Tips on how to save money on repairs
In order not to be the hero of the saying “The miser pays twice.”
It is not without reason that it is compared to a fire. Renovation is always ruinous. Therefore, the desire to save money is more than understandable. But there are such items of expenditure, the cutting of which threatens in the future with much greater expenses and troubles. After all, no one wants to flood their neighbors and ditch the expensive parquet floor because of a cheap pipe that has burst. What you shouldn’t save on during repairs, says an expert of the OBI hypermarket chain for repairs and dachas Ilya Chkheidze.
First of all, take the time to estimate the upcoming repairs. Describe in detail the costs of each room, indicating the price and the required amount of materials. So you will immediately see where you can cut costs, and what you shouldn’t save on after all.
“You can always find a more budgetary analogue of wallpaper or tiles with a similar design, but you definitely shouldn’t save on rough finishing and engineering systems, because the durability of your repair will depend on their quality,” the OBI expert advises.
Saving on electricity, gas, sewage, water, heating and ventilation systems is a bad idea. If you decide to cut the budget for these particular positions, you will not immediately see the problems. All the most unpleasant things will begin later, when you start enjoying life in beauty and peace. Exclusive wooden floors or wallpaper, for the sake of which they spared money for high-quality pipes or electrical wiring, will say goodbye to you at the first sudden short circuit or leak.
Preparation of walls, floor and ceiling
High-quality preparation of walls, ceiling and floor for decoration is the basis for a good renovation. You can really regret the unreasonable savings when, six months later, a large crack appears on the wall with expensive wallpaper or tiles due to cheap plaster.
“Walls, floors and ceilings should not only be flat, but also keep the home warm. Insulation of the floor and walls is not just a whim, if you do not want to freeze near the heaters on long cold winter evenings. And if your apartment is on the top floor, check if the attic of the house is insulated, because the greatest amount of heat is escaping through the ceiling, ”our expert advises.
The floor, as the surface that carries the maximum load in any home, also deserves special attention. Do not skimp on a high-quality substrate for a laminate or parquet board: the neighbors below will thank you for additional sound insulation, and thanks to the shock absorption, the shock load on the floor covering is reduced, and it will last longer.
If you want to live in warmth and comfort – choose high-quality and reliable windows and doors. Draft even in the most expensive and modern interior will make you feel uncomfortable. A high-quality window seal and good foam for sealing the joints near the windows at any time of the year will keep the house warm and comfortable. You will see the benefit when you receive the very first bill for housing and communal services: the amount per line for heating will significantly decrease.
“Also, do not skimp on the front door. Steel bulletproof doors may not be your option, but still you shouldn’t take the cheapest models if you don’t want to be aware of when the neighbors in the staircase leave and return home, ”says Ilya Chkheidze.
Do not be stingy and install an entrance door with reliable heat and sound insulation, this will protect your home from the cold street wind and extraneous noise.
Often, when choosing a kitchen hood, they first of all look at the design and forget to check its power and other important characteristics. If the hood, even the most beautiful one, is not able to cope with a lot of kitchen odors, it will simply turn into an expensive lamp above the stove or a stand for trinkets. Pick up a “serious device” in an acceptable price range for you. Then the smells from the kitchen will not spread throughout the apartment, and you will not smell of pies, and the clothes will absorb the aromas of cooking in the first place.
Choose a hood that is slightly wider than the hob in width, then it will be able to remove all odors. If you save money and take the hood less than the stove, it will not be able to completely purify the air. Also pay attention to performance: the larger the kitchen area, the more powerful the hood you will need. But even for a small room, choose a device with a capacity of at least 350 cubic meters per hour.