APARTMENT RENOVATION in ALMATY

What kind of renovation does the apartment need: cosmetic, major or turnkey

The type of renovation is determined not by the budget but by the condition of the apartment: what can be kept and what will have to be replaced. We explain how the types of renovation differ and how to understand which one you need.

Cosmetic renovation: refresh the finishes

Cosmetic renovation is suitable if the walls and floors are level, the wiring and pipes are in order, and only the finishes are outdated. It includes filling and painting the walls or hanging wallpaper, replacing the floor covering, skirting boards, sockets and switches, and sometimes a stretch ceiling. We do not touch the utility networks and do not move partitions. This is the fastest type of renovation: a one-room apartment is usually refreshed in 2–4 weeks.

Major renovation: replacing everything hidden in the walls

Major renovation is needed when the apartment is more than 20–25 years old, the wiring is aluminium, the pipes are steel and the walls and floors are uneven. The finishes are stripped back to the concrete, the electrical wiring and water supply are replaced, a new screed and plaster using guide beads are applied, the bathroom is waterproofed, and then all the finishing is done. This is where the hidden work matters: once the plaster and tiles are in place, it can only be redone by opening them up.

Turnkey renovation and designer renovation

Turnkey renovation is a major or cosmetic renovation in which the contractor is responsible for everything: the estimate, purchasing materials, the work and cleaning. You get an apartment ready to move into. Designer renovation is carried out according to a design project: complex ceilings, hidden lighting, wall panels, non-standard tile layouts. It costs more due to the precision of the work and more expensive materials.

Comparison of renovation types

Renovation in new builds and resale housing

A new apartment and an apartment with a history require different approaches: in a new build, work begins with checking what the developer has done; in a resale property, it begins with demolition.

New builds: unfinished and pre-finish

A shell-and-core flat has concrete walls and sometimes a screed and wiring up to the distribution board. Before renovating, it is worth checking the geometry of the walls and floor, the quality of the screed, the windows and the risers: it is easier to raise the developer's defects before work begins. In a flat with pre-finish, the walls are already levelled and there is a screed and wiring — only the final finishes remain, but the quality of the preparation is also checked: if the plaster is peeling, tiles cannot be laid on it.

New buildings settle, so hairline cracks may appear on the walls in the first year. To reduce them, reinforcing mesh or glass fleece is applied to the walls before painting.

Resale housing: demolition, old wiring and pipes

In resale housing the estimate starts with demolition: old tiles, plaster, floors and sometimes partitions. After demolition, the condition of the walls and floors becomes visible. During a major renovation, aluminium wiring is replaced entirely: modern loads — an oven, a hob, an air conditioner and a boiler — are not designed for it. Steel pipes are replaced with polypropylene or metal-plastic ones, together with the valve on the branch from the riser.

Redevelopment: what to discuss before starting

Moving and demolishing walls, relocating the bathroom or kitchen, and combining the balcony with a room are redevelopment, which must be formalised before work begins. Load-bearing walls must not be touched, and wet zones must not be located above the living rooms of the neighbours below. If you plan to change the layout, discuss it at the site measurement: the estimate and the order of work depend on it.

Stages and timelines of apartment renovation

The order of work in a renovation is almost always the same: first the “dirty” and hidden work, then the finishing. Breaking this order is the main cause of rework.

Work sequence: from demolition to final finishing

1. Demolition and rubbish removal: we strip the old finishes, floors, plumbing and doors.
2. Partitions: we build new walls from gas block or plasterboard according to the plan.
3. Electrical and plumbing: we chase the walls, run cables and pipes, and install the distribution board.
4. Plaster and screed: we level the walls using guide beads and pour the floor screed.
5. Waterproofing and tiles: in the bathroom and kitchen.
6. Filling, ceilings, painting or wallpaper.
7. Floor coverings, doors, sockets, plumbing and cleaning.

How long the renovation takes

Cosmetic renovation of a one-room apartment usually takes 2–4 weeks, while a major renovation takes from 1,5 to 3 months. The timeframe grows with the area and complexity of the finishing, but part of the time is spent not on work but on drying: a cement screed about 5 cm thick needs roughly a month before laminate or parquet can be laid on it. Semi-dry screed and gypsum plaster dry faster, so the choice of technology also affects the timeline.

Hidden works: what to photograph before they are covered

Before the walls are covered with plaster and tiles, photograph each wall with a tape measure in the frame: where the cables and pipes run, where the junction boxes are. These photos will come in handy when you need to hang a shelf or a kitchen cabinet without hitting a wire. We take such photos at every site and hand them over to the client.

What makes up the cost of renovation

The “from … ₸ per m²” price is a reference point for comparing contractors. The final amount is made up of the scope of specific work, and that depends on the flat.

Price per m²: what it depends on

• Condition of the apartment: uneven walls require a thick layer of plaster, and an old floor requires demolition and a new screed.
• Number of wet zones: the bathroom and the kitchen are the most expensive rooms in terms of work per m².
• Finishing complexity: multi-level ceilings, large-format tiles, hidden doors and lighting.
• Electrical scope: the number of sockets and circuits, underfloor heating, air conditioners.

Materials: shell and finishing

Rough materials — plaster, putty, screed mixes, primer, cable, pipes, waterproofing — are calculated from the estimate, and it is more convenient for the contractor to purchase them themselves: they know the consumption and compatibility. Finishing materials — tiles, laminate, wallpaper, paint, plumbing fixtures and doors — are often chosen by the clients themselves. It is important to agree on this at the start: the deadlines and responsibility for quality depend on who purchases the materials.

Why the estimate may change

In resale housing, some defects only become visible after demolition: voids under the plaster, rotten embedded pipes, wiring without protective earthing. We show such places in photos, price the additional work as a separate line and start it only after the client's written consent. That is why, before signing the contract, it is worth checking that this procedure is set out in it.

Bathroom and kitchen renovation

The bathroom and kitchen are rooms with water, electricity and appliances, where mistakes cost the most: from flooding the neighbours to replacing all the tiles.

Bathroom: waterproofing, pipework, tiles

Waterproofing is applied across the entire floor and up the walls, and in the shower area to the full height reached by water. Corners and junctions are sealed with waterproofing tape. Pipe routing is planned around the selected fixtures: a wall-hung toilet, a shower drain and a concealed mixer each have their own heights and outlet positions. Tiles are laid after the pipework has been checked by pressure testing, and inspection hatches to the meters and valves are left under the bath and by the installation frame.

Kitchen: electrics for appliances and the backsplash

The electrical layout in the kitchen is drawn up after the kitchen furniture has been chosen: sockets are placed above the worktop, and separate lines with circuit breakers of the required rating are run for the oven, hob, dishwasher and washing machine. Outlets for the extractor hood and under-cabinet lighting are also planned in advance. The backsplash is laid after the lower cabinets are installed or using precise marking of their height.

Contract, acceptance and warranty

A good renovation is put in writing: in the contract, the estimate and the acceptance report. We explain what to check in each.

What the contract must include

• Estimate: a list of works with quantities and unit prices, not a single lump sum.
• Timeframe: start date, stages and completion date.
• Payment procedure: a deposit and payment by stages after acceptance.
• Materials: who purchases them and who is responsible for delivery and carrying them up.
• Additional work: only by written agreement.
• Warranty: term and procedure for remedying defects.

How to accept the renovation

Inspect the work in good lighting. Check the walls with a two-metre straightedge and the side light of a torch — this reveals waves and bumps. Tap the tiles: a dull sound means a void beneath the tile. The joints must be even and of uniform width. Test the sockets with a tester, and the breakers in the distribution board must be labelled. Open all the taps and check the connections under the sinks and the bathtub. Record any remarks in the handover certificate — the contractor rectifies them before signing.

Renovation warranty

The warranty period for the work is stated in the contract, and the manufacturer's warranty applies to materials. Keep the contract, estimate, acceptance certificate and photos of hidden works: in a warranty case they make it easier to determine the cause of the defect.

Conclusion

Apartment renovation comes down to a few decisions: the type of renovation, the order of work, the materials and the contractor. A short summary of each point:

Key takeaways

• Type of renovation — based on the condition of the apartment: if the wiring and pipes are old, cosmetics will not help — a major renovation is needed.
• Hidden work comes first: electricals, plumbing and waterproofing are done before finishing, and are photographed.
• The price per m² is a guide: the final amount is shown by the room-by-room estimate after measurement.
• Everything in the contract: the estimate, deadlines, payment stages, warranty and the procedure for additional work.
• Acceptance by handover report: defects are recorded and rectified before signing.