Real estate Home renovation, step by step. 10 practical tips

greenieS

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Here's what to do if you decide to renovate your home.

Assess the condition of the home. The first step in any renovation project is to obtain a detailed assessment of the current condition of the property. It would be best to contact a specialist to examine your home and, especially, the areas that need more repairs. It can also help you with an estimated cost of work.
A detailed examination of the house will reveal the type of construction used in different areas of the property. This aspect is very important for determining the type and complexity of the changes that can be made and will suggest the appropriate materials and techniques.

Separate what you can save from what you have to throw away. First remove the furniture from the house, to work easily. If you have nowhere to store it, move all the things you want to keep in a room to renovate at the end. Find out how you can get rid of waste, the local authority (town hall) can help you with their collection. Anything that can be saved and reused must be stored somewhere safe or sold, for extra money that you can use for renovation.

Get rid of moisture! Any old building has solid walls, built either of brick, or of prefabricated concrete structures or even of BCA blocks. Most of them have moisture problems. These problems must be solved from the first stages of work. Carefully check the areas of the home with potential for moisture growth and then get at least two opinions from different experts on a suitable solution. Often, the problem can be solved by non-invasive methods, such as improving ventilation, ventilation or changing the heating system of the home.

Moisture is often caused by condensation. Make sure your home can breathe.

Problems with moisture that persist in walls and ceilings can usually be solved by repairing the building envelope, such as repairing bricks, repairing plaster or renovating the roof (if necessary), but also by replacing doors and windows.

Only an expert can suggest a solution in this case. Try to avoid invasive solutions.

Also at this stage it is necessary to treat the building if there are signs of infestation (moisture, mold, parasites).

Start with structural work. Once the house is stable and there is no danger of hidden problems, which will create greater difficulties, you can start the actual work. If you want to make compartmentalizations, it's a good idea to start with them.

Check installations and leaks. At this stage it is good to check if all existing installations (electrical, plumbing, etc.) and leaks are functional. See what can be repaired and replace what you can't save. Also at this stage, check the ventilation ducts, electrical cables, heating plant connections, alarms or any other home automation equipment.

Reconditioning of floors and walls. It's time to dump her and move on. If there are bumps, ditches, cracks in the walls, they can be covered with plaster, or leveled with plasterboard, as appropriate. Also in this stage the plasters must be redone.
Now is the time to pour screeds for floors. Usually, this phase takes place after plastering, to keep it clean, but you can also choose to pour the screed before the plaster, to create a perfect joint between the wall and the floor.

Let the house dry. Before introducing any wood product, the plaster and any new screed must be allowed to dry well. Depending on the season, this can take from two to six weeks. The more you leave the house dry, the lower the risk of moisture, which will cause you problems with the finishes.
Install installation terminals, doors and windows. After the house is completely dry, you can connect all the lighting accessories, sockets, switches, telecommunication cables (internet, TV, telephony) etc. Also at this stage, place the doors and change the windows. Install the fittings in the bathroom and connect the taps, but also the kitchen utilities. It is also time for the installer and electrician to put the installation systems into operation.

Go to the finishes. Before you start painting, make sure that the surfaces are clean, in order to obtain a quality finish. Assemble the ceramic tiles in the bathrooms and kitchens and then the bathroom and kitchen furniture. At this stage, the parquet is installed in the rooms. Once the decoration is complete, any soft floor coverings can be laid, such as carpet or rug, and white goods such as oven, hob, refrigerator and washing machine can also be put into operation.
Final cleaning and decoration. If you have finished all the operations, do a general cleaning and start with the most beautiful favorite part: the decorations.
It is not excluded that small problems will inevitably appear in the coming months. Fix these issues when they arise, or, if you work with tradesmen, determine in advance the conditions under which the fixes are made, you can retain a guarantee of 2.5% -5% on the final payment for a period of time, the amount to which you pay for it as soon as all the problems are solved.
 
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