Contents
- How a major renovation differs from a cosmetic one
- What a major renovation includes: scope by work package
- Boundaries: the apartment, shared property and other specialists
- Sequence of work: why the order matters
- Hidden work: what to check before it is covered
- Materials and changes during the work
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Short answer. A major apartment renovation usually covers strip-out, new wiring and plumbing inside the apartment, wall and ceiling preparation, levelling the floor base, waterproofing wet areas and all finishes down to doors, sockets and sanitary fittings. Shared parts of the building — risers, ventilation shafts, load-bearing structures and the facade — are not the apartment owner’s decision alone, so they are agreed separately. RigaBuild prepares the exact scope of work and the estimate after a site visit.
Key points
- A major renovation is not just new surfaces: it includes services that end up hidden inside walls and floors.
- Before the estimate, agree the boundaries: what belongs to the apartment, what is shared property of the building, and what another specialist does.
- Check and photograph hidden work before the finishes cover it.
- Some works need a procedure with the municipal building authority (būvvalde) — find out before work starts.
How a major renovation differs from a cosmetic one
A cosmetic renovation refreshes what you can see: paint, wallpaper, flooring, skirting. A major renovation also deals with what sits behind the finishes: wiring, water and drainage pipes inside the apartment, the floor base, partitions and bathroom waterproofing. That makes it one connected project rather than a list of separate jobs. If you lay a new floor first and only then decide to rewire, part of the new work has to be opened up again.
Not sure which type your apartment needs? Compare the signs in “Major or cosmetic renovation”.
What a major renovation includes: scope by work package
The table splits the work into three groups. Usually included — without it the renovation is not complete. Depends on the apartment — decided after the inspection or by your choices. Usually separate — work for another specialist, a decision of the building’s owners, or a separate contract.
| Package | Usually included | Depends on the apartment | Usually separate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Strip-out and preparation | removing old finishes, floor coverings and fittings; carrying out debris; protecting common areas | removing partitions; taking the old floor base down to the slab | a skip, if it cannot be placed by the building (agreed with the building manager) |
| 2. Electrical | new wiring inside the apartment; boxes, sockets, switches; wiring layout | new consumer unit; dedicated circuits for the hob, washing machine, underfloor heating | higher supply capacity and connection to the riser or meter (distribution network operator, building manager) |
| 3. Water and drainage | pipework from the apartment’s shut-off valves to the fittings; drain connections inside the apartment | new shut-off valves; new fitting positions | risers and their replacement (shared property — agreed with the building manager) |
| 4. Walls, ceilings, partitions | plaster repair or plasterboard lining; skimming; priming | new partitions; suspended ceilings; sound insulation | work on load-bearing walls — only after the building-authority procedure |
| 5. Floors | levelling the base; new flooring; skirting | underfloor heating; strengthening the floor structure in older buildings | — |
| 6. Bathroom and wet areas | waterproofing; tiling; installing sanitary fittings | replacing the bath with a shower; concealed toilet frame | cleaning or repairing the ventilation shaft (shared property) |
| 7. Finishing | painting; doors and architraves; socket and switch plates; cleaning before handover | kitchen installation; connecting built-in appliances | window replacement where the facade is restricted; made-to-measure furniture |
This table is not a price list. What each package costs, and why the final estimate differs from a price per m², is explained in “Apartment renovation cost in Riga”. For the structure of an estimate with two illustrative scenarios, see the renovation estimate example.
Boundaries: the apartment, shared property and other specialists
In an apartment building, not everything inside your flat belongs to you alone. Risers, ventilation shafts, load-bearing walls and floor slabs, and the external walls are shared property of the building. A renovation contract alone cannot change them: you need the building manager’s agreement or a decision of the owners’ association, and in some cases a building-authority procedure as well.
- Before the estimate, ask the building manager when the risers were last replaced and whether a building-wide replacement is planned. If it is, it usually makes sense to connect the apartment’s plumbing afterwards.
- Ventilation: the bathroom and kitchen shaft must not be blocked or connected to a cooker hood without approval.
- Power supply: if you need more capacity, this is handled with the distribution network operator, not only inside the apartment.
Which works need a notice or an explanatory memorandum at the building authority is summarised in “Documents before an apartment renovation”. In Soviet-era blocks, take extra care with load-bearing walls — see “Renovating a Soviet-era apartment in Riga”.
Sequence of work: why the order matters
- Inspection and measurements. Assess walls, floors, wiring and pipes, and any building restrictions.
- Decisions that shape the hidden work. Socket and light positions, kitchen and bathroom layout, appliance list. Make them before the strip-out, not after.
- Estimate, contract and appendices. Scope, who buys which materials, schedule and how changes are handled.
- Strip-out. It often reveals conditions that could not be seen before; these are documented and agreed in writing.
- First-fix services. Electrics, water, drainage; checked before they are covered.
- Walls, ceilings, floor base. Wet trades and drying time.
- Waterproofing and tiling in wet areas.
- Finishes. Painting, flooring, doors.
- Installing and connecting fittings and appliances.
- Handover. Checked against the agreed scope and signed off with an acceptance certificate.
As a rough guide, a major apartment renovation takes 4–9 weeks. The real duration depends on the floor area, condition, scope, approvals, deliveries and how quickly decisions are made. More in “How long does an apartment renovation take”.
Hidden work: what to check before it is covered
The most valuable part of a major renovation is invisible after handover. Check it while changes are still possible. Use this list to agree interim checks with your contractor in advance.
| Checkpoint | When | What to check and keep |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | before plastering or lining | boxes and runs match the plan; wiring layout; photos of cable routes with a tape measure |
| Water and drainage | before covering | pressure-test result; falls; access to shut-off valves; photos |
| Waterproofing | before tiling | corners and pipe penetrations; upstands on the walls; photos |
| Floor base | before laying the flooring | flatness checked with a straightedge; moisture requirements for the chosen flooring |
| Partitions and linings | before skimming | fixings for heavy furniture and appliances; sound insulation, if agreed |
Materials and changes during the work
RigaBuild prices cover labour; materials are paid for separately. You can buy them yourself, or RigaBuild can buy them, in which case available wholesale terms may apply. The estimate should make clear who buys what and when, because deliveries affect the schedule. More in “Renovation materials: who buys them”.
Extra work is more common in a major renovation than in a cosmetic one, because some conditions only show up after the strip-out. Put every change in writing before it is carried out — see “Change orders and extra work”. Completed work is handed over with an acceptance certificate, and warranty terms are set by the contract.
Frequently asked questions
Does a major renovation always mean rewiring the whole apartment? Not always, but in older buildings with aluminium wiring or no earthing it is usually justified. The decision follows the inspection, not just the age of the building.
Can a major renovation be done in stages? Yes, if the order is planned so that the next stage does not require opening up the previous one. Services are usually best done across the whole apartment at once.
What counts as shared property? Typically risers, ventilation shafts, load-bearing structures and external walls. Check the specifics for your building with the building manager.
Is a site visit needed before the estimate? Yes. Without one, only an indicative starting price can be given; the final figure depends on the actual condition and the agreed scope.
Sources
- Cabinet Regulation No. 529 of 2 September 2014, “Ēku būvnoteikumi” (Building Regulations) — likumi.lv, in Latvian; accessed 06.11.2026
- Būvniecības likums (Construction Law) — likumi.lv, in Latvian; accessed 06.11.2026
- Dzīvokļa īpašuma likums (Law on Residential Properties) — likumi.lv, in Latvian; accessed 06.11.2026
Prices and timescales — RigaBuild Pricing page and the Major apartment renovation service page (accessed 06.11.2026).
Want to define the scope for your apartment? See our major apartment renovation service and request an estimate — we prepare the list of works after a site visit. The indicative starting price for a major renovation is from €300/m² (labour, excluding VAT).
Prepared by the RigaBuild editorial team. Prices, timescales and sources checked on 6 November 2026. This article is for information only and does not replace legal advice or an answer from the building authority.