Art Effektan independent magazine about home renovation and interiors

An independent magazine about home renovation and interiors. Not a company website and not connected with the former site on this domain; we do not provide services. Electrics, gas and load-bearing structures are for professionals only.

Planning

Planning the work

Most renovation troubles come not from poor materials but from poor sequencing: sockets forgotten until after painting, the floor laid before the ceiling, furniture bought before measuring. A good plan will not make a renovation instant, but it saves you from redoing work, unnecessary spending and disputes with tradespeople.

An estimate is not just about money. It is a list of every decision you made before work began, and every one still to be made.

— Editor's note

How this section works: we describe the general order of a renovation and what goes into an estimate and a contract, without naming prices, timescales or contractors. Information on alterations is given in general terms based on the Housing Code of the Russian Federation; this is Russian law, rules differ by country, and you should check the approval procedure with your local authority.

Order of works

  1. Concept

    Decide what you want to change and why. List what bothers you about your current home and gather references. Determine whether this will be a cosmetic refresh or more substantial changes.

  2. Survey

    Measure every room, opening and ceiling height, and mark the position of windows, radiators, risers and ventilation. The design, the quantity of materials and the size of built-in furniture all depend on accurate measurements.

  3. Design

    Draw up a furniture layout, a lighting and socket plan and wall elevations with finishes. For a complex renovation the design is prepared by a designer or architect. If the layout changes, you need an alteration design and approval.

  4. Preparation works

    Stripping out, levelling walls, floor screed and preparing substrates. This is the messiest stage, after which surfaces must dry in line with the material manufacturers' requirements.

  5. Building services — professionals

    Electrics, water supply, drainage, heating and ventilation are done before finishing and only by professionals. Ask them to take photos and make drawings of concealed services before the walls are closed up.

  6. Finishing works

    Ceilings, walls, then floors, followed by doors, skirting boards and fitting sanitaryware. Finishing works go from top to bottom so that completed work is not spoiled.

  7. Furniture and decor

    Built-in furniture is made to the measurements of the finished walls, so final dimensions are taken after finishing. Textiles, lights and decor are the final layer, and easy to change.

What a contractor agreement should include

  • The parties and their details: who exactly does the work and who is responsible for the result
  • The list and scope of works, referring to the design or estimate attached to the contract
  • Start and completion dates, and how they can be changed
  • The price and payment schedule by stage — for work completed and accepted
  • Who buys the materials, how they are accepted and how leftovers are accounted for
  • How stages are signed off, how defects are put right, and the guarantee terms

Alterations and the law

Russian law — the Housing Code of the Russian Federation — distinguishes between re-equipping a dwelling, such as installing or moving utility lines and sanitaryware, and redevelopment, meaning a change to its layout. This is covered in Chapter 4 of the Code (Articles 25–29). Rules differ by country.

In an apartment building in Russia, re-equipping and redevelopment are carried out with the approval of the local authority. This usually requires a design and a set of documents; check the exact list and procedure with the body that handles approvals in your city.

If alterations were made without approval, the owner may be required to restore the dwelling to its previous state. So any changes to walls, wet areas and building services are worth getting approved before work starts, not afterwards.

  • How-to

    Step-by-step guides for simple jobs: painting a wall and preparing a surface for wallpaper. Plus what you should not do yourself.

  • Ideas

    Interior ideas: layered lighting, colour combinations, storage, zoning, open-plan kitchen-living rooms and a workspace at home.

  • FAQ

    Answers about the magazine, materials and works, renovation planning and safety.

Sources

  • Housing Code of the Russian Federation (Chapter 4)
  • Manufacturers' technical documentation

Information on materials and works is given in general terms, based on manufacturers' technical documentation, the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, EMERCOM of Russia safety leaflets and encyclopaedic sources. Coverage, application conditions and drying times for a specific product are set by its manufacturer — always check the packaging and instructions.