Apartment renovation: the right order of stages – from design to moving in

An apartment renovation is a project with dozens of decisions and at least several different teams. When the stages follow the right order, everything falls calmly into place. When they don't – tiles get broken for a new socket, the kitchen doesn't fit and deadlines stretch by months. Here is the order we follow on our projects, and why each step is exactly where it is.

Stage 1: Before the renovation – design and plan

The renovation starts on paper. Before the first hammer blow you need to know where every piece of furniture, socket, lamp and tap will be. That is the job of the interior design project.

• Site survey and measurement – exact dimensions, the condition of the walls, the risers and the existing installations.
• Layout and concept – function, style, materials.
• Working drawings – electrical points, lighting, plumbing, tiling, ceilings, custom furniture.
• Bill of quantities and budget – what to buy and how much.
• Schedule – which team comes in when and what must be ready by then.

If the renovation includes changes to load-bearing elements, joining rooms or moving wet rooms, you need an engineer's opinion and sometimes a permit. This is where a team in which an architect and an engineer work together helps.

Long-lead orders – kitchen, custom furniture, doors, special tiles – are placed at this stage so they arrive on time.

Stage 2: Rough works

Demolition

Old flooring, tiling, doors and, if needed, walls are removed. Removal of construction waste should be planned in advance.

Partition walls

The new layout is built with bricks, aerated concrete or plasterboard. Niches, hidden door frames and service walls are made now.

Installations

This is the most important stage – everything that will be in the walls, floor and ceiling:

• Electrical installation – new distribution board, sockets, switches, cables for lighting, internet and smart systems.
• Plumbing – new pipes, drainage, outlets for the kitchen, bathroom and washing machine.
• Air conditioning and ventilation – pipes for the air conditioners, ventilation for the bathroom and kitchen.
• Heating – radiators or underfloor heating.

Our tip: photograph every wall with the installations before it is plastered. These photos are invaluable for any future renovation.

Stage 3: Wet works

Wet works need time to dry, so they are done early and the following teams are scheduled around them.

• Plastering – levels the walls after the installations.
• Screeds – prepare the floor for the flooring. A cement screed needs weeks to dry completely, especially before parquet.
• Waterproofing – mandatory in bathrooms and under the shower, before tiling.
• Bathroom and kitchen tiling – tiles on walls and floors. Concealed toilet frames are installed before the tiles.

Stage 4: Finishing works

1. Suspended ceilings – plasterboard, with recesses for hidden lighting and blinds.
2. Skimming and sanding – smooth walls, ready for painting.
3. First coat of paint – before the flooring, so the floor doesn't get stained.
4. Flooring – parquet, laminate, vinyl or tiles in the living spaces.
5. Interior doors – after the flooring, so they are at the right height.
6. Final coat of paint – after all the heavy installations.

Stage 5: Furniture, lighting and furnishing

Custom furniture is measured again on site once the walls and floor are finished – exact dimensions matter to the millimetre. Then comes installation:

• Custom kitchen and appliances.
• Wardrobes, TV walls and other custom furniture.
• Sanitaryware, taps and bathroom accessories.
• Light fittings, sockets and switches.
• Furniture, curtains, textiles and décor.
• Final cleaning.

How long an apartment renovation takes

Approximate timelines for a full apartment renovation look like this:

Some stages overlap: while the rough works are under way, the furniture is already being made. That is why good planning shortens the overall timeline by weeks. Timelines depend on the floor area, scope and availability of materials.

“A good renovation is a matter of order. When everyone knows what comes next, teams don't wait for each other or undo each other's work.” – Arch. Katerina Taneva

10 mistakes that make the renovation more expensive

1. Starting without a design and “deciding as you go”.
2. Saving on installations – fixing them later is the most expensive.
3. Ordering furniture before the layout is final.
4. Laying parquet on a screed that isn't fully dry.
5. No waterproofing in the bathroom.
6. Too few sockets and no lighting plan.
7. Ordering the kitchen and doors too late.
8. No 10–15% contingency in the budget.
9. No design control – nobody checks the work against the design.
10. Final painting before the furniture is installed.

Most of them are avoided with a clear design and author supervision – the architect monitors the work and solves problems on site before they become expensive. See also how much it costs: the interior design project.