Apartment renovation: prepare your project well, follow your construction site

 

Is your apartment starting to show the blow of the years? Can't find it to your liking? Are the practical aspects sorely lacking? If these findings are familiar to you, now is the time to act! Instead of considering the radical solution of moving, an luxury apartment renovation may be the appropriate option to refresh or modernize your home and bring it to the practical side it lacks. How to properly prepare your renovation work? How to follow your site step by step? What are the factors that can influence the cost of the final quote? Our specialists support you with a well-executed project from start to finish!

How to properly prepare your renovation work?

Whatever the scope of your renovation work, it is essential to prepare your site well in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises. This type of operation aims to combine old and modern to give a second youth to your interior while transforming it according to your needs, your tastes without forgetting your wallet. Here are the main steps to follow to consider your project in a serene way.

Know the apartment to renovate

As with any renovation, it is essential to know the various characteristics of the apartment you want to renovate. In purchase, be aware that the owner must carry out specific diagnoses: gas, electricity, lead, termite, asbestos, etc.

If it is also compulsory, the energy performance diagnosis can sometimes be blank (in an old building or with collective heating and in the absence of a history of energy bills). In an apartment built after 1948, the study will focus on windows and interior thermal insulation (ITI).

If you plan to redo the thermal insulation from the inside, check with the condominium that no thermal insulation project from the outside (ITE) is planned.

In addition, certain information, such as the year of construction of the building and the geographical area in which it is located, may be helpful to know. In your accommodation inventory, please do not fail to check the condition of the plumbing installations to verify their proper functioning. Identify the load-bearing walls that you would like to open if necessary. With this knowledge, you can already glimpse the type of renovation needed (shell, finishing or simple refresh). You can also get an idea of ​​the various helpful workstations and the budget envelope to be provided.

Have drawn a precise plan

Whether it is a studio or a T4, visualizing the space of your apartment is not always easy. In addition, to optimize each room and assess the different possibilities available to you as part of your renovation, it is essential to have a precise plan of the habitat.

 

When you acquire an apartment or a condominium property, you must be provided with a metered plan. However, if you don't have one, you can ask an architect to do one. This professional can make both the plan of the apartment as it exists at present and the plan of what it could become after the renovation work. This can give you a more concrete view of the result.

Delimit a budget

About the characteristics of the apartment and the architect's proposals, you can establish a working budget. Even if it is not very precise at the start, you can still define a range. For refreshment work, count between 90 and 300 euros per square meter; for a complete renovation, expect a cost of between 700 and 1,100 euros per square meter; finally, for structural work, the budget generally oscillates between 1100 and 1500 euros per square meter, but it is rare to bear the cost of this type of work alone, which is of the order of co-ownership work - unless 'own the entire building!

 

It is only when your project is well defined, and your quotes are established that you will have a much more precise idea of ​​the cost of your renovation. To obtain the best value for money, ask for several quotes for the same workstation.

Note that it is recommended to provide an additional 10% margin in your budget to deal with unforeseen events.

Plan the work

You know the budget to devote to your renovation work; you have made the necessary estimates and collected the proper budget; it is now a question of planning the site. This planning will be done according to the nature of the work and the craftsmen you call on. Thus, for example, we know that the shell (demolition of load-bearing walls, floor opening) must be carried out before the finishing work (electricity, partitioning, plumbing), prioritizing the development, finishing and decoration.

To better manage the various craftsmen who work on your site, it may be wise to call on a project manager. A schedule detailing the various stages of the work and the completion deadlines can be carried out parallel and communicated to the various stakeholders.

Choose suitable materials.

The choice of materials for renovating an apartment or studio is often easier than when it comes to refurbishing a house. Indeed, it is not a question of restoring an old facade or rebuilding an old roof identically. Nevertheless, it is essential to select healthy materials to preserve the quality of the indoor air and be compatible with the construction method and the materials of the building.

When it comes to the choice of insulation, don't skimp on quality to enjoy good thermal comfort both in summer and in winter without having to cut too much on your space. For example, installing vacuum insulation (Isovip panels) will save you more space than another insulation system: even if the initial investment is higher, the operation is riveting. In town centres where the m² can sometimes reach astronomical prices. In addition, the energy savings generated will make you realize significant savings very quickly.

Be aware of the authorizations and legal obligations.

Take a notebook and a pencil; it's time to take note of the authorizations and legal obligations that apply to your site. Here's what to remember.

 

When replacing windows: it is essential to know whether you are located in a protected area or within a listed building because certain materials may be required. On the other hand, remember to ask the trustee for advice and file a work declaration at the town hall if you wish to change the model or the material of the original window. Indeed, this type of work modifying the appearance of the exterior facade is subject to prior authorization of work.

Work under the standards in force:  whether it concerns replacing the electrical system, the plumbing or any energy renovation operation, your work must be in line with the standards in force.

Work in order vis-à-vis the co-ownership:  upstream of your work, it is essential to know the rules of your co-ownership listed in the co-ownership regulations. Common areas and private space are not always easy to understand; certain elements such as the pipes or the front door and the floors and balconies are often considered standard. An intervention will then require the approval of the trustee. On the other hand, in the event of demolition of a load-bearing wall, creating a skylight, changing the heating system if it is collective, or opening a hopper in the floor to create a duplex, an authorization co-ownership will also be required. Also, take care to maintain the acoustic comfort of the other occupants of the building: in the event of a change of floor covering, for example, it must have an acoustic performance equal to the old one. Know that each co-ownership regulation has its specificities and constraints. Before starting your renovation work, it is advisable to carry out an inventory of the common areas of the building to protect yourself if any disputes with your neighbors should arise.

Tip: union complex is the best spot for purchasing luxury apartments in Lahore.