Errors at the beginning of the repair

Recommendation points

• Errors with plumbing and sewerage
• Errors with floor, walls, ceiling
• Errors with the choice of materials
• Errors in the work sequence

Long experience in the construction business convinced me of one simple rule: many repair errors that require alterations and, as a result, lead to the loss of money and time, are associated with the initial stages of the repair, with its design stage.

A person planning a renovation must represent not only its general concept from the very beginning, but also details – for this, a project must be drawn up. Actions based on the principle “let’s start quickly – and we’ll see” turn into endless alterations.

So, starting repairs without a project is the first big mistake..

Of course, it must be borne in mind that, ideally, there should be three such projects: a redevelopment project, if you decide to break walls and erect partitions, and the associated design project and an electrical project.

To draw up these projects, you can turn to professionals, but their services are expensive: a design project – on average $ 30 per square meter, and an electrical project – from $ 800 to 1500. But if problems arise, the builders themselves must correct and correct errors under the author’s the supervision of an architect. This must be specified in the contract..

I must say right away: I am sure that if there is no opportunity and desire to contact professionals, such projects can be easily compiled by yourself. You just need to carefully study building codes and regulations (SNiP) and take into account some typical mistakes, mainly related to communications and electricity..

Errors with plumbing and sewerage

So, the first group of errors related to the compilation of the project. When drawing up a project, you need to remember that alterations related to general communications are the most delicate. If you decide to move the sink in the kitchen to another place, removing it from the sewer pipe, you should take into account in the project that for the normal drainage of water, the height difference must be observed – approximately 3-5% relative to the length. That is, for each square meter, about 3 cm of difference is obtained..

So if you move the sink 6 meters away from the riser, it should be raised 18 cm.

But the sink is still nothing, since its siphon is located high. But at the bath and toilet, the drain is located at the bottom, and if you put them far from the sewer pipe, you cannot avoid blockages – the drain will inevitably work poorly. If you still feel the urge to move the plumbing away from the drain, then you need to raise the bathroom – for example, put a step in the project. The same is with a heated towel rail: if you move it away from the riser, then in the project it is necessary to take into account that the pipes must go to it with smooth gradients, without sharp bends, otherwise there is a danger of air congestion, and as a result your heated towel rail will often be cold. Therefore, if it is not possible to bring pipes to it properly, then it is better to buy an electric.

Approximately the same problems can arise with the transfer of heating radiators – you need to lay down the correct pipe laying in the project, and most likely you will have to make grooves.

But it is still better not to carry the radiators from under the window: after all, they work in a convection manner and cut off the cold air coming from the window.

When designing repairs, one must try not to forget even about such trifles as, for example, setting up coarse filters in old houses (they are already in new ones), otherwise after the next shutdown of hot water, the mixers may fail.

Well, and, of course, you need to remember about what you cannot add to your own project..

You cannot destroy and brick up the common air duct, even if you really want to acquire extra meters in this way. You cannot plaster the gas pipe tightly: of course, these pipes spoil the view, but you will have to do with other means – for example, make a decorative box that can be easily removed. The same goes for common heating pipes. God forbid what happens, and you have to call the emergency gang – do not hesitate, they will turn your walls apart.

From experience I know that most often you have to correct those errors that are associated with communications.

Errors with floor, walls, ceiling

You need to think in advance about seemingly simple things like the permissible load on your partitions (walls). For example, you put a plasterboard partition in a room, and then decide that there should be bookshelves on it. Of course, such a partition must first be strengthened by “sewing” plywood there. Otherwise, you will have to abandon such a design or redo the work. The same applies to the installation of boilers in the bathroom: a typical mistake – they put a plasterboard partition, sewn it up, tiled it, and then remembered about the boiler. Again, the choice is small: tolerate hot water outages or redo the job. In my memory, there are tragicomic cases with the installation of “Swedish walls” to light partitions.

Typical mistakes in the overhaul of floors are primarily associated with inaccurate design of screeds..

Very often you have to face the following problem: a person passionately wanted to level all the floors in the apartment – and level it (making a common screed). And only then did he decide where the parquet would be, where the tiles, and where the linoleum. As a result, it was necessary to tinker with alterations, since for tiles you need to make screeds higher, and for parquet – lower. Therefore, decide in advance on the materials for the floors and include this in your project to calculate the height of the screeds..

By the way, when drawing up the project, do not forget that the floor level in the bathrooms should be from 2 to 5 cm below the floor level in the corridor.
And don’t forget about waterproofing in the project. All this will protect your floors and neighbors’ ceilings and walls.

We got to the ceiling. Typical mistakes in drawing up a project here are associated with suspended ceilings. For example, you made a suspended ceiling, and then decided to hang an old chandelier under 30 kilograms in this room. Nothing will work! The presence of a hook for such a chandelier had to be taken care of at the design stage, and it had to be installed in the concrete ceiling before installing the suspended ceiling. Or another example. If you are making a suspended ceiling in a future children’s room, then be sure to consider whether you will install a sports complex. If you remember this after the repair, you will not be able to install such a complex without cutting holes in the false ceiling and installing special wooden blocks to the concrete ceiling.

And the last thing. If you plan to use exclusive finishing materials and plumbing, install rare kitchen furniture, you need to take care of this in advance, because sometimes you have to wait months for rare ordered materials, and repair work will be slowed down. Already at the stage of the project and planning, you should be aware of this: if you want exclusive, plan purchases in advance.

Errors with the choice of materials

The third group of errors with far-reaching consequences is associated with the wrong choice of materials for repair. I will give some typical examples..

The pipes from the riser with hot and cold water, which will be extended to your faucets, must withstand the pressure that you have in your house (in multi-storey buildings and cottages it is different). Consult with a plumber serving your home which is better to choose – steel, polypropylene or metal-plastic. The same applies to materials for radiators: remember that aluminum radiators are good only in cottages, and they are not suitable for multi-storey buildings..

Choose your hallway flooring wisely. If you have chosen parquet, then you have forgotten about our specific climatic conditions with long winters and slush.

The parquet will not last more than two years in the hallway. Of course, you can lay a rug, but then why would expensive parquet be hidden under it? Still, it is better to use tiles or linoleum in the hallway..

Be careful when using plastic finishing materials (panels, suspended ceilings) – this is primarily due to fire safety.

The combustion products of some plastics are highly toxic. Remember that now all materials on the construction market are certified, so before purchasing plastic materials, carefully study the certificate – are they suitable for residential premises.
Choose the right material for partitions – concrete, brick, aerated concrete, drywall, expanded clay, grooved gypsum boards, etc. After all, all these materials can withstand different loads..

Be sure to read the certifications and consult with sellers before purchasing these materials..

Errors in the work sequence

And, finally, the fourth group of errors in repair is associated with the wrong sequence of work..

Here the rule is this: first, all work with communications must be carried out – water supply, sewerage, electricity, ventilation.
True, if the walls are destroyed, then all the necessary work cannot be done immediately. After the walls have been erected, sockets and switches are being completed, and heated towel rails and faucets in the bathrooms. In order not to cut the walls once again, some of the electrical wires (primarily to the sockets) must be laid before the screed on the floor.

So, communications – walls – floor. Only after that ceilings are made, and the repair ends with finishing work.

Violation of this order of work can lead to alterations, loss of money and time.

Don’t forget one more thing. If you decide to install additional television antennas, establish the Internet and install air conditioners, call the employees of these companies before finishing work, if you do not want numerous wires to run through your beautiful apartment.
Even before finishing work, all the electrics must be done, including a single shield where all antenna cables are connected.

So, try to avoid common mistakes in order to minimize all rework. That’s it, now you can sit down to drawing up your own project, which will take into account redevelopment, design and electricity.