Preparing an apartment for finishing is the most voluminous, noisy, dusty and expensive part of the renovation work. As a rule, photos of stylish interiors inspire the remodeling of living spaces, and the amount of plaster and putty is the last thing we think about. After all, the success of the final result largely depends on the preparatory work. How to save on rough finishing and not lose quality
Planning and calculation
Repairs start with numbers. Even if there is no professional design project, it is important to decide on the style, layout, location of furniture, lamps, switches and sockets.
Roughing is a large amount of work and a lot of materials. Draw up a detailed estimate with a list of works and materials yourself or ask the performers. It is not superfluous to dive into the topic in advance in order to choose the best price-quality ratio.
Be sure to make your own calculations, even if you don’t plan to do the work yourself. This will help you understand how much the builders have planned for an adequate amount of materials and what you can save on.
Independently study the prices of materials included in the estimate. Check out a repair goods hypermarket and consult with specialists to understand which materials are cheaper, but not worse in quality.
When entering into a contract, check everything and only then sign it. This way you will save yourself from an unexpected change in the estimate in the direction of growth.
How to save money
1. if the task is to carry out rough work with minimal investment, make a choice in favor of a simple functional layout and finishing materials that do not require careful preparation. For example, you can put thick linoleum on the floor instead of capricious laminate-in this case, just prime the surface and do not make a concrete screed.
2. If we talk about the ceiling, then the best option for the price-quality ratio is stretch. Its average cost is 400-500 rubles per square meter, along with installation and material. Drywall will be more expensive, taking into account surface preparation and painting. If you do not need to level the surface, then a simple two-layer painting or whitewashing will cost about 400 rubles per square meter.
3. The most economical option for walls is Modern non-woven wallpaper. Super-smooth walls with multi-stage finishing are needed for painting or decorative plaster, and for wallpaper they are enough to plaster and putty.
By the way, with the right approach, you can significantly save on plaster. Usually builders use lighthouses for walls, which are sold in stores with a size of 6 and 10 mm. If the walls are more or less flat and they do not need to be displayed at zero, then choose 6-mm beacons, which will save a decent amount of plaster.
During the preparation of putty has its own nuances. For example, if the diluted gypsum putty has not been used completely, you will have to make a new solution next time. Therefore, you should not cook many times, so as not to throw away the frozen leftovers and not buy extra ones.
4. Rough work often includes the construction of new walls and partitions. Low-cost and functional solution-frame structures. They can hide wires, easily install and, if desired, dismantle. Moreover, such partitions do not change the design of the apartment and do not require additional approval of redevelopment.
5. Floor preparation also depends on the type of room (active living room or quiet bedroom), expected load, and initial surface condition. Depending on this, you can choose reinforced concrete screed, self-leveling floor or semi-dry leveling. The latter is the most economical, and will cost 300-400 rubles per square meter.
By the way, if you choose a loft, you can leave open brick or concrete walls, and lay communications in boxes without crushing the walls. This will also save you some money.
At first glance, you can save a lot of money if you do everything yourself. But for high-quality repairs, skills, tools, assistants and time are important. It is unlikely that you will be able to save much, and in case of failure, you will have to recycle everything and spend resources again.
Non-obvious benefits
Nerves are another valuable resource that you will definitely be able to save if you do not save on designing engineering systems. Electrics and plumbing are the main elements in the apartment. If you lay the gates and pipes properly, you will not have to quarrel with your neighbors in the future, pay for recycling and endanger people. The same applies to illegal redevelopment and carrying out prohibited works (batteries on the balcony, kitchen in the bedroom, arch in the load-bearing wall).
Life hacks for choosing and purchasing materials:
- Don’t buy the cheapest materials from random people on the market. It is better to choose well-known stores with a good reputation, an extensive network of retail outlets, warehouses, and well-established logistics. This way you will also save on shipping costs.
- Prices for the same items are very different, so you need to choose and compare.
- Study the accompanying service offer where you choose your materials. Complex work-design and installation of electricity, water supply wiring, installation of plumbing fixtures, installation of windows-is still better to entrust experienced craftsmen. This way you will save money, time and nerves.
Thus, the investment in rough finishing largely depends on the complexity of the project, the performers and the degree of your personal immersion. Successful repairs