A private house is comfort, safety, freedom, the opportunity to always be in the fresh air, to improve the garden plot, garden and much more. But at the same time, the maintenance of the building, care for its internal and external parts are the responsibility of the owner.
Home renovation can be cosmetic, local or major. Regardless of the chosen method and goals of finishing, it is important to have a clear and detailed plan of action. Each stage should be thought out to the smallest detail. Only in this case the renovation will be effective and durable.
Types of private home renovation
The first question that arises for every owner is where to start the renovation? First of all, you should set yourself up for serious and thoughtful work, you need to free up enough free time in advance and find finances to implement the project.
The next step is to choose the type and direction of repair. If this is a new building, you will first need to do rough finishing, prepare the surfaces for finishing. In this case, the work is carried out in a comprehensive manner.
If the house is residential, the renovation can and should be broken down into stages, starting with the most difficult location (kitchen, bathroom). In any case, you need to draw up a step-by-step work strategy:
- Major. This is a complete or partial reconstruction of the premises, adding/demolishing partitions, laying/replacing communications, installing new doors, windows, installing flooring and the base under it. If major structural changes are planned, an engineer’s consultation will be required.
- Cosmetic. It implies minor intervention in the interior – re-gluing wallpaper, painting walls, replacing decorative finishing elements. All this can be done with your own hands.
- Local repairs can have different levels of complexity. They are usually carried out to eliminate the consequences of accidents or when changing the functional purpose of a specific room.
When is the best time to do home renovations?
Modern technologies and materials allow interior repairs to be carried out at any time of the year. The construction market offers a wide range of paints, adhesives and other binding elements that polymerize even at low temperatures and high humidity. They are slightly more expensive, but guarantee a highly effective result.
Despite this, experts recommend doing repairs in the warm season to avoid any weather-related “surprises”. Although there are more free repair crews in winter, and the prices for building materials are slightly lower, all sorts of promotions are in effect.
Preparation of a design project
Today, there are virtually no restrictions on the choice of materials and technologies, which allows you to bring to life any bold design ideas. The easiest way to create a project is to choose a specific style and consistently adhere to all its principles. For example, a room in the Scandi style will have white walls, lots of light, wooden furniture with minimal finishing, etc.
It is more difficult to implement a space designed by mixing styles + adding exclusive solutions. The most daring can decorate each of the rooms in their own “mood”. Thus, the kitchen can be done in an ethnic style, the hall in a classic style, the living space – in a modern style.
The design project includes a whole package of documentation:
- Technical specifications taking into account all the client’s wishes.
- Layout of the entire area of the house.
- Visualization. With the help of a computer program, you will see how your future repair will look. Also, visual embodiment helps to identify shortcomings, make changes practically online.
- Working documentation, including an estimate with a list of finishing and consumable materials.
What to consider when preparing a design project for the renovation of a private house or cottage:
- The need to dismantle/install partitions and other structures.
- Points of exit for electrical sockets, switches, and communication routes.
- Location of plumbing.
- Door opening diagram.
The efficiency and durability of repairs largely depend on the correct measurements. The room measurements should be performed by qualified craftsmen using high-precision equipment.
The cost of repairs depends on a number of factors – the price of building materials, the cost of tools and equipment, as well as the services of professional workers.
Tips for selecting a repair team and drawing up an estimate
There are three options for repairs – on your own, with partial involvement of hired workers, or ordering turnkey work. The first option is the most acceptable. After all, you can save a lot of money by working on your own. But this increases the risk of not doing the repairs well enough, making a mistake in the calculations, or even completely ruining expensive building materials. So this path should be chosen only if you have experience in finishing or are ready to spend time and effort to study the nuances of this kind of work.
To perform the most complex tasks, for example, when installing plumbing or installing a lighting system, you can and should involve specialists. The most effective option is to order a turnkey repair. In this case, qualified craftsmen with knowledge and experience in this area will do the finishing of your home. In addition, the service makes the customer’s life much easier – you voice your requirements for the repair, and a team of specialists handles all stages, from design to implementation. This option is relevant for large-scale work.
The main thing is to choose a responsible contractor. Study reviews, ask friends and colleagues who have just completed repairs. Study examples of completed projects, familiarize yourself with the services and pricing procedure. A contract must be concluded, which will describe all the responsibilities of the parties.
The contractor company must provide a minimum 1-year warranty for the work performed. This time is enough to detect all defects and deficiencies in the repair, if any.
How to calculate the cost
Today, many websites offer convenient forms of online calculations of repair costs, it is enough to enter the initial data. But these will only be preliminary figures, exact information will be available only after measurements, assessment of the premises, selection of materials.
The estimate takes into account the following costs:
- Rough work and, accordingly, implementation costs – cement, self-leveling mixtures, primers, putty, etc.
- Finishing materials – flooring, paint, wallpaper, thresholds, baseboards and other decorative elements.
- Insert structures – doors, windows, built-in systems.
- Consumables – masking tape, scotch tape, glue, mounting mesh, etc.
It is also worth considering the cost of equipment. If you do the work yourself, complex tools can be rented.
It is better to buy all building materials at once. Firstly, this will allow you to avoid color differences in laminate or tile collections. Secondly, wholesale purchases will be cheaper.
Features of wooden house repair
Wooden houses are very popular. They are more affordable, easier to build and are highly decorative. But the restoration and finishing process has its own nuances.
Repair of wooden houses
Over time, logs can rot, become cracked, and lose their load-bearing capacity. In the most difficult cases, it may be necessary to replace the crowns, that is, a whole row of logs. The work is complex and requires the use of special equipment – with the help of special equipment, the crowns are raised above the foundation and the rotten logs are replaced.
Longitudinal horizontal cracks can be covered with board sheathing or wooden panels. Another option is to clean the cracks, treat them with an antiseptic and seal them with a sealant. But they must be removed, as moisture can accumulate in the cracks, which leads to the formation of mold and rot. Only after this can you begin the finishing.
Repair of frame houses
Scheduled or urgent repairs of a frame house are not much different from work on other objects, but there are some nuances. After 20-25 years of operation, the insulation will need to be replaced. A preliminary check for heat loss is carried out using a pyrometer or thermal imager.
More often, once every 7-10 years, it is recommended to treat exposed areas of wood with antibacterial and fire-retardant agents. Thanks to these actions, the service life of a frame house can be significantly extended.
Repair of old wooden houses
In old houses aged 50 years or more, it may be necessary not only to replace the crowns, but also to eliminate rot in the places where the windows are installed. In this case, the damaged area is cut out and replaced with a “fresh” piece of wood. The main thing is to select materials with similar characteristics, density, and structure.
When repairing a roof, you need to pay attention to the condition of the waterproofing and insulation – it is changed, first of all, to avoid leaks and heat loss. But the floor is most often completely changed, including not only the floor covering and base, but also the joists.
The order and features of repairs in the house
The order of actions during repair of a private house depends on the type of premises. Probable stages of work in living rooms:
- Dismantling of partitions, old floor coverings, window sills, window frames, if this item is included in the project.
- Installation of new structural elements (if necessary). Replacement of windows.
- Laying communications, installing electrical points, laying television and internet cables.
- Rough finishing of surfaces (if necessary). Uneven walls, floors or ceilings are covered with plasterboard, a steel or wooden frame is mounted in advance.
- Pouring floors, laying floor coverings, finishing walls and ceilings (installation of suspended structures is possible).
- Cosmetic repairs to premises – application of plaster, paint, wallpapering, ceramic tiles.
At the final stage, doors are installed.
The largest amount of work will be required in the bathroom and kitchen. In the bathroom, the sewerage system is completely changed, the outdated metal or cast iron communications are replaced with plastic or composite ones.
The kitchen is a place where electrical appliances are concentrated, so it is important to install reliable electrical wiring that can withstand high loads and will be protected from short circuits. The ventilation system requires special attention, that is, a powerful hood and a ventilation hatch are needed.
Materials resistant to moisture, steam, oil and other contaminants are used for wall finishing. Laminate, porcelain stoneware or ceramic tiles are best suited for the floor.
Finishing of facades
The facade is not only the “face” of the house; it is the finishing material that protects the building’s frame from external factors and participates in the thermoregulation system.
For inexpensive facade work, plaster and siding are used. Sheathing with PVC panels allows you to quickly transform the object, protect it from precipitation. More expensive options are facing with brick or clinker tiles.
Home renovation: useful tips
In this section we have collected universal tips that will help you carry out high-quality repairs in your home:
- Stretch ceilings are installed first. Then the ceiling plinth is attached and the walls are finished.
- The walls should be plastered before installing the door frame, otherwise the joints between the door and the wall will be visible.
- Don’t forget about pre-treatment. Covering the base with primer will significantly reduce the cost of paint, will allow wallpaper, laminate or other finishing materials to better adhere to the surface of the wall, floor.
- When laying tiles in the kitchen or bathroom, it is necessary to provide islands and indentations for free access to utilities.
- For floor repairs, it is better to choose tiles with relief embossing or a matte surface. This will help to avoid injuries.
When renovating a house, you shouldn’t skimp on building materials. Performance and durability should be at the forefront.