Contents
Short answer. A cosmetic renovation is enough if the wiring, plumbing, floor base and bathroom are in good technical order and you do not need a new layout — then only the surfaces are renewed. A major renovation is needed when the work has to go behind the finishes: wiring, pipes, waterproofing, the floor base or partitions. Often the best answer is in between: a major renovation of one or two areas and a refresh of the other rooms. The final decision is best made after a site visit.
Key points
- The choice depends on the technical condition, not on the budget you hoped for.
- If cosmetic work hides a problem that has to be fixed later anyway, the new finishes will be opened up again.
- The middle option — a major renovation of just the bathroom and electrics — is a legitimate and often sensible choice.
- RigaBuild indicative starting prices: cosmetic renovation from €90/m², major renovation from €300/m² (labour, excluding VAT).
The difference in one table
| Cosmetic renovation | Major renovation | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | visible surfaces: paint, wallpaper, flooring, skirting | also what is behind the finishes: wiring, pipes, floor base, waterproofing, partitions |
| Layout | stays as it is | can change (with approvals where needed) |
| Building services | not rebuilt; only fittings and faceplates are replaced | renewed inside the apartment |
| Living there during the work | often possible if rooms are done one at a time | usually uncomfortable or not possible |
| Indicative duration | 2–6 weeks for a whole apartment | 4–9 weeks |
| RigaBuild starting price | from €90/m² | from €300/m² |
| Building authority (būvvalde) | usually not needed | may be needed for some works — checked before starting |
Decision matrix: 10 signs
Tick the signs that match your apartment. If even one sign in the right-hand column applies, a cosmetic renovation is unlikely to be enough — at least in that area.
| Sign | Cosmetic is enough | Major work needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Wiring | copper wiring, earthing, breakers work without tripping | aluminium wiring, no earthing, breakers trip, sockets get warm |
| 2. Sockets | the existing ones are enough | new circuits needed for the kitchen, a home office or appliances |
| 3. Water supply | pipes already replaced, no leaks or rust | old steel pipes, rust marks, low pressure |
| 4. Drainage | drains freely, no smell | cracked cast-iron connections, repeated blockages |
| 5. Bathroom | tiles are sound, no damp marks downstairs | no waterproofing, mould, leaks into the flat below |
| 6. Floor base | level, no creaking or bounce | noticeable level differences, loose boards or a failed base |
| 7. Walls and ceilings | small cracks that can be filled | plaster coming away, large deviations, water damage |
| 8. Layout | works as it is | you want to join or split rooms, move the kitchen or bathroom |
| 9. Previous work | known and documented | unknown DIY work, hidden joints |
| 10. Your plans | selling or letting soon | living there long term — 10 years or more |
A 15-minute check you can do yourself
- Open the consumer unit door: are there circuit breakers and a residual-current device, or old screw-in fuses?
- Find out whether the wiring is copper or aluminium — ask the previous owner or the building manager. Do not take sockets apart yourself; if nobody knows, an electrician will check.
- Run hot and cold water in the bathroom and kitchen at the same time: does the pressure drop noticeably?
- Look at the pipes under the sink and by the riser: rust, damp, makeshift repairs.
- Tap the bathroom tiles: a hollow sound in several places means tiles are coming loose.
- Check the ceiling under your bathroom in the flat below, or ask the neighbours about leaks.
- Check the floor in several rooms with a long straightedge or a level.
- Ask the building manager when the risers were replaced and whether a building renovation is planned.
If almost everything is “fine”, a cosmetic renovation will probably be enough. If the electrics or the bathroom raise doubts, those areas should be seen by a specialist.
The middle option: a partial major renovation
You do not have to choose between everything and nothing. It is often more sensible to carry out major work only where there are technical problems and refresh the remaining rooms. Typical combinations:
- Major bathroom renovation + cosmetic elsewhere — if services in the other rooms are fine but the bathroom has no waterproofing.
- Rewiring the whole apartment + cosmetic finishes — the wiring is done before painting so the new walls do not have to be opened.
- Major kitchen renovation — if appliance and sink positions change.
The key rule is the order: work behind the finishes first, surfaces last. If a full major renovation is planned within a few years, do not invest in expensive finishes in areas that will have to be opened up then.
Typical situations and what usually fits
| Situation | Usual answer | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Newly bought resale apartment that needs work | major or partial major | unknown previous work; check before choosing finishes |
| Rental apartment between tenants | cosmetic | bathroom and electrical safety — if in doubt, that is not a cosmetic question |
| Soviet-era block with original wiring | partial major (electrics + bathroom) or full | load-bearing walls and shared risers |
| Pre-war building | often major | timber floors, chimneys, heritage restrictions |
| Renovated 5–10 years ago, good condition | cosmetic | check the waterproofing and consumer unit if there are no records |
More on Soviet-era blocks in “Renovating a Soviet-era apartment in Riga”, and on older buildings in “Renovating an apartment in a pre-war building in Riga”.
Cost and time: what to compare
Prices per m² are not directly comparable: a major renovation price includes work that does not exist in a cosmetic one. It is better to compare two estimates for the same apartment — see “Apartment renovation cost in Riga” and the renovation estimate example. Differences in duration and their causes are covered in “How long does an apartment renovation take”.
Exactly what a major renovation includes, and where it meets the building’s shared property, is set out in “What a major apartment renovation includes”.
Frequently asked questions
Is retiling a bathroom a cosmetic job? If only the tiles are replaced over existing, sound waterproofing — yes. If there is no waterproofing or the pipes are changed, it is major work in that room.
Can I live in the apartment during a major renovation? Usually it is uncomfortable and often not possible, because water and power are switched off at times. During cosmetic work it is more often possible if rooms are done one by one.
Does a cosmetic renovation need building-authority approval? Usually not. If you plan to touch services, partitions or shared property, check the procedure in “Documents before an apartment renovation”.
Can I start with cosmetic work and do the major work later? You can, but the cosmetic finishes will have to come off later. If a major renovation is planned within a few years, keep spending on finishes to a minimum.
Sources
Prices and timescales — RigaBuild Pricing page, the Cosmetic renovation and Major apartment renovation service pages, and our article on renovation timescales (accessed 06.11.2026). For the legal framework on approvals, see the sources in the article on documents before a renovation.
Not sure which renovation you need? Ask for advice and an estimate — after a site visit we will recommend which areas only need a refresh and which need major work. See also our cosmetic renovation and major renovation services.
Prepared by the RigaBuild editorial team. Prices and timescales checked on 6 November 2026. This article is for information only; the right solution for a specific apartment follows a site visit.