Amelia Grant

The expression that repair is a natural disaster that can’t be completed, but can only be stopped, explains the habit after completion of work to think about what could have been done better. To ensure that your renovated home does not add to the list of regrets about what you have done, we recommend that you read this article. It contains common mistakes when repairing an apartment.

1. Lack of a clear plan of action

Starting repairs, it is worthwhile to clearly understand the types of finishes that will be used, pick up lamps, doors, plumbing, household appliances, and furniture. Every accessory must be considered.

If, for example, curtains will be hung on a cornice, it is necessary to allocate space for it. For long curtains, you need to calculate the appropriate dimensions of the heating radiator so that they do not lie on it and do not bulge. For short tulle, you should install a cornice that will be wider than the window by at least 2 inches on each side. Otherwise, the canvas will not overlap the window along the edges, leaving gaps.

There are many such nuances. And if a professional design project is not included in the budget of your repair, you should independently think over every detail of the future interior, listening to the recommendations of specialists.

2. Excessive savings on the rough finish

The rough finish is the "body" of the apartment, which is then "dressed" in a fine finish - materials, furniture, and decor. The quality of the entire repair depends on it. Therefore, excessive savings will not only negatively affect the appearance of the future interior but will also lead to additional expenses later. Correcting or finishing a poor-quality rough finish is very problematic. This error is especially common when renovating apartments in new buildings.

Even if you save on rough finishes to purchase more expensive finishing materials and furniture, it is quite possible that the repair will still not look good. It is better to initially entrust the rough finish to professionals than to subsequently face pitfalls when it is no longer possible to fix something.

For example, the curvature of the walls or inaccurate joints on the ceiling will appear only when applying finishing coatings (paint or wallpaper) and when the electric lighting is turned on. Not to mention expensive decorative plaster, which requires impeccable smoothness of painted surfaces. High-quality mixers will quickly fail from water with impurities if you neglect the installation of filters and collector assemblies. And a stylish chandelier and the most expensive household appliances will not be able to please the owners if, when they are turned on, they constantly knock out an electric machine.

3. Inability to plan the cost of repairs

Having acquired an apartment or created the walls of a future house, the owners begin to think through the future interior with inspiration. They look at magazines, design websites, and rush to the shops, primarily for furniture.

This approach can be risky and reckless. Of course, pre-equipping a new home with the necessary finishing materials, appliances and furniture is the right and reasonable step. But this should not be done hastily. Buying a sofa or carpet before choosing the finishing materials for the floor, or making advance payment for a kitchen set before agreeing on the layout of the apartment and the corresponding measurements is not the best idea.

Modern marketing and advertising technologies don’t leave consumers the slightest chance to refuse a purchase. Store employees trained at seminars and training on sales will definitely say that they have the most unique furniture in terms of quality and there is no need to postpone the purchase on the back burner, since “the models you like are running out of stock”, “the promotion is running out”, “only today and just now" and so on.

All techniques are aimed at pushing the buyer to make a quick decision in favor of a particular store. Of course, you can really save money on sales. But only if you buy a show sample from the showroom or the rest from the warehouse at half price. Sometimes the store puts up a discount of up to 90%. In this case, you need to look at the prices for promotional positions from other sellers. If the same furniture in other salons is really more expensive, then you should think about buying it.

In other cases, the budget must be distributed in stages:

- materials for rough finishing and payment for related work

- entrance doors

- plumbing fixtures and payment for installation

- electrical (only recessed fixtures without chandeliers), draft materials, and installation services

- fine finishing materials

- interior doors

These purchases should be made immediately, and, having allocated funds for them, you can proceed with the rest of the expenses.

4. Inappropriate minimalism

The trend in the design of recent years is exquisite simplicity. Laconism of forms and space provided by a minimum of furniture is one of the most popular solutions in the interior. But it is important to objectively evaluate the number of things in each zone. Clothes in the wardrobe, kitchen utensils, food supplies, household chemicals, sports equipment - all this need a specially designated storage space. Therefore, it is necessary to plan in advance what and where will be located. After all, such mistakes in the repair of apartments turn minimalism into chaos.

In order for the room to have visually more space and breathe easier, it is not necessary to use a minimalist style. A practical solution would be built-in wardrobes and storage systems. Although separate pantries and dressing rooms will also not always be appropriate.

5. Independent measurements of doors and furniture

All measurements should be entrusted only to professionals. After all, an employee of a furniture salon will better take into account the hidden nuances that you might not even be aware of. In addition, the company will be responsible for the size discrepancy. The measurement service is most often provided by a furniture or door store for free. But you don’t need to save money, even if you have to pay for this option.

Don’t order large and built-in furniture, relying on the measured plan of the dwelling or approximate dimensions as a keepsake. However, the measurer should be invited after the walls are plastered, the floors are even, and the flooring is laid.

6. Recklessness and vanity

The planned work should be carried out in stages, according to the schedule. This must be controlled from the very beginning of the repair. If the work is initially carried out with a backlog, you should not hope for a miracle. Most likely, the repair will not be completed on time.

Incorrect distribution of time for repairs and relocation are typical mistakes in apartment renovation. Plan the day of moving, adjusted for possible force majeure, the period of the arrangement, and decoration of the interior. Buy the necessary products and materials in advance. Match delivery times with repair and refurbishment schedules to avoid downtime.

Indeed, the desire to get into a new apartment by the New Year or by autumn is natural and justified. But you need to understand that in such an interior you will live for more than one year. A house is a place for living and recreation, so the repair in it must be thorough and brought to the end. All work must be carried out in full, and shortcomings on them should be eliminated immediately. Leaving repairs unfinished for the sake of moving in on the appointed date, you risk spending a long time in a house that will not bring you pleasure and joy.