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Renovation is no easy task. In the case of small-sized housing, everything is complicated by small sizes, and in old houses, the problem of worn-out engineering networks is added. Their replacement is also the concern of the owners, since it can take a long time to wait for the management campaign to change them. So the repair of a bathroom in Khrushchev usually begins with the replacement of old risers.
A distinctive feature of Khrushchev apartments is the small size of all rooms. The bathroom and toilet are so small that even the minimum set – a bathtub + a sink – becomes only compact. Finding a place to install household appliances is a difficult task. The most popular solution is the redevelopment of Khrushchev, which almost always affects the bath and toilet. From two microscopic rooms they make one – a combined bathroom. Due to the fact that the partition is removed, the area increases by almost a square meter, which is very significant under these conditions. In some cases, it turns out to increase the space due to the corridor or a closet located nearby. This renovation of a bathroom in Khrushchev is technically more difficult and it is more difficult to get permission for such an alteration, but everything is possible.
The procedure for repairing a bathroom in Khrushchev
If you decide to make a major overhaul of the bathroom in Khrushchev, the order of work will be almost identical with and without redevelopment. When redevelopment, the destruction of the partition is added, the transfer of the door, the laying of an unnecessary doorway. Further, everything is like a carbon copy.
In the following, the sequence of work is as follows:
- Remove all finishing materials. If the walls and ceiling are crooked (differences of more than 3 cm) or there are voids under the plaster (the sound is dull when tapped, movement is felt when pressed), the plaster is also upholstered.
- Decide which plumbing and household appliances where it will stand, draw a plan in compliance with the scale. On the plan, draw the supply of electricity, water, sewerage.
- Run electrical wiring to the bathroom.
- Replace water and sewer risers (requires approval from the managing organization). Most often, old metal pipes are replaced with plastic ones. When replacing a water pipe, polyethylene pipes or polypropylene pipes are used.
- If the water supply and sewerage are hidden, they make a shallow depth of strobe under them, since there will still be plaster on top. If not, the wiring of the water supply and sewer pipes is done upon completion of the wall decoration.
- Pour the leveling floor screed. Electric floor heating can be “rolled up” into it (water in high-rise buildings is allowed only if there is individual heating, and then if the floors can withstand the load).
- Wall and ceiling decoration. Here the sequence of work is different – it depends on the chosen method of finishing and plumbing. If the toilet is a console type, installation takes place at this stage. At the same time, a brick shower tray is being made. When installing standard plumbing, it is installed upon completion of finishing work, so first they put in order the half-wall, ceiling.
- If the ceiling is painted, the walls are tiled, they are plastered, the ceiling is puttied, painted. After laying the tiles on the walls, then on the floor.
- If the ceiling is suspended (plasterboard, armstrong, rack, plastic panels) or stretch, it is finished after completion of all work, when the walls and floor are ready).
This is the state from which the renovation of the bathroom in Khrushchev usually begins. - If the walls are to be painted, 2-3 layers of putty are applied over the plaster. The floor is made after plastering, but before puttying (although not essential, it is possible after puttying).
- If the walls are finished with PVC panels, they are not even plastered. Then, first they make the floor and ceiling, at the final stage – the installation of plastic panels.
- Installed plumbing and household appliances.
There are more and more options for finishing materials. For example, a cork or PVC tile can be laid on the bathroom floor. In this case, a layer of self-leveling compounds is needed on top of the screed – to obtain a solid and even base, and the coating itself is laid last after all work is completed, but before installing plumbing. In general, the order of work during the repair in the bathroom of Khrushchev can vary significantly.
We increase functionality
Repairing a bathroom in Khrushchev is difficult not so much from the technical side, but from the point of view of creating a beautiful, functional and comfortable room. The small size of the room is the main difficulty. We have to look for non-standard solutions in the selection of equipment, plumbing and furniture.
Bathtub or shower
During the renovation of a bathroom in Khrushchev, a bathtub is often abandoned in favor of a shower cabin. This allows you to carve out a place in a small room for installing a washing machine. The most successful solution is a corner shower. In this case, a fairly decent piece of space is released in which you can put a washbasin or washing machine.
If at times you still want to lie in the bathroom, you can compromise – choose a shower with a deep tray. But it is worth remembering that high sides are not very convenient for daily use if there are small children or the elderly. Why are they worse than a regular bath? The fact that it will not be possible to fully rely on them is plastic, and it will not withstand heavy loads.
It is not necessary to install a ready-made shower cabin. Less space is occupied by a pallet of tiles and a partition. If the partition and doors are made of glass, the room will not be “overloaded” and will feel more spacious.
If, nevertheless, you are not ready to give up the bath, there are those that are much narrower in one part. In this area it will be possible to place a sink. It will be convenient to use it, as well as a custom-shaped bathroom.
Choose a place to install the washing machine
When designing a bathroom in Khrushchev, they try to find a place to install a washing machine. Yes, it rusts faster, but finding a place in other rooms is even more difficult. One of the options has already been described – a corner shower, and in the vacated corner – a washing machine. If this option is not suitable, you can install a special-shaped sink and a washing machine under it.
Until you get used to it is not very convenient to use the sink – it is installed a little higher than usual, but much more convenient than if you put a small one to save space. This, by the way, is also a way out, but not the best.
Design and design tricks
In order for the renovation of the bathroom in Khrushchev to be not only functional, but also beautiful, we correctly select the finishing materials, their color and texture.
Finishing materials and their color
Bathtubs Khrushchev bathrooms are not only small, but the ceilings in them are low. Therefore, if suspended systems are installed, then only at a minimum distance, and this can be achieved by installing wall lamps or recessed ceiling lamps, but on LEDs that have a thickness of about 3-5 cm. This loss will be almost imperceptible, and the work will be much less than when plastering the ceiling and its subsequent puttying.
It is not necessary to lay tiles on the walls at all. In this case, a smaller mosaic looks even better, as a large tile “reduces” the room. Another option for wall decoration in a small bathroom is painting and finishing with decorative plaster. Bathroom paints create an equally reliable coating, but this option costs less money, especially if you will putty the walls for painting yourself. Decorative plaster is also moisture resistant, and this type of finish looks modern.
In any case, the ceiling and walls in a small bathroom should be made in light colors, preferably with a slight gloss or mother-of-pearl, silk sheen. This finishing option makes the room visually more spacious. Most often these are shades of beige. A very unobtrusive and democratic color that can be revived with some details of brighter colors.
Another trick is that the walls are plain and only approximately in the middle there is a wide strip of a brighter or contrasting color. This technique “pushes” the walls, the room seems larger than it actually is.
The choice of plumbing
If, when renovating a bathroom in Khrushchev, you decide to replace the bathtub with a shower cabin, refuse to install a finished cabin. Even the smallest one takes up a lot of space, and plastic walls heavily load the space. You literally feel like you don’t have enough space. Making a pallet out of tiles and installing glass partitions is a more practical solution. Doors can be made sliding – there are a sufficient number of systems that are easy to install with your own hands, and for masters this is not a problem at all.
When choosing a sink, try to find the option that best fits into your interior. They are in different shapes, sizes, colors. There are wide and narrow, deep and shallow, angular – in the form of a sector, such that are partially located above the bath. In general, there are many options. Yes, they are more expensive than the standard solution, but if possible, choose beautiful and comfortable plumbing.
Do-it-yourself bathroom renovation in Khrushchev: photo report
Apartments in Khrushchevs are usually inherited or bought by young families. Their condition is usually deplorable, if repairs were made, then 20 years ago. Here, in this apartment, the bathroom looks “not very good”.
This bathroom renovation in Khrushchev is traditional – tiles on the floor and walls, the ceiling is made of PVC panels. It all starts with the removal of all finishing materials.
The next stage is the alignment of the walls with plaster (without beacons, since the walls are relatively even). The floor is covered with a screed made of a self-leveling mixture (self-leveling floor).
After setting the screed, laying the tiles on the floor begins. Lay it out diagonally. To make it easier, they first drew a plan on the floor (with a pencil).
After laying the floor tiles, they took up the supply of water and sewerage, installed a bathtub and connected it.
After that, they began to lay tiles on the walls. This is not always the case. The second finishing option is to first lay out the wall with tiles, then put the bathtub, and close the gap between the wall and the side with a special border for the bathroom. The second option is preferable, since at any time you can replace the bath or put a shower. In the first case, everything will have to be redone.
After the walls were finished, they assembled the frame for the false ceiling from plastic panels. Economy option, but later you can change to any more expensive one.
After that, only the little things remained – hang a mirror, install and connect a sink with a built-in cabinet.
And the finishing touches – a rod near the bath, a shelf and hooks.