the cheapest materials for repairs, as they may be short-lived.
2. Choose materials of domestic production. Not all local producers have a bad reputation. The products of some companies have already proven their quality and enjoy well-deserved popularity.
3. Track discounts and promotions. Large stores often hold promotions, which makes it possible to find suitable building materials for repairs at a more modest price.
4. Purchase discounted building materials. This option is suitable for cases where a small amount of materials is required. For example, to repair a compact bathroom or kitchen, you can pick up a tile of two or three well-matched shades and buy it at a much lower cost.
5. Carefully calculate the amount of materials needed. If you take careful measurements, then you will be able to buy wallpaper, paint, putty in exactly the amount that is necessary for repairs. In this case, it is not necessary to have your own tools, because you can always borrow from friends.

What can you save

Decoration Materials

The most obvious and easiest way to cut down on renovation costs, often without compromising the appearance of the apartment.Do not overpay for well-known brands - the products of less popular companies are not worse in terms of quality, but are cheaper. Read reviews!

Here are some things you can save on:

●Lay laminate, not parquet. A good laminate starts from grade 32.

●Paste wallpaper instead of painting. So you save time and money on leveling the beacons and preparing the walls for painting.

●Use domestic tiles and inexpensive sanitary ware from a well-known manufacturer (for example, Vitra or Ceresit).

●Choose a matte stretch ceiling instead of plasterboard or plaster. Such ceilings look good and protect repairs from leaks. If the neighbors flood you, the water will simply collect in a bubble under the ceiling, and then it can be pumped out.

●Install inexpensive basic doors with Russian-made fittings.

●Choose cork or polyurethane skirting for painting instead of MDF plinth.

Reduce the list of works

The fewer operations you need to perform during the repair, the less materials and time workers will have to pay. Decide what you are willing to sacrifice - with a limited budget, it is better to do only the most necessary quality.

● Refuse to redevelop. If you are still at the stage of choosing a place to live, think twice. Sometimes it is more profitable to immediately buy an apartment with a suitable layout than to demolish and re-erect walls during repairs.

●Do not change windows if possible. And if you change - do not spend money on excesses like a narrowed profile or micro-ventilation mechanisms where you can do without them.

●Do not replace the old screed or builder's screed unless there are major technical complaints. From above it is possible to fill in a self-leveling floor.

●Reject insulation of a balcony or loggia. Maximum - glaze and lay out the clapboard from the inside.

Choose professionals who guarantee their work

So you can save on the correction of defects, which often do not appear immediately, but after the repair is completed. For example, at the beginning or at the end of the heating season, when the central heating was turned on, pipes burst in the apartment and a new repair was flooded. If there is no guarantee, you will have to pay a lot to eliminate all problems and restore the finish.

Avoid Downtime

Downtime is caused by worker errors, material supply disruptions, force majeure, or even cold weather, which lengthens the drying time of screed, putty, and paint. Break the repair into stages and write down the working deadlines for each. Plan the supply of materials so that there is no downtime. Remember: you can’t bring everything at once - it will be impossible to work in a littered apartment. Keep the workers always busy - you still have to pay for their time.

The opinion of the authors of the columns may not coincide with the opinion of the editors of the site. The user makes all decisions on the use of any financial instruments at his own risk.

House for life

For everyone who decides to start a renovation, the question inevitably arises: what can you save on? On building materials, labor costs or furniture? After all, the same funds can be spent and distributed in different ways. But even for a beginner, it is obvious that this repair option will require large investments. Moreover, it is advisable to invest their main part in high-quality and durable materials used for finishing walls, ceilings and floors, as well as in the installation of windows and doors.

You should not skimp on building materials for rough work (screed and floor leveling, wall plastering). The use of low-quality mixtures, cheap glue, tile grout can lead to repeated repairs much earlier than planned. All defects in the rough preparation of the floor will eventually “float” out in the form of creaking floorboards laid at different levels and the lack of sound insulation. And tearing off badly stuck tiles or wallpaper lagging behind the wall is also not a very exciting activity.

Experts do not advise saving on plumbing, windows, interior doors. These interior elements and plumbing equipment have been in operation for years. And, even if during this time it is necessary to make more expensive repairs, they will fit perfectly into the new design.

In addition, interior doors are an important detail of the interior. The rules require that they be the same throughout the apartment. Sometimes it takes a significant part of the budget intended for apartment renovation to replace them. And not only because the doors themselves are expensive. Their installation and replacement is a rather costly business in itself (the work of a master sometimes costs more than the door itself). In this case, you can save money if you can install it yourself. The same applies to windows. It depends on their quality how quiet and warm the apartment will be.

How to save money on furniture

One of the most impressive items of expenditure is the furnishings of the apartment. People spend almost more on high-quality and beautiful furniture than on the rest of the repair. But you can get good products for less if you're willing to compromise.First you need to think about the functional need. An ottoman may be a great fit for your bed, but think about whether you need it? Will you use the numerous shelves in the living room, or will dust simply accumulate on them?

In addition, a whole set is always more expensive than several disparate elements. Of course, it is much easier to purchase a ready-made ensemble. But if you think a little, you can create a completely unique composition without spending extra money. In addition, furniture of different styles can bring a touch of eclecticism to the design of your apartment. Of course, such disparate elements must be skillfully combined.

When choosing storage systems, give preference to one large chest of drawers, rather than two small ones. They will take up much more space, but will be less roomy. In addition, the cost of one element is noticeably lower than two. Anyway, you can often give new life to an old chest of drawers in a couple of hours. Also, some furniture can be easily made with your own hands, for example, from pallets, and it will look much more impressive than a typical bed from Ikea.

How to save on wall decoration?

Finishing works of walls, as a rule, are divided into 3 types:

• plastering and puttying works - alignment of walls
• wallpapering
• facing with decorative materials (like brick, 3D panels, etc.)

The choice depends on how smooth the walls are. The walls are leveled with plaster, putty and sanding. The work is laborious and costly.

Savings options:

1. It is not necessary to align all the corners, since you will have to use a large amount of material, it is enough to remove what will interfere with the fine finish (potholes, chips, traces of rosettes, etc.).
2. Wall irregularities can be hidden by decorative plaster or stone, as well as thick wallpaper.
3. Materials from little-known manufacturers can even be comparable in quality to well-known brands. You can buy a small quantity to test.

Ceilings - what to save on?

The issue of finishing ceilings depends largely on the quality of construction.

If the repair is carried out in a house with flat ceilings, then it is enough to choose a ceiling plinth. Easy to install, relatively inexpensive.

If the ceilings are uneven, then the options are as follows:

• Apply a layer of plaster, putty and paint - this is the most time-consuming process that requires certain skills. By this time, all electrical work should be carried out. It will take a lot of time, but save money.
• Cover the ceiling with drywall. Expensive and long. Of the benefits - you can make soundproofing from neighbors. This option is clearly not cheap.
• Stretch ceiling. Economical and fastest option. Many firms as a gift offer to stretch the ceiling in the hallway or bathroom for free with a complex order, the installation of fixtures.

How to save on materials

In large cities, the easiest way to purchase building and finishing materials is in specialized hypermarket chains that offer many popular products at the lowest prices. But this does not mean that the buyer no longer needs to travel around the construction markets and small shops. The fact is that the prices for a variety of necessary "small things" (fasteners, hardware, painting and measuring tools, lumber and some other items) in a large store are often much higher than in the market. Don't fall into this marketing trap!

Before buying materials, find out the names of the leading brands - their products are time-tested. You can try to save a little by betting on a new product, but only with the recommendations of uninterested practitioners

Pay attention to the labeling and the condition of the packaging of goods. The fact is that many materials tend to deteriorate as a result of improper storage and do not have a very long shelf life (perishable products are, for example, grouts for joints and gypsum-polymer self-leveling floors)

Alterations during repairs are too expensive and time-consuming - so is it worth the risk by buying a "delay"?

One of the main expense items is finishing materials, and a thrifty owner will save a large amount on their purchase. A durable laminate will cost half as much as a parquet board, but it will last no less, and it looks almost indistinguishable from a wooden flooring. However, it is not intended for wet rooms (with the exception of special, rather expensive laminate lines with provided joint sealing) - it is better not to skimp and lay tiles or linoleum in the kitchen. Savings should not be at the expense of practicality and durability, otherwise later you will have to renovate and redo it endlessly, and this promises not only additional costs, but also domestic inconveniences.

You can reduce the cost of buying windows and interior doors by purchasing finished products in a hypermarket or ordering structures at the very beginning or at the end of the construction season (in April and November), although it is difficult to count on big discounts today - the market is not very competitive.

Budget kitchen modules, racks and other furniture items are sold in construction hypermarkets — you can choose from several product lines, bring packaged kits yourself and assemble them, saving up to 50% compared to custom-made products.

Lifehack for connoisseurs of brutality

Concrete ceilings, exposed pipes and wires fit perfectly into the loft style, which is at the peak of popularity today. The ceiling can simply be varnished or sheathed with clapboard.

You can also save money on the walls, if the natural texture pleases the eye and does not cause internal dissonance. The surface only needs to be coated with a primer. To maintain an industrial style, wooden furniture, metal elements and bright decor should be used.

When repairing an apartment, do not forget about the shrinkage of a new house. Budget finishing here is justified not only by savings, but also by common sense. Major repairs are recommended to be postponed for a couple of years.

Beautiful without spending too much.

Many people are sure that it is possible to make a truly chic and elegant interior only at a high cost. It's not like that at all

For example, a loft-style interior with faux brick walls, a few eye-catching objects and simple furniture will look luxurious. This option does not require the use of expensive materials, which means it will not cost so much.

Let's draw conclusions

Compliance with even some of the above recommendations will significantly save the budget for repairs. If you adhere to all theses, you will not only be able to significantly reduce the financial costs of repair work, but also eliminate negative emotions and time delays associated with their implementation.

Prepared in collaboration with the masters of the company SlomStroy

4. Search for your store

Do not be afraid of large stores like Leroy or IKEA, large construction and furniture supermarkets. The quality in them is far from always low, you just need to look carefully. You can decently save on promotional products, but choose products exclusively from trusted brands. At the same time, keep in mind that many stores attract visitors with several positions, and on all other products they make a large margin, so it is better to break the purchase into several outlets.

Although sometimes buying everything in one place at once can be more profitable. If the amount turns out to be large enough, it will be possible to ask the administration to calculate the wholesale purchase, of course, at wholesale prices.

Even better, if one of your friends turns out to be a foreman or the owner of a small hardware store: he will probably have a discount card for a legal entity (builder) or through him it will be possible to make a purchase from a wholesale supplier. Thus, you will get all the materials at a wholesale price.

Kitchen project by Stanislav and Elena Starykh

Savings on interior decoration

To save on repairs, you need to take a closer look at the decoration of the rooms. Some tricks will also be appropriate to make the room more aesthetic and non-standard. Therefore, in this case, you can save in the following ways:

1. Do without leveling the walls. If the irregularities are relatively small, then thick vinyl wallpaper should be used.To solve the problem of strong irregularities, it is permissible to apply decorative plaster applied to the wall in large strokes. If during the repair it is impossible to do without leveling the walls, then it is recommended to use drywall, OSB-boards or clapboard.
2. Refuse to finish one of the walls. Such an original idea is primarily appropriate in a new building, but it will also be relevant for secondary housing. Such a wall harmoniously looks in a room decorated in a loft style.
3. Choose inexpensive materials for wall decoration. The most economical option is paper wallpaper with an abstract or small pattern that is easy to fit. To decorate one of the walls in an original way, you can use old newspapers, pages from musical notebooks or books. The use of paint (water-based or acrylic) is also considered a good solution.
4. Update flooring. It is better not to change the old parquet, but to re-paint it with varnish. If it looks very bad, then it can be sanded and varnished or carpeted. When finishing the floor in a new building or replacing the flooring in an old house, you can use linoleum, cork slabs, bamboo floors or laminate.
5. Paint the ceiling. Although stretch ceilings look beautiful, their price is quite high. Therefore, in order to save on ceiling repairs, it is best to resort to ordinary light paint.

Work that can be done in the first year of operation

When starting repairs in a new building, keep in mind that the decoration will be done from scratch. This is especially true for studio apartments. Many plan to make expensive repairs using expensive materials, which is unacceptable. The reasons for this are as follows:

• the structure undergoes shrinkage for the first year, due to which cracks appear on the surface for the first time;
• cracks form on the walls, ceiling, floor;
• due to deformations, the decoration and repair of the apartment will have to be done again in a year, which will cause numerous problems.

Building shrinkage result Cracks in plaster due to building shrinkage

You need to start the repair with the following processes:

• wiring of sanitary pipes;
• laying of electrical wiring;
• laying underfloor heating, pouring screed;
• leveling the surface of the walls;
• construction of suspended ceilings.

The procedure for performing repairs in a new building cannot be changed.

Alignment of walls Laying of electrical wiring Distribution of sanitary pipes Floor screed

In the first year, it is necessary to do rough, dusty work with your own hands, move on to pre-finishing, then finishing is done. It is recommended to do the dirty work after getting the keychain. This is not done by chance, new settlers who have received the keys to the apartment pay for a container for collecting construction waste. The whole house will be serviced.

The management company disposes of garbage within six months. If you do not start repairs immediately with all the residents, then take out the garbage, then you will have to do it yourself. Further export is no longer included in the cost of services.

Another important plus when performing rough, pre-finishing work after receiving a bunch of keys in a new building is that no one lives in the house, which means that it is allowed to boldly make noise, work with a puncher, knock with a hammer at night and in the morning, which cannot be done later. After the completion of the main work, a fine finish is carried out, you can stick inexpensive wallpaper, lay ordinary linoleum and be content with this for the first year after delivery.This economy option is suitable for young families who are starting to live from scratch.

Walls

The main difficulty with a limited budget for repairs is the choice of finishing material for the walls. Tiles of Russian or Chinese production, which can withstand sudden temperature changes and mechanical damage, are widely used.

Keep in mind that in addition, before installing the tiles, it will be necessary to prepare the entire area of ​​​​the walls - removing the previous coating, leveling (if necessary), eliminating the detected defects and treating with fungicides.

Other inexpensive materials intended for wall decoration:

• paint compositions,
• Wall panels,
• self-adhesive PVC film.

Laying your own tiles is easy. However, if you do not have free time or you doubt that you can handle it, then invite the master. Keep in mind that his services will be included in the cost of bathroom renovation.

To significantly save on wall decoration, use ceramic tiles only for cladding areas that are adjacent to the bathtub and sink (the so-called "apron"). Apply paint or wallpaper to the remaining areas.

Plumbing equipment

The most budget choice for the bathroom is acrylic. It is cheaper than cast iron, but it is much easier to install and easier to maintain. The service life of acrylic bathtubs is short, but usually the need for their replacement converges with a new repair.

If the cast-iron bath is not damaged and suits its owners with everything, except for the appearance, then apply liquid acrylic to it. The acrylic composition hides the yellowness and masks the cracking of the enamel.The appearance of the bath will change, but at the same time you will significantly save on the purchase of a new product.

As for the sink, it is found in 2 types:

When buying a toilet bowl and a sink, give preference to Russian-made faience - it is much cheaper than porcelain, but it is absolutely not inferior in quality.

Ideas to save money on windows, doors and furniture

Windows are always installed for a long period of time, so only high-quality products should be selected. In this case, savings are possible when buying windows from the manufacturer. In particular, this approach is relevant when replacing all windows in a house or apartment. In addition, to reduce their cost, you should choose designs with a minimum number of opening doors.

In some situations, apartment owners do not install interior doors during repairs. Thanks to this, the rooms seem more spacious, and at the same time the owners manage to save a little. Alternatively, light curtains can be used instead of doors. If a door is needed, then you should buy a wooden product without finishing, and then cover it yourself with paint or varnish.

Significant expenses are for the purchase of furniture. However, it is possible to save on repairs in this case, if:

• buy only the most necessary items;
• do not throw away, but renew old products (shelves, chairs, racks, etc.);
• not to acquire a whole set, but to pick up disparate objects;
• choose one large product instead of two small ones (for example, when buying chests of drawers).

Thus, there are many ways to save on repairs without sacrificing quality.To do this, you need to plan the repair work well, think through all the details, and also spend some time searching for the necessary materials and independently completing some of the tasks.

Floor repair: how to save?

Parquet is a classic flooring. When it is worn out, it is not always worth resorting to replacing it. Cycle the surface, cover with a layer of varnish, and the parquet will be like new. If it is beyond repair, you can put carpet on top of it. You can also easily hide unsightly areas with a rug to match the size of the imperfections.

Linoleum is a popular cheap material. However, its durability leaves much to be desired. Durable and versatile, laminate is a little more expensive, but it is also a budget flooring option. In addition, installation and repair can be done by hand.

A plank floor is a very inexpensive relatively self-leveling type of floor. Some types of wood look no worse than parquet.