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The short answer. A good renovation estimate is not one total. It has clearly separated blocks: labour, materials, items still to be clarified, assumptions and exclusions. Below are two illustrative scenarios for a two-room apartment, built from RigaBuild’s published starting prices (26 October 2026). They are not an offer or a quote. They show a structure you can use to read and compare any real quote. The final quote depends on a site visit and the agreed scope of works.
Key takeaways
- Labour and materials should be shown separately; RigaBuild’s published prices cover labour.
- Per-m² pricing applies to the area of the rooms included in the agreed renovation scope.
- In a full flat renovation the bathroom is normally part of the overall scope, not added as an extra line.
- In a good quote, items that are not yet known are named, not hidden in the total.
The building blocks of an estimate
| Block | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| A. Labour | Line items with quantity, unit and price | You can check the quantities against your flat |
| B. Materials | Who supplies them, specification, quantities | Separates "labour only" from "with materials" |
| C. To clarify | Works whose scope only becomes clear on site | Shows where extra costs may arise |
| D. Assumptions | The conditions the price is based on | If a condition changes, the price changes |
| E. Exclusions | What is deliberately left out | Prevents misunderstandings after work starts |
A quote also needs a date or version and, if the offer has a validity period, that period. In RigaBuild’s process the quote is prepared after a site visit and once the scope is confirmed, and the agreed terms are set out in the contract.
How the area is counted
Per-m² prices are indicative starting prices. Per-m² pricing applies to the area of the rooms included in the agreed renovation scope — not automatically to the flat’s full cadastral area. If only some rooms are renovated, only those are counted.
In a full flat renovation, the bathroom is normally part of the overall agreed scope and is not added a second time as a separate project. A separate bathroom price applies when:
- only the bathroom is being renovated;
- the bathroom is not part of the main agreed scope;
- a separate project or separate quote has been agreed for it.
Illustrative examples: two scenarios
These are illustrative examples, not an offer, a quote or a price guarantee. They use only RigaBuild’s published indicative starting prices (26 October 2026). The real figure may be higher; the final quote depends on a site visit and the agreed scope of works.
Scenario A: full flat renovation
Assumptions: a two-room flat in Riga; a major renovation of all rooms in the agreed scope — living rooms, kitchen, hall and bathroom — 48 m² in total; no layout changes; no work on load-bearing structures; the flat is empty during the works.
| Item | Quantity | Starting price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major renovation of all renovated rooms, bathroom included | 48 m² | from €300/m² | from €14,400 |
| Bathroom as a separate line | — | not added | — |
| Labour total | from €14,400 |
What exactly sits inside a major renovation scope like this, and what usually stays outside it, is broken down by work package in “What a major apartment renovation includes”. In a pre-war building the estimate also needs items that can only be confirmed after the strip-out — see “Renovating an apartment in a pre-war building in Riga”.
Scenario B: mixed scope
Assumptions: a cosmetic renovation of the living rooms, 40 m²; the bathroom is not part of these 40 m² and is handled as a separate full-renovation project with its own quote; no layout changes.
| Item | Quantity | Starting price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic renovation of living rooms | 40 m² | from €90/m² | from €3,600 |
| Bathroom renovation — separate project | 1 project | from €3,000 | from €3,000 |
| Labour total | from €6,600 |
The published starting prices and both scenario totals exclude VAT; in an individual quote, VAT (21%) is shown as a separate line.
In both scenarios, separately:
- Materials — the amount depends on the paints, coverings, tiles and sanitaryware chosen. The quote should say whether the client buys the materials, RigaBuild sources them (with its wholesale discounts), or a mix is used.
- Exclusions — furniture and appliances, kitchen units, and preparing building-board documents if they turn out to be needed.
- Possible extra works — see the checklist below.
- □ scope of strip-out and waste removal;
- □ delivery and carrying materials up to the flat;
- □ electrical and plumbing works, if not included;
- □ levelling base surfaces, if walls or floors are uneven;
- □ protecting rooms and cleaning.
If any assumption turns out to be wrong (for instance, the site visit shows the pipes need replacing), the quote is revised. For prices per m² by renovation type, see Apartment renovation cost in Riga; for a first figure for your own flat, use the renovation calculator.
Want a quote like this for your apartment? Request a quote — after a site visit you will get line items with quantities and materials shown separately.
What is usually not included
Misunderstandings rarely come from prices; they come from boundaries. Before signing, check that the quote clearly states:
- whether strip-out and waste removal are included;
- whether materials are included and who buys them;
- whether fitting furniture and appliances is part of the works;
- whether utility works are included or priced separately;
- whether the bathroom is part of the overall scope or a separate project;
- what happens with hidden defects found only after strip-out.
If any of these is not mentioned, it is neither included nor excluded — it is a question to ask before the contract.
Comparing two quotes (checklist)
- □ Both quotes cover the same scope (rooms, works, quantities).
- □ Both use the same area basis — the same renovated rooms.
- □ Both treat materials the same way — included or not.
- □ Both show taxes the same way.
- □ Items have quantities and units, not just "lump sum".
- □ There is a list of items to clarify, and exclusions.
- □ A date or version is given.
- □ It is clear how changes will be documented.
If any point is missing, the cheapest quote may end up the most expensive after extra works. More on comparing offers in How to choose a renovation contractor in Riga.
When an estimate changes
A quote is the agreed starting point, not always the final figure. It changes when the scope or assumptions change: the client picks a different solution, a defect was not visible on the site visit, or works are added. In RigaBuild’s process such changes are documented.
Latvia’s Civil Law on contracts for work sets out some principles that explain the logic. The contractor is reimbursed for necessary expenses not already included in the agreed price (Section 2228). The client may withdraw from the contract if the contractor’s preliminary estimate proves too low or the contractor changes the plan without authorisation (Section 2229). That is why changes are agreed in writing before they are carried out — see Renovation change orders.
Common questions
Questions selected from search data and typical questions; they are not questions from specific clients.
What should a renovation quote include? Labour items with quantities and prices, materials shown separately, items to clarify, assumptions and exclusions — plus a date or version.
Is the estimate the final price? It is the agreed starting point. If the scope or assumptions change, so does the total — which is why changes are agreed in writing before they are carried out.
Is the bathroom priced separately? In a full flat renovation it is normally part of the overall agreed scope. A separate price applies when only the bathroom is renovated or a separate project or quote is agreed for it.
Why do two quotes for the same flat differ? Usually because they cover a different scope or area basis, treat materials differently, or make different assumptions. Use the checklist above to line them up.
Sources
- Pievienotās vērtības nodokļa likums (Sections 41, 142) — Saeima / Latvijas Vēstnesis (likumi.lv); version in force from 01.01.2026; accessed 26.10.2026.
- Civillikums. Saistību tiesības — uzņēmuma līgums (Sections 2212–2229) — Saeima (likumi.lv); version in force from 30.03.2026; accessed 26.10.2026.
Prices: RigaBuild Pricing page and service pages (accessed 26 October 2026). Services: apartment renovation, major renovation, cosmetic renovation.
Getting ready to compare offers? Request a RigaBuild quote and check it against this article’s checklist. If you have not decided who buys the materials yet, read Renovation materials: who buys them.
Prepared by the RigaBuild editorial team. Prices, timelines and sources checked on 26 October 2026. This article is for information only and does not replace legal advice or a building-board decision.