Before renovation even starts — preparation and decisions
Most people who contact us about an apartment renovation in Prague know what they do not like about the current state, but are less clear on how to get to the target solution. Good news: this very phase is one of the most important, and it usually gets less attention than it deserves. Quality preparation typically saves tens of thousands of crowns and several weeks of unnecessary delays.
The first contact usually happens by phone or through the form and serves to clarify the apartment size, the renovation scope and the desired start. Right after the phone call we usually send a questionnaire to help you formulate priorities — some clients care above all about a modern kitchen, others about a quiet bedroom or maintenance-free surfaces. At the on-site visit we measure the apartment, examine the existing wiring and write down the basic scope.
Price offer and what should be in it
The price offer we send after the survey should be itemised so it is clear how much costs the demolition work, how much the new electrical wiring, how much the tiles and how much the actual laying. Clients often ask why we do not give flat-rate prices like "apartment renovation 2+kk for 850,000 CZK". The reason is simple — under such a heading hide so many partial activities and materials that any flat-rate price without specific scope ends up as an overpayment or a dispute. A clear itemised offer is fairer for you and for us.
The calculation includes an estimated schedule. A standard renovation of a 3+kk apartment in a Prague panel building usually takes 8–12 weeks, depending on the scope of intervention in wiring and the availability of tradesmen at the time. When fully replacing electrical, water and drainage, this adds the approval process with the housing association, which should be started before the work itself begins.
Demolition work, protecting neighbours and logistics in a panel building
In Prague we most often renovate in panel and tenement buildings, where every intervention is followed by the neighbours. The day after signing the contract we therefore prepare the environment: we post a notice about the renovation, agree with the building manager on using the lift for debris removal, cordon off the workplace and prepare dust barriers. In this phase we also clear the apartment and protect preserved parts (for example floors in the corridor or door frames that remain).
Demolition work happens in concentrated bursts over several days. We try to plan it so the louder noise falls into the shortest possible window. We remove debris into large-capacity containers placed in front of the building so as not to burden basement areas or corridors unnecessarily.
Wiring and trades — why the order matters
After clearing the apartment, new wiring follows. Electrician, plumber and heating engineer usually work in parallel, because each one needs their own channels in the walls. This is where coordination shows — if individual trades come into the apartment one after another without a plan, it easily happens that a tiler arrives at a wall that nobody has yet prepared for the drain to a basin, and the entire renovation is delayed by a week.
In our company, this coordination is handled by the site manager. They keep a daily work log, oversee connection quality and check that everything matches the project documentation. The client during this phase is usually not on site every day, but receives photo documentation from us and a weekly short report on the state of the works.
Masonry, plaster and rough surface preparation
After wiring is complete, masonry repairs and new plaster come in. This phase is not very photogenic, but it determines the quality of the final surfaces — a crooked wall or rounded corner shows up immediately after painting, and the fix is expensive. Therefore we give masonry work the time it deserves and never cut corners to "catch up on schedule".
During this phase we also build drywall partitions and ceilings if they are part of the project. Drywall in Prague apartments is used mainly where masonry cannot or does not make sense — for example dividing a large living room or hiding new wiring.
Tiles, floor tiles, flooring and final surfaces
When the renovation is roughly halfway, clients often ask when there will be visible "progress". At this moment we start with tiles in bathrooms, laying floor tiles and later wooden or vinyl floors in living rooms. The client at this stage often perceives the resulting apartment atmosphere for the first time.
The correct order is important — first waterproofing, then tiles, then wet trades (fixtures), and only then floors in adjacent rooms. The order can be shuffled locally but the overall plan must be followed so we do not cover and uncover the same area twice.
Finishing work and apartment handover
The final phase of an apartment renovation is usually the longest in the client perception — installation of fixtures, kitchen fitting, painting, cleaning and tidying. It is also the phase where small details are fine-tuned: skirting height, accurate mirror placement, or sealing transitions. At this moment we invite the client to joint walk-throughs so they can comment on the details and we can adjust them before handover.
The handover takes place as a joint walk-through of the apartment with a handover protocol. We note everything that may be subject to warranty claims, hand over material documentation and certification protocols for electrical and heating. At this moment the apartment is in fact ready to move in.
What happens after renovation and how to handle warranties
The standard warranty period for construction work is 24 months, but some elements (for example quality faucets or floors) have longer manufacturer warranties. We therefore hand over all documentation to the client in a folder so they have all documents in one place. For warranty claims or queries we are usually available within Prague within two business days.
If you are considering an apartment renovation in Prague and want to keep the process under control, please get in touch with us. We will do a survey, prepare a price offer and propose a schedule that is realistic also in the busy Prague calendar.