How to make a beautiful home renovation. Do-it-yourself renovation of a private house. Drawing up a design project and estimate. Replacing communications. Restoration of the facade and rooms. Dividing a room into zones

Looking for ideas on how to change the interior of a private home? For your inspiration, we have collected here 40 photos of rooms before and after renovation. From small decorative changes to complete space redesigns, here you will find examples of effective design solutions For different tastes and budget.

The most common problem of small private houses is the lack of free air in the space. The reason for this may be small windows, too bright suffocating color scheme, massive furniture, curtains, etc. By eradicating this reason, you can make any interior of a private home look freer and more elegant.

  1. Replace massive floor furniture with lighter models with thin legs;
  2. Place a large mirror;
  3. Clear the windows;
  4. Remove closed cabinets and replace them with open shelves or whatnots;
  5. Replace large patterns on carpets, curtains and wallpaper with smaller patterns;
  6. Choose cool color scheme(not lighter, but fresher);
  7. Get rid of massive lamps.

Looking at the following photos of the interiors: which of the above methods were used to redesign these rooms?



How to make the interior of a private house more comfortable

Often the problem is completely opposite to the previous one. The lack of comfort and warmth in a room can be no less depressing than their excess. To make the interior of your private home more cozy and welcoming, try applying some of the above tips in reverse, i.e.:

  1. Use large patterns instead of small ones;
  2. Choose a warmer color scheme;
  3. Use a few antique or faux-worn items;
  4. Hang a chic oversized chandelier on the ceiling;
  5. Decorate the windows with heavy curtains.

At the same time, you don’t have to install massive furniture at all, because the interior can become cozy without unnecessarily cluttering the space. This can be facilitated by the same open shelves with many bright trinkets, thin , carpets on the floor, paintings or photographs in frames, etc.

But if you don’t want to take on the responsibility of caring for a large number of interior details, then go the other way. Choose a dark color for one or more walls, warm and bright shades- for massive upholstered furniture, and add to all this several sculptural decorative items, such as floor lamps, floor statues, tall houseplants, large paintings, etc.




We save the interior design of a private home from chaos

Does your interior look too jumbled and unfocused? This may be due not only to clutter, but also to an overabundance of different shades, patterns and decorative items. To make the interiors of a private home look more calm and elegant, designers can use the following methods:

  1. Create a central point around which all other decorative items will be focused (fireplace, painting, Wall Clock, coffee table);
  2. Divide the interior using different carpets or other floor coverings, and organize separate ordered zones on each of them;
  3. Use oversized multifunctional furniture with additional compartments for storing things, as well as glass and acrylic furniture;
  4. Add an object to the room that will unite everything else (for example, if the room has a lot of decor in blue, pink and green tones, then you can buy a rug or large wall art that will combine these 3 shades);
  5. Add shiny mirror or metal surfaces. They will easily smooth out any excess in your interior, be it an excess of shades or an abundance of any material, for example, wood;
  6. Place items symmetrically or balanced ( );
  7. Add a vertical accent that will visually increase the size of the room. To do this, it may be enough to replace or rehang the curtains so that they appear longer, install high shelves on the sides of the fireplace, buy high shelves, hang wall decor under each other, etc.


When the interior of a private home just needs a bright style

Neutral color palette makes you bored? Do you think that the interior of a private home lacks the brightness of life and style? Or maybe you just wanted to radically change the background and environment? In this case, we offer you 10 examples of spectacular transformations of rooms in the house that will tell you in which direction you should move. You can also read the following articles on our blog for inspiration:

ABOUT country house This is the dream of many metropolitan residents, but buying good real estate will require a lot of money, and building a house from scratch will cost even more. Therefore, most people prefer to buy old houses that require renovation, which we will discuss below.

How to renovate an old house with your own hands

As noted above, pricing in the real estate market is such that sometimes, in fact, it is more profitable to buy used housing. In addition to the financial benefits, there is another significant advantage of old houses - most often they are located in places with well-developed infrastructure, while progress may not reach new buildings soon.

If you buy a plot and build a house yourself, then you will have to lay communications, which takes time and additional funds. And everything would be fine, but no one has canceled the natural wear and tear of the structure, and often old houses need major repairs. What is the best place to start working and what to focus on first.

First of all, the disadvantages of used houses are related to the specifics of construction in the Soviet Union. In the past, most houses in rural areas were built from wood, and it is clear that after 50 or more years these structures will need strengthening and restoration. Wood-boring beetles most likely live inside the floors and walls; fungus and rot are visible somewhere.

If you bought a Soviet-built home, then be prepared for the fact that repairing an old wooden house will require large expenses, and in some cases it will be easier to completely demolish the box, repair and strengthen the foundation and build everything from scratch.

During the 90s, there was a high popularity of private housing construction, and then brick began to be used in construction. It would seem that a more durable building material should retain its performance qualities longer, but the use of poor building mixtures, the lack of qualified architects, and sometimes simply sloppiness during construction, caused most houses to require considerable capital investment.

Usually in such houses there is a discrepancy between the nature of the soil and the foundation structures - brick buildings have heavy weight, therefore, there must be stable soil and a strong foundation under them.

If you have to work with a box at home that does not have interior decoration, then most likely the unprotected brick walls have already begun to crumble, for this reason it will be necessary to strengthen them or replace particularly damaged areas.

The most common damages in old houses

Before you begin repairs and buy building materials, it is worth developing a detailed action plan. To do this, you need to carefully inspect the home and assess its condition. What should you pay attention to when renovating an old house with your own hands?

The “weakest” points in private houses of old construction:

  • External walls - often they contain weak seams, cracks allowing water to pass through, rotten elements (beams, sheathing), rusty steel beams, peeling concrete. For example, damp walls in a basement indicate poor design or deteriorating foundation waterproofing. Special attention should be paid to internal ventilation and thermal insulation of walls.
  • Internal walls - poor sound insulation, fire safety ( Decoration Materials are not treated with fire retardants, they are easily flammable), due to poor-quality application or dampness, the plaster crumbles.
  • Doors and Windows – In 99% of cases, windows will have to be replaced. Please pay Special attention on window sills (integrity, strength of coating), insulation of metal frames (condensation often forms on them). As a rule, the locks and fittings on the doors suffer; sometimes, when the foundation shrinks, they are repainted and the seal peels off. If in a house with metal door there is no cold vestibule, then on it inside condensation forms.
  • In the 90s, tiles were most often used as a roof, which were laid haphazardly. It is important to pay attention to the rafter structure - whether the beams are rotten or warped. The roofing pie must include heat, hydro and vapor barrier, and also be intact. If add-ons are used and chimneys on the roof, check their integrity. Carefully inspect your gutters and check how securely they are secured.
  • Interfloor ceilings - due to incorrect calculations, floor beams crack or bend. If between wooden beam and the wall lacks waterproofing, it will have to be replaced. Often found in basements concrete floors or short steel beams.
  • Floors – there are large gaps between the boards, wood flooring worn out, parquet floorboards creaking, cracks and holes in monolithic floors, burnt or worn out linoleum, shaky chipboard covering.
  • Stairs - almost everything wooden stairs require replacement of damaged elements or a capital element. Fire safety requirements are often violated - there is a small distance between the balusters.
  • Heating – a crumbling stove, the size of the adapter does not correspond to the connection to the gas supply system, chimneys are too wide (accumulate soot), unsuitable radiators (often cast iron), lack of heating regulators.
  • Plumbing - clogged or damaged pipes, poorly thought out location of communications, resulting in constant blockages, the inability of a gas water heater or boiler to heat water. In almost all cases, it is recommended to change the plumbing fixtures.
  • Electricity – low voltage, unsuitable wiring (only enough to turn on the TV or lights in the room, but not enough for normal operation of household devices), old fuses.

Most of the problems listed above are eliminated during repairs; for example, unsuitable wall coverings are dismantled if you plan to increase thermal insulation. Replacing switches and sockets is also not difficult; you can replace old plumbing fixtures in a short time. Whether it's a cracked foundation or a faulty roof, these issues can be expensive and difficult to resolve.

How to renovate an old house with your own hands - renovation planning

Major renovations to an old home should begin with careful planning. After inspecting the home and identifying all serious defects, it is recommended to begin implementing the project on paper. If you do not have the makings of an artist, you can handle visualization using design computer programs (Autodesk Homestyler, 3DMax, SketchUp Make, Ashampoo Home Designer, Sweet Home 3D, SketchUp Make).

Who needs a plan:
  1. You will have an idea of ​​what needs to be done and in what order.
  2. You will see in advance how the house will look and compare the result with the virtual one.
  3. You will calculate the exact amount of building materials.

If you plan to move or demolish walls, heating or gas appliances, plumbing equipment, replacing an electric stove with a gas one, such actions will require documentary permission. To do this, you will have to contact the relevant authorities in the area.

To correct the registration certificate of a house, you need to write an application and prepare a package of documents, including a description of the upcoming work. To determine whether you need to obtain permission for repairs, look at the technical passport - all structures included in the plan can be repaired. However, to add additional space, for example, a summer kitchen, you will need permission. Otherwise, the extension may be considered illegal and simply demolished.

How to renovate an old house with your own hands: interior work

The fast pace of life forces people to often spend time on the road or constantly work, but even the busiest person spends a third of his life at home, not to mention children, housewives and retirees. Therefore, it is very important to create a favorable atmosphere, and this applies not only to decoration, but also to lighting, heat, ventilation and other important aspects. The psychological and physical health of the household will depend on them.

Daylight

It is important that the house has daylight, and the more there is, the better. Windows should occupy no more than 10% of the total area of ​​the house. Just imagine how much discomfort a person who regularly stays in a shaded room will feel - it will ruin his eyesight, it is impossible to fully clean, ventilate and grow indoor plants in this room. In addition, the lack or absence of windows will lead to high energy costs, and now even wealthy homeowners are trying to save on electricity.

Attention! Previously, small doorways and small windows were made in wooden houses in order to minimize heat loss. In those days they used plain glass, which did not protect against the cold very well.

However, no one will allow you to just cut a beach window in the wall. There are certain regulations for expanding, moving or replacing windows. Please note that separate standards are provided for all regions of the country, since the coefficient of natural illumination is different.

The loss of illumination is affected not only by the size of the window, but also by the type of glass you use. It's no secret that double-glazed windows or ordinary glass do not transmit UV radiation, which means it will not be possible to create a luxurious greenhouse or solarium. Quartz glasses are used for this, but they are expensive, so they are purchased for specific needs.

How to arrange windows in the house:

  • The windows in the bedroom and kitchen should face the southeast side, so that in the evening the sunset does not blind the household, and in the morning there is natural light.
  • The windows of the living room are usually located to the west, so that you can turn on the lights during the evening rest for as long as possible and admire the sunset.
  • Window utility rooms must be oriented to the north, since usually there are equipment, tools, materials and products that do not need bright natural light.
  • If the room has several windows on different sides, then the small ones should be oriented to the north, and the large ones to the south.
  • Windows facing south and west should be shaded naturally using structural elements buildings (protruding roof or balconies), eaves or shutters, trees growing nearby.

Insulation of the house

A comfortable microclimate in a house largely depends on humidity and air temperature. In turn, these factors are ensured by proper steam and heat insulation and ventilation of the space.

The temperature in the house consists of two components - the temperature of surfaces (ceiling, walls and floor) and air. The optimal surface temperature is +17°C, air temperature is +20°C. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the residents. For example, for older people, housing should be made warmer, so it is better to install a heating regulator in each room so that everyone can set the desired temperature.

As a rule, in old-type houses there is insufficient thermal insulation of the walls, or it is simply missing. For this reason, a difference arises between the temperature inside and outside the building, as a result of which condensation forms, humidity increases and households feel unwell due to constant stuffiness. If the wall cannot be disassembled, we recommend making high-quality thermal insulation of the walls from the inside or outside.

Ventilation in the house

Due to disruption of natural air exchange, the structures of the floor, walls and ceiling deteriorate over time, which can also cause respiratory tract diseases. Previously, rarely did anyone think about creating ventilation in the roof and walls, and the reason for this was often not just the carelessness of the builders, but also the lack of well-thought-out projects.

At that time, the methods of ventilating foundations, facades and roofs that are used in construction today were not yet known.

Ventilation of rooms with excessive air humidity - bathrooms, kitchens, basements - deserves special attention. If used in multi-storey buildings exhaust ventilation, which works due to pressure differences between cold and warm air, then this method is unacceptable for private houses.

In a house with two or three floors, the air pressure is very weak, so air exchange is carried out through the walls. To ensure this, it is worth laying a vapor barrier and insulating it with “breathable” materials. These include mineral wool boards, expanded polystyrene (extruded and regular), penoflex, etc.

Additional ventilation should pass through windows and vents, but in winter this method causes inconvenience. As a result, in cottage construction an exhaust ventilation system is always provided, which operates on fans - they take warm air and remove it outside, supplying it from the street Fresh air. The photo below shows the principle of operation of exhaust ventilation.

Electricity in the house

Unfortunately, the power supply in old houses almost always leaves much to be desired. If the previous residents did not take care of improving the system, then such work will fall on your shoulders. The main problem in these cases is not rotten wiring and old sockets, but insufficient power.

Previously, people did not consume much electricity because there was not an abundance of electrical appliances. As for entertainment, there was only radio, TV, but now there are game consoles, computers, stereo systems, etc.

If you have planned to install a “warm floor” system, you do not want to turn off the computer to turn on washing machine or simply risk the performance of expensive equipment, you will have to contact the regional energy supply organization and ask to increase the quota for your home.

Unfortunately, for most old houses this cannot be done, so the only correct solution is to install your own substation. This event is quite expensive, but can pay for itself in the first few years and, as a result, will save money and control energy supply.

In the event that everything is fine with the power, and you only need to replace the wiring, you need to draw up a diagram already finished system. It is necessary not only for quick and coordinated replacement, but also for subsequent repairs in the house. So, if you are planning to demolish a wall or doorway, then there is a high probability of cutting off power to absolutely the entire house.

Mostly exposed wiring in old houses (the wires are located outside the wall, in the corners near the floor or under the ceiling), so it will be easy to draw up a diagram. If you use closed-type wiring, we recommend calling a specialist.

Attention! When drawing up an electrical wiring diagram, we recommend indicating not just the location of the outlets, but also the power of the devices that you are going to connect to them. It would be a good idea to make a small supply of sockets if you plan to install additional equipment in the future.

High-quality heating in the house

The most common problem with old houses is high consumption electricity for space heating. This is primarily due to poor thermal insulation of the floor, walls and ceiling and an outdated heating system. To reduce costs, in addition to thermal insulation, it is worth replacing old radiators (usually cast iron). The thermal insulation of the roof deserves special attention, since most of the heat escapes through it.

Attention! If you paint the batteries black, and lay foil material between the wall and them (the reflective side should be outward), then the house will be much warmer. The black color helps the battery heat up faster, and the foil will reflect heat into the room, whereas previously it escaped through the wall.

It is especially important to decide on the right choice of heating equipment. Thus, modern boilers operating on solid fuel are able to maintain the optimal temperature at the outlet of the boiler in automatic mode; a capacitive heat accumulator can be connected to them, which will accumulate excess heat during the day and release it at night. This is convenient if there are no residents during the day and there is simply no one to warm up.

IN Lately gas generator boilers are gaining immense popularity. Their efficiency reaches 90%, since it burns not just wood, but also wood gas. They produce a small amount of zone, significantly save fuel and do not produce soot.

As for pyrolysis boilers, they are perfect for houses with a centralized gas supply, while electric boilers are recommended to be used as a backup option if your boiler suddenly fails. They are unprofitable in financially and consume a lot of electricity. However, even a high-quality boiler cannot avoid heat loss, especially if it is installed in an old house.

There are several ways to help minimize heat loss:
  • seal or replace windows and doors;
  • install thresholds and sealing gaskets between the floor and doors;
  • if there is only one glass installed in the windows, provide it with a second frame or install a second one;
  • hang thick, heavy curtains in the living room, bedroom and nursery, but so that they do not cover the radiators;
  • You can ensure floor insulation in a room located above the basement using cork or felt backing, linoleum, thick carpet, heat-insulating boards; to enhance the effect, insulate the basement ceiling;
  • We recommend covering the outer surface of the heating boiler with non-combustible insulation; warm air You may determine that your heating equipment is wasting a lot of useful energy;
  • In summer, special solar collectors that heat water will help you save on electricity;
  • In those places where the heat pipe passes through an unheated room, insulate it with foam or mineral wool.

Interior decoration

When the replacement of electrical wiring, plumbing, vapor barrier and insulation of surfaces is completed, you can begin the interesting part of renovating an old house with your own hands - interior decoration. The specifics and scope of work directly depend on the selected wall material.

Eg, plasterboard partitions can be covered with wallpaper while brick walls require priming and leveling, unless, of course, you plan to finish with PVC panels.

Interior wall decoration is necessary not only for external attractiveness. Her main task is to protect the heat and vapor barrier layer and the material itself from premature damage and deterioration. Therefore, you should choose finishing materials only taking into account the specifics of the room. For the kitchen and nursery, washable paints or putties are suitable; for the bedroom it is better to give preference to something more comfortable, for example, vinyl wallpapers, wooden panels are perfect for a study.

Before finishing wooden walls, it is worth treating them with fire-retardant compounds, which protect the wood from fire. In this regard, paint is the best option, as it performs both decorative and protective functions.

However, it should be chosen carefully. Like other finishing materials, paints can be used for interior and exterior use. The main difference between “internal” paints is that they are not so resistant to negative external influences, temperature changes and UV radiation, but have greater coverage and aesthetics.

The environmental friendliness of the material also plays a huge role. In old houses you can still find surfaces that are covered with heavy paints (they contain lead). It is also better to avoid inexpensive oil-based alkyd paints, as they release harmful chemicals.

As for water-dispersion paints, they are perfect for finishing rooms. They are safe for health and do not harm natural ventilation, that is, they allow the walls to “breathe”.

Floor in the house

As a rule, the floors in old houses are covered with either planks, creaky parquet, or worn linoleum. Let's consider each of the options in more detail.

The nature of the repair work directly depends on the floor covering of the house:

  1. Wooden covering.

The most common type of flooring is plank flooring, as batten provides aesthetics and comfort in the room and was inexpensive. It is durable and environmentally friendly, for this reason, if you get such a floor, do not rush to tear out the boards - if it is properly repaired, then no modern coating can compare with it in quality and beauty.

Over time, the boards dry out, begin to spring, creak and wobble, and in some places holes appear from wood-boring beetles. In this case, severely damaged boards should be replaced. If you decide to replace part of the board, then the patch must rest on two joists, otherwise it will be unstable. To ensure that the floor does not creak and is level, the floorboards are held together.

To do this, the floor is dismantled, marking the location of the boards so as not to disturb their order later. Then you need to check the condition, replace or lay the substrate if it has deteriorated due to humidity or time.

If the floorboards are sagging, this may mean that there are not enough joists underneath and not enough quality support. Therefore, you just need to remove the boards and add joists in the places of deflection. If you suddenly find holes, chips and cracks in the floorboards, they can be repaired using wood putty.

  1. Parquet flooring.

Parquet flooring is especially common in homes that were built in the 60s and 70s. last century. One of the most common parquet problems of those times was the creaking and swelling of floorboards. Such elements will have to be replaced with new ones, unless, of course, the parquet is swollen along the entire perimeter, since then it will need to be completely replaced.

Often the cause of squeaking is dry boards or an uneven base. Previously, parquet was laid directly on bitumen mastic, and there was no talk of any cork or plywood substrates. To find the cause of the squeak, you need to remove the floorboard and carefully inspect the base. It is best to re-lay creaking parquet on a substrate.

Old parquet floors have cracks in which debris regularly gets clogged. They definitely need to be sealed. To do this, you need to clean the gap and fill it with a special putty. If it is large, then to eliminate it, use a wooden patch, which is mounted on epoxy glue.

If you are faced with worn, scratched and darkened parquet, there is only one way out - sanding. The sanding machine removes the top layer of parquet and removes the varnish coating, after which you can begin to seal the cracks and recoat the floor with fresh varnish.

  1. Linoleum.

If it's lying on the floor old linoleum, it is easier to replace than to repair. This is one of budget options coatings, so you don't lose in financially. In addition, modern linoleums are produced with dense noise- and heat-insulating substrates, so they will be better than the previous coating.

In the event that the linoleum is in good condition, but there is furniture in place small holes or dents, apply patches. Place a new piece of linoleum on the damaged area with a small allowance, cut out the patch, grabbing the old linoleum from below.

So, you will have both a patch and a suitable notch for it. Carefully coat the edges of the holes in the old linoleum and the bottom of the patch with glue, and for better fixation, place a weight on top until the glue dries. Moreover, with the help of such patches you can create original coating for the floor, if you have pieces of linoleum with different patterns.

How to renovate an old house with your own hands: exterior work

If you have renovated an old house from the inside, then for exterior work you will most likely need special equipment and hired workers. First of all, this concerns the external decoration of the walls on the second floor and roof repairs.

Foundation design features

Buying old a private house, first of all, you need to pay attention not to the wallpaper, pipes and wiring, not even to the condition of the roof and walls, but to the foundation, because if the foundation is faulty, then repairing it is very expensive and difficult, or even completely impossible.

Foundation failure can lead to many problems from basement flooding and cracking walls to the collapse of the entire frame of the house.

One of the most common problems is change physical and chemical properties soil. If a house was previously built on stable ground, this does not mean that over the years the soil has not eroded and the groundwater level has become higher. As a result, the foundation falls underground or warps.

When the foundation of a house settles, this process must be interrupted as quickly as possible. Usually, for this purpose, beams are placed under the base so that they can take on the load during repairs. To strengthen the foundation along the entire perimeter, a reinforcing mesh is used, which will improve the bearing capacity of the foundation by expanding it to the sides.

Be that as it may, foundation repair is a responsible undertaking that involves a risk to life and requires high qualifications, so doing it on your own is highly not recommended.

External walls

Mostly old external walls Weathered mortar joints, peeling plaster, obvious cracks or damp smudges speak eloquently of their venerable age. And while the plaster can be replaced, a crack in the wall may indicate a serious foundation problem, so before buying an old house, carefully inspect the walls.

If fungus or mold is noticed on the inside of the wall, this indicates missing or damaged waterproofing - the temperature difference between the outside and inside of the house causes condensation to form. But in order to eliminate several problems at the same time: retaining heat, dampening walls, creating ventilation and saving energy, it is worth taking care of laying vapor and thermal insulation.

If the wall has been insulated, then laying a vapor barrier membrane and a thermal insulation layer will prevent the formation of condensation.

To improve the ventilation of the interior space, it is enough to take a few simple measures:

  1. Ventilate the room as often as possible.
  2. Do not move furniture close to the walls - let there be a distance of 5 cm between them.
  3. Between the sheathing and the vapor barrier for interior decoration, make an indentation for ventilation.
  4. Replace rotten elements and treat the rest with anti-corrosion compounds.

Roof of the house

The roof not only provides protection from cold and rain, but also determines the appearance of the house. Depending on the design, the “mood” and exterior of the house changes. If previously gable tile structures were in fashion, now most people prefer “European” straight roofs. They are much easier to use, create a concise and stylish look, and they can be used as additional usable area(applies to flat roofs).

The integrity and condition of the roofing pie directly determine the preservation of heat and the indoor microclimate. The most common problems with roofs include damaged or compromised coverage, rotten rafter system, damaged waterproofing, leaky or missing thermal insulation. If you have a slate roof, then most likely it has turned green from moisture and time.

For practical reasons, it is better to replace the old slate to eliminate the possibility of leaks, especially if you bought a house in the summer and do not know what to expect when the rainy season arrives.

It is impossible to tell exactly how to repair an old house, since the specifics and scope of work directly depend on the nature of the damage. Above we looked at the most common faults. If you are just planning to buy an old house outside the city, pay attention to the points listed above, especially the condition of the load-bearing walls and roof foundation, and then, perhaps, you will be able to avoid expensive major repairs.

The repair cannot be completed, it can only be stopped temporarily. This is what they say about apartment renovations, but what if a private house or cottage needs to be renovated? After all, here, as a rule, everything is much more complicated. Firstly, there is more space here - on average, a cottage has a larger living area. Secondly, a private house has its own communications - heating from its own boiler, electrical installations done by yourself, as well as water, sewerage, etc. Thirdly, a cottage is not only an internal living space, there is also outer part walls, roof, basements, etc. The age of the house and the materials from which it is built are also important.

If you finally decide to start and are planning to do the renovation of a private house with your own hands, then of course you hope that it will not turn into an endless one and will not suck all the money out of you. And for this you need to carefully plan repair and finishing work and take into account a number of features that we will discuss in this article.

So, you started a renovation. Where is the best place to start? If you have a specific breakdown or one specific room requires repairs, everything, of course, is extremely simple. We take it and repair it. But what if repairs need to be carried out everywhere? This is true, for example, when renovating an old house. Let's look at the most difficult case, that is, when you need to carry out a major overhaul. How to properly plan such work? These are the principles.

This is a fairly universal rule that applies to almost any repair and finishing work. In practice this means the following.

  • Firstly, you should begin to repair the upper rooms first, gradually descending below. Why? Yes, because renovation in general and cottage renovation in particular means a lot of garbage, and it will be much more convenient for you! The only exception is basement renovation. It’s almost like the second floor, only down underground, and for some reason much more dirt is generated when renovating the basement. So, if your basement needs renovation, it's best to schedule it as one of the first items.
  • Secondly When renovating a specific room, first do work on the ceiling, then on the walls, and only then do the floor. The reason is simple - if you start painting the ceiling when the wallpaper is already hung and the floors are finished with parquet, you can simply get everything dirty. Imagine how annoying it would be if your new wallpaper was splattered with paint?

And finally, following the principle of “first the ceiling, then the walls and floor,” you need to bring the room to the same degree of readiness, and then move on to the next stage. For example, if you have bare walls in a room, then first you carry out all communications, make wiring, etc., then putty the ceiling, then the walls, then level the floors (fill, screed, etc.). That is, you get a room with a rough finish. And only after that do you move on to painting the ceiling, gluing wallpaper, laying flooring, and completing the finishing touches. Well, then – the decor and furnishings. The reasons are the same.

Second rule First, we repair communications, then the premises itself

As a rule, all household utilities are laid hidden. Electrical wiring, Internet and television cables are hidden under putty and wallpaper, laid in baseboards, and run to the lighting lamps under the putty and paint of the ceiling. Heating pipes run through walls, and sometimes are also hidden in them. Warm floors - in the thickness of the floor, under screed and parquet. Imagine, you have already done repairs to the walls and ceiling, and suddenly you remember that you need to do the wiring. What, are you going to drill holes for installing electrical wiring in the newly finished walls, and then repair them again? Agree, this is not rational.

The third rule is to break down all repairs into stages.

The main thing is not to start renovating the cottage in all places at the same time. For example, first we select a specific room or floor, then the next part of the house, and so on. This is especially true if you live in this house and are doing renovations at the same time. Moreover, it is best to be the first to repair distant and hard-to-reach rooms - upper rooms, basements. If, sooner or later, you still have to repair the walk-through room, try to allocate an area in it where you can walk without the risk of getting dirty.

The fourth rule: First, we repair what is critically necessary for a normal life.

If there are problems with the plumbing, they need to be addressed first. If autumn is approaching and your roof is leaking, this is the most critical problem and it needs to be fixed urgently. If winter is coming, and your house doesn’t keep warm well, we urgently insulate it, and then do everything else.

Fifth rule Focus on the season

If you need to repair a private house both inside and outside, it would, of course, be more correct to carry out internal repairs in winter and in the off-season, and plan work on the facade for the warm season. This is especially important when repairing a wooden house or a house made of other non-moisture resistant materials.

It is also important to consider when and what materials need to be delivered, where to store them (for example, you should not leave cinder blocks or boards under open air for the winter period, and keep flammable materials inside the house), think about who can help you in those stages of repair when you cannot physically cope alone.

Has the time come when you need to repair the walls in a private house? There is no need to waste time studying information from different sites. We will walk you through this process in detail.

Each home has a unique charm, which is achieved through the selection of finishing materials. But before you start decorating the walls and processing them, you should carry out all the preliminary rough work. Any wall repair in a private house begins with dismantling the old covering. This is not difficult to do if you listen to the advice of experts and acquire the necessary tools.

Depending on the condition of the walls in the house, the following procedures may be necessary:

  • withdrawal wall coverings in the form of wallpaper;
  • dismantling ceramic tiles;
  • cleaning various surfaces from oil paint;
  • dismantling the wall, its new construction;
  • opening cutout for doors or windows;
  • knocking down plaster from walls;
  • Repairing the walls of a private house may also require dismantling plumbing and electrical appliances.

The walls must be strong and fully prepared for subsequent work. For example, we wrote about earlier. It will take a lot of time to collect and remove construction waste. You can do this yourself or with the support of a company that provides such services.

What else is needed to repair the walls of a private house?

After dismantling, it is very important to carry out all the rough work correctly. First you need to start leveling the surfaces. Repair of the walls of a private house will be of high quality only if finishing applied to the prepared surface.


Leveling is considered an important stage of repair work. It is important to consider what finishing material such a base is prepared for, since its properties may change. Cosmetic, major or European-quality repairs have their own small error tolerances, which are calculated on square meter wall area.

The most commonly used type of surface leveling is wet. In order to perform them, you do not need complex skills, it is enough to have the skills to use a spatula. You can buy leveling mixture at a building supply store.

It is necessary to measure differences along the entire length of the wall using a special tool - a building level. Sometimes a rope is stretched along the wall for these purposes.

Is it necessary to insulate walls in a private house?

Many home owners resort to tricks by adding internal insulation of wall structures to the list of repair work. In fact, experienced experts recommend abandoning such actions, since external insulation is more practical and justified.

At internal insulation the walls remain cold outside, so such savings may result in the appearance of condensation and mold in the room.

Repairing walls in a private house: how is finishing done?

After the surface has become smooth and the solution has completely dried, you can begin finishing work. The choice of finish is quite difficult for many buyers. There are these main types:


In wooden private houses, finishing often ends correct processing and painting the log house. If it has a beautiful appearance, there is no point in hiding it behind PVC panels.

Do-it-yourself apartment renovation, where to start - this is a question every homeowner has asked himself at least once in his life. Usually, positive emotions This upcoming event is exciting for those who have received or purchased their own home for the first time. Those who have already dealt with the work of putting their apartment in order know how much trouble they bring, and how much effort they will have to put in to achieve the desired result.

But, if the time has come to renovate your apartment, you will have to be patient and a decent amount, the size of which depends on what type of repair you decide to carry out.

Types of apartment renovations

The renovation can be major or cosmetic, covering the entire apartment or its individual premises. But you should know that repairs in some rooms may be more labor-intensive and require greater costs and effort than work in other rooms.

Major renovation

Capital work involves renovation from scratch in new apartment or redevelopment with replacement or relocation installed elements in an old home. The scope of work will depend on what changes it is decided to make in the apartment.

The total scope of work may consist of the following activities:

  • This may include demolishing or installing partitions, combining or dividing rooms, moving or widening doorways. If at least one of the listed actions is planned, then you should definitely consult with a specialist who will determine whether this process is possible. All repair work related to the dismantling or installation of walls in a multi-story building must be confirmed by the permission of the commission of the management organization.
  • Replacement and relocation of plumbing fixtures, radiators, electrical sockets, installation of additional lighting.
  • Replacement of windows and doors.
  • Replacement old decoration ceiling walls and floors.
  • Embedding furniture, if this process is included in the plans.

A major refurbishment of an apartment is a lengthy process that cannot be done in two days or a week, and the rooms will have to be emptied of furniture and all things, as they will interfere with the work or may be damaged by building materials. You may have to carry out repairs one by one in each of the living rooms; in this case, you will have to take care of purchasing thick plastic film for curtaining the doors from construction dust and dirt. But, as a rule, major renovations still imply that the family will have to live in another place for this time.

Redecorating

Cosmetic renovation usually involves replacing decorative trim in one, several or all rooms. It may be that after removing the old coating, you will have to make adjustments to the corners, surfaces of the ceiling, walls and floor.

When performing cosmetic repairs, preparing surfaces for new decorative materials can be called one of the most important processes. No matter how expensive the chosen wallpaper, linoleum or paint is, if they are laid or applied to uneven surfaces with chips, they will not achieve the expected effect. Therefore, in order for the decorative finish to look properly, leveling the surfaces using putty or self-leveling flooring is indispensable.

Having chosen a repair option that is suitable for a particular apartment, you can proceed to further work.

Drawing up a repair plan

The first thing that needs to be done is to draw up a plan of the apartment, which will display exact data on the area and height of the ceilings of each room, with or without partitions, in a word - in the form that the apartment should appear after the renovation work.

General rules for planning repairs

The design project should show the desired color of flooring, wallpaper, as well as at least an approximate arrangement of furniture. Using this project plan, it will be easy to calculate the necessary building materials and accessories for each of the apartment’s premises. Of course, it won’t be possible to take everything into account, but this will save you from some mistakes that are typical for unprofessional craftsmen:

  • Taking into account the arrangement of furniture and various household equipment, you immediately need to determine the location and number of electrical sockets and switches.
  • We must try to avoid shortages of certain finishing materials, since if they have to be purchased in addition, it will be very difficult to perfectly match the shades of the same tiles or wallpaper.
  • Having completed a project in color, you can visually verify the correctness of the decorative coatings chosen in color and how they will harmonize with the shades of the furniture.

In the process of drawing up such a plan, many ideas for decorating the premises may appear, so it is recommended to make a project in several color schemes, and then choose the option you like best.

The plan can be made using computer program or on a regular A4 sheet. It must be carried out in compliance with the dimensions corresponding to the real ones, but on a reduced scale.

If the plan is drawn up manually, then having drawn it once, then you need to make several photocopies on which you can apply different shades or different furniture arrangements.

Having a graphic plan will allow you to “play” with finishing styles and furniture arrangement

You can make a plan of the entire apartment to see it color scheme completely or make a design project for each of the rooms.

In addition, it is very convenient to put a stage number on each of the plans, and plan specific work on each of them. For example, on one of the drawings you can show the redevelopment of walls, on another - electrical wiring and placement of sockets, as well as connecting various devices, on the third - the future arrangement of furniture and color scheme.

Dividing a room into zones

To know where to start renovating each room, you need to determine what will be located in it.

  • In a children's room, it is advisable to separate, if space permits, the sleeping area from the play area or from the child's activity area.
  • The kitchen should be spacious, so it must also be properly divided into zones, defining a work and dining area, as well as the installation of various appliances.
  • If you plan to divide or combine a bathroom, then on the first drawing you should measure and indicate its dimensions and arrangement of accessories.
  • If you start with the desire to divide it into two separate rooms, you need to measure everything very carefully both in the drawing and on site. In this case, you need to immediately determine the thickness of the partitions, since they also occupy a certain area.

Sometimes such redevelopment can also affect the hallway, since in some apartments it takes up quite a lot large area. Here it is important to determine what kind of design the partition has that separates the hallway from the rest of the rooms. If it is capital, then without permitting documents you can't touch her.

  • If it is not possible to divide the room with a partition for some reason, you can install a cabinet or shelving as a “barrier”. It is also worth noting on the plan.

Selection of materials for decorative finishing

In the next plan-drawing it is worth understanding the finishing material and its color, since the comfort of being in the room will depend on these factors. When deciding on a finish, you need to choose it wisely. Naturally, the safest for human health is natural material such as cork, wood, paper, ceramics and the like, however, some types cannot always be used due to the high price or inconsistency with the chosen design. So, what materials can be used for different rooms:

  • Children's room and bedroom for adults. For rooms of this purpose, it is necessary to make maximum use of natural finishes that do not cause allergic reactions, are “breathable” and have soundproofing qualities. If major repairs are being carried out, then before installing decorative finishing, the walls can be equipped with a soundproofing layer - materials such as Texound, acoustic plasterboard, cork and others are suitable for this. When finishing walls and ceilings, it is best to use plastering and coating with paints and varnishes on water based or pasting with paper or cork wallpaper. Today in construction stores these materials can be found for every taste and color.
  • Living room. For this room you can choose more finishes wide range. Here, the floors can be covered with linoleum, laminate, parquet, carpet, cork and other modern materials.

What you need to know about linoleum?

Despite the fact that many new floor coverings have appeared, linoleum is not at all going to lose its position in popularity. Useful information about this is posted in a special publication on our portal.

To decorate the walls, plaster and painting, gluing with cork, paper, non-woven, vinyl, textile, glass wallpaper and other options can be used.

The ceiling can be plastered, closed suspended ceiling, single or multi-tiered hanging structure or also covered with wallpaper.

Modern solution – suspended ceiling!

In this matter, there are perhaps no limits to the imagination of creative owners. In a special article on the portal, you can find out a lot of useful information and even, perhaps, choose one of the options for decorating your own apartment.

  • Hallway. Materials for the walls and floor of the hallway must be highly resistant to abrasion and easy to clean, since dirt and dust from the street first enter this room.

The floors can be covered with linoleum or ceramic tiles.

The walls are covered with vinyl wallpaper or covered with plastic, wooden or laminated lining.

The ceiling in the hallway should be made light, since this room most often lacks natural light. Therefore, a light-colored suspended ceiling with built-in lighting is perfect here.

In addition to tiles, plastic panels have recently been increasingly used to cover bathroom walls, especially since today construction stores offer a wide range of this material.

The ceiling in the bathroom can be made of the same plastic panels, moisture-resistant plasterboard for painting, but the best option for a bathroom or combined bathroom would be a suspended ceiling.

Special requirements for the ceiling in the bathroom!

High humidity, high probability of direct jets of water - all this imposes specific requirements for finishing. How to decide on the type - read the special article on our portal.

Color spectrum

An important role in the design of apartment rooms is the color scheme, as it should fully contribute to the creation of a comfortable environment. Therefore, this factor must be considered very carefully.

The harmony of the design of the rooms will depend on the shades being correctly selected to each other. In this process, you can rely on this table.

To make the room light, you should choose soft white and beige warm shades. Especially it concerns ceiling surface, since its light color enhances electric lighting. Therefore, quite often in modern interiors the lampshades of lamps and chandeliers are turned not down towards the room, but towards the ceiling.

You always want to make a children's room bright so that its colors evoke joy and optimism. However, you should not get carried away; you must remember that the child will not only play in this room, but also relax, so it is recommended to decorate the recreation area in calmer colors.

A bedroom for adults should be conducive to relaxation, and therefore it is recommended to decorate it in pastel soft and quite light shades, which will help you fall asleep pleasantly in the evening and wake up in the morning with an optimistic attitude.

Color selection affects the psychological and physical state the body, since if a person does not get enough sleep or does not rest properly, then his vital activity and immunity decrease, so you should take the selection of shades very seriously.

Dark shades combined with more light colors can only be used in a well-lit room, otherwise they will have a very depressing effect on the psyche, especially children’s.

Having decided on the materials and their colors, measure all the surface areas on which the selected finish will be produced. Next, a list of necessary materials is compiled, indicating their quantity.

With the list compiled, you can go shopping for the necessary materials.

  • It must be said right away that you should not purchase everything you need for repairs during natural disasters. construction markets, where, although the price is lower, no one will give a guarantee of quality. Counting on such “savings”, sometimes you have to pay double or even triple the price. Cheap material applied to walls or laid on floors is unknown how it will behave, and you may still have to soon replace it with a high-quality one. And this is not only unnecessary expenses, but also Lost time and strength. Cleaning surfaces from new low-quality finishes is an extremely unpleasant task, as the mood will be completely ruined. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase building materials from a trusted seller who can provide quality certificates for all products.
  • You need to purchase material with a reserve of approximately 15% of its total calculated volume. This approach will help you do your work calmly, without fear that something will be missing. By the way, you can immediately clarify whether the store accepts the remaining surplus back - this approach is often practiced.
  • When choosing products based on quality, you should inspect them very carefully, and also study the certificates that you need to request from the seller. For example, when purchasing materials such as ceramic tiles, laminate or wallpaper, you must check the product lot number on the packaging - it must be the same, otherwise products in different packages may differ significantly in shade and even in quality. This difference can sometimes be noticed only during the work process, by combining piece pieces or canvases from different batches side by side - this point can also complicate the process of high-quality repairs.
  • You need to take the choice of new doors and windows very seriously, since replacing them later will be quite difficult and expensive, since this process will certainly affect recently renovated surfaces.

A reliable entrance door is a guarantee of safety and comfort

The front door not only protects from uninvited “guests”, but also ensures that a comfortable microclimate is maintained in the apartment. It is not cheap, and in order to avoid making mistakes, read the useful information in the special article on our portal.

  • You need to carefully choose bathroom accessories. You should not succumb to fashion trends and purchase plumbing items made from newfangled materials, as they may not always be suitable for specific cases. First, it is recommended to study their characteristics and calculate all the pros and cons.
  • Heating radiators are also carefully selected. Nowadays, you can find these devices made from various materials on sale, but not all of them are suitable for installation in a central heating system. When purchasing radiators, you should rely not only on their operational capabilities, but also pay attention to the manufacturer and the presence of a quality certificate.

Useful information about heating radiators

These heat exchange devices cannot be selected only from the point of view of their appearance - it is necessary to take into account their operational capabilities and thermal power, depending both on the area of ​​​​the room and on some other important criteria. About all this - in a special publication on our portal dedicated to .

  • A few words need to be said about the compositions that will be necessary for treating surfaces before installing finishing materials on them - these are various primers and antiseptic solutions. Such products will create better adhesion between materials and protect walls and ceilings from mold stains.

After necessary materials purchased, repairs can begin to carry out phased repairs.

Stages of repair and construction work

Surface preparation

One of the most important stages in carrying out any type of repair is the preparation of surfaces, since this will determine how neatly and firmly the finishing materials will adhere to the walls and ceiling. IN preparatory stage includes such measures as cleaning surfaces from old coatings and repairing detected defects that may have appeared during the operation of the property.

1. The first step is to remove old wallpaper or paint from the walls.

Wallpaper can be removed in several ways, depending on how tightly it adheres to the wall:

  • Using a spatula, which is used to pick up the canvas and carefully remove it completely or in large pieces.
  • If the wallpaper is glued securely and does not want to come off, you need to wet it with water using a roller, and carry out these manipulations several times. When the paper gets wet, it can be easily removed with a spatula.
  • Third option will do, if vinyl wallpapers that are sufficiently resistant to water are securely glued to the walls. In this case, they can be steamed using special device– ironing or steam generator. If you don’t have such a device, but you have an iron with a steam function, you can use that, but you can’t put a metal surface on the vinyl. It is brought at a distance of 100÷150 mm to the wall and treated with steam. After that the old decorative coating should come away from the wall and can be carefully removed with a spatula.

The paint coating is removed using a hair dryer or a sander with a brush attachment installed.

2. Next, you can move on to cleaning the ceiling. If the ceiling plaster has cracks and chips, and there are no plans to make a suspended ceiling, then the old whitewash, and sometimes even the plaster, will have to be removed. This process is quite labor-intensive, and it is also carried out using water, which is first used to soak the surface, and then remove the old coating with a spatula or a grinder with an iron brush.

"Weak spots old plaster must be cleaned

If it will be mounted suspended structure, then it is not necessary to remove the coating from the ceiling - it will be enough to treat the surface with an antiseptic and strengthening primer.

3. The next step is to remove the covering from the floor. However, when making cosmetic repairs, sometimes this process is not carried out, especially in cases where the floor is in good condition and is quite satisfactory to the owners.

4. After removing old coatings, cracks or other fairly large defects will definitely be found on the walls and joints of planes. They need to be sealed, otherwise they may show through the new decorative finish.

To do this, small cracks are expanded, primed and sealed with cement mortars, putty or sealant. , which sometimes appear at the joints of surfaces, can be filled with polyurethane foam.

5. After cleaning the walls, the electrical cable is laid out if it was planned to reinstall the sockets. To run cables in some rooms, you may have to cut grooves in the walls to hide the wiring in them.

6. If the heating circuit is being replaced, then while the walls are cleaned, markings are made for brackets for radiators, and holes in the walls are also prepared. This needs to be done on walls without finishing, so as not to spoil it later.

Replacement of windows and doors

The process of removing and installing these interior elements is usually carried out by specialists, since this is quite labor-intensive work that requires certain skills and precision, and special tools. Therefore, if you do not have such work experience, then it is better not to take on such work yourself.

It is also better to entrust the installation of the front door to qualified specialists, because the safety of your home will largely depend on the reliability of its installation.

Interior doors are installed at the final stage of work, so this work can be postponed for now.

Dismantling and installation of partitions

The next stage is the dismantling or installation of the partition, if it is planned and permits have been obtained for this work. Both the construction and demolition of the wall can be done independently.

How difficult is it to build a lightweight interior partition?

If you know the technology and carefully carry out the work, you can completely cope with such a task on your own. How to carry it out, and what materials are needed for this - this information with detailed instructions can be found in a separate publication on the portal.

You can also dismantle the partition between the bathroom and toilet yourself if it is built of brick or gypsum boards. For this process you will need a hammer drill, a sledgehammer and, possibly, a grinder with a metal disc - if the partition is reinforced with a reinforcement grid.

This is not to say that this work will be easy, but as a result you can get enough large room, in which it is quite possible to carry out the planned redevelopment.

Aligning the ceiling and walls

When the windows and doors are installed, and the repaired cracks and gaps are completely dry, you can move on to. This process is simple, anyone can perform it - the main thing is to carry it out carefully, without missing a single section of the surface. The primer is applied with a roller, and hard to reach places processed with a brush.

Then, after the primed walls and ceilings have completely dried, they need to be leveled. This job requires some experience, so before breeding a large number of putty, you should try your hand at small area walls by applying a little mortar.

If the walls have enough flat surface with minor flaws, it will be enough to use a putty compound. But in the case when the surface has large distortions, leveling will have to be carried out by plastering along the beacons. However, if the space of the room allows, then leveling the walls can be done with sheets of drywall.

A very labor-intensive, but very important stage - leveling the walls

Whatever technology is used to level the surfaces, after the layer of plaster and putty has dried, the walls and ceiling should be primed again.

The ceiling requires perfect alignment if it is not planned to be covered with a suspended or suspended ceiling.

How to properly level the ceiling surface?

The process is quite complex and requires special skill. Therefore, if you decide to do this work yourself, you should pay attention to the recommended article on our portal.

The process of leveling surfaces also includes finishing slopes on window and door openings. They can be decorated with plasterboard, plastic panels or plastering.

Leveling the floor

The next, fifth stage, is leveling the surface of the floors. This process can be carried out in an apartment different ways- this is a self-leveling mortar, a dry screed or installing a floor on joists and then covering it with plywood or other sheet material.

All these processes can easily be carried out independently, after carefully studying the technological instructions, which can also be found on our portal.

Use of self-leveling building compounds

One of the methods for leveling the floor surface is the use of special building mixtures. The technology is described in detail in the corresponding publication on our portal.

If you are not sure that you will be able to efficiently cope with such work on your own, then it is better to turn to specialists.

Decorative wall decoration in living rooms

The next step is finishing the walls - covering them with wallpaper or painting. These works are not so complicated, and can be done on their own, so you can save money on them.

If the decoration will be done with wallpaper, and it has a certain pattern, you need to immediately calculate its step so that the pattern matches perfectly on the wall.

Before cutting the canvas, the wall is marked vertically and horizontally. The lines are drawn using a colored cord along the ceiling and one of the corners. The first wallpaper will be aligned along the vertical outer line, and subsequent ones will be oriented towards it and the upper horizontal color stripe.

If you plan to paint the walls, then it is carried out using a roller, which is placed on a special rod for convenience.

Wallpaper glued and dried on the walls is framed along the top line with a foam or paper border, which gives completeness general design premises

Installation of flooring in rooms

The process of laying the flooring must be carried out very carefully so as not to damage or stain the decorative finish of the walls. If linoleum or carpet is laid on the floors, then before fixing it with glue or under the baseboards, it is laid out and left for about a day so that it straightens out. Canvases of this material are cut in length, approximately 10÷12 mm less than the length of the room, and in width they are laid 5÷7 mm from the wall. Such gaps are necessary for free thermal expansion of the material.

It should be noted that any material laid on the floors must have such gaps. So, when laying laminate, special inserts are used, which are removed only after the covering has been laid over the entire area of ​​the room.

The installation of the flooring is completed by installing the skirting boards.

Installation of interior doors

Interior doors are installed at the last stage of work, so as not to make a mistake in the height at which the door will be installed, since the leveling layer and floor covering will raise the floor and change the floor level.

In listing the stages of work, the issue of carrying out renovations in the bathroom was deliberately omitted. This event has its own nuances that must be considered separately.

This is the approximate procedure for preparing for renovation in an apartment and carrying it out step by step. It is quite understandable that the homeowner wants to do this with minimal costs, hoping for own strength and abilities. But you should still soberly assess your capabilities - it is possible that the optimal solution would be to turn to specialists.

At the end of the publication, there is an interesting video with advice from a specialist on conducting initial stages renovation in the apartment.

Video: where to start renovating an apartment