Renovating an Old Private House: Where to Start

Renovating an apartment and renovating an old private house are two different projects, even if the principle seems the same. A house has things an apartment doesn't — a roof, a foundation, often its own sewage system and a yard around it. These are exactly the things that most often turn into the renovation's biggest surprise.

Start with the roof and foundation, not the interior

The first thing worth checking in an old house is the roof and foundation — not what's visible inside. Cracks in the walls, dampness in the lower part of the house, leaks on the top floor's ceiling — all of these can point to problems that are more expensive and complex to fix than replacing tile or painting walls. Checking these two things before starting any decorative work is what separates a serious approach from a cosmetic renovation that will reveal the same problems again within a couple of years.

Infrastructure systems — the second most important check

Old private houses often have outdated wiring, designed for a load far lower than modern appliances and air conditioners. The same goes for pipes — old iron or asbestos-cement instead of modern materials. If the house is over twenty to thirty years old, it's wise to budget for replacing these systems in advance, rather than hoping they'll hold up a while longer.

The house's size and its effect on the scope of work

A private house is usually larger than an apartment, often on two floors, with a garage, a terrace, and sometimes a separate structure in the yard. That means even similar types of work (floors, walls, finishes) require more material and time simply due to the square footage. For the same reason, an exact price for renovating a private house can't be given without a site visit — there are too many variables: the roof's condition, whether there's a basement, the yard's size, whether the exterior facade needs work.

The right order of work for a house

What you can do in advance, before work even begins

It's worth checking the house yourself for signs of dampness and cracks before calling a professional — this doesn't require special knowledge, just a careful look at the walls, ceiling corners, and the area around windows. It also helps to pull up any documents on the house if they exist — the year it was built and any mention of past renovations gives a picture of what's already been changed and what's remained untouched since construction.

Our experience

Renovating an old private house almost always starts with an honest conversation about what actually needs attention and what can wait. We visit the property, assess the condition of the roof, walls, and infrastructure systems, and only after that can we talk about a real budget and timeline — not before.