Renovating apartments in Olaine - for multi-storey blocks from the 1960s to the 1980s

A town built in the 1960s: what it means for an apartment renovation

Modern Olaine began in 1939 as a village for peat-extraction workers, received town rights in 1967, and in 1962 to 1965 industrial sites and residential buildings were built here quickly. The multi-storey blocks date from different decades. Zeiferta iela 1 is a 316 series building with 55 apartments built in 1964, and Stacijas iela 40 is a nine-storey 602 series building with 36 apartments built in 1979. In apartments where nothing has been changed, the internal installations may be the original ones.

In Soviet-era panel and large-panel buildings, the work can be renewing the old wiring, the bathroom and the kitchen, and replanning that takes into account load-bearing walls and shared risers. In a full renovation the apartment is stripped back to the structure, and new wiring and pipes, screed, plaster and all finishes are installed. If the installations have already been replaced, a cosmetic renovation is enough. See full renovation in Olaine and old apartment renovation.

The series determines what to expect in a layout. The walls of the 316 series are sand-lime brick, while in the 602 series, according to nopo.lv, the load-bearing walls are expanded clay concrete panels and all internal walls are usually load-bearing, so moving walls there must first be assessed by a structural engineer.

Both buildings mentioned have renovation projects: in 2022 the owners of Stacijas iela 40 agreed on a renovation with Altum and EU fund support, and for Zeiferta iela 1 the first construction contract has been signed in the 2022 to 2026 energy efficiency programme. If your building has such a project, before the apartment renovation ask the building manager whether it includes replacing the risers. See 316 and 318 series apartment renovation and 602 series apartment renovation.

The A8 and the Riga-Jelgava railway: what to write in the form

The A8 and the Riga-Jelgava railway line give Olaine good regional access. Access differs between the residential centre, the industrial zones and the large forest areas of the municipality, so give the exact address.

• the year of construction or the series of the building, if you know it;
• the floor, and whether there is a lift;
• the apartment area in m², the number of rooms and which rooms to renovate;
• whether the wiring has already been replaced and whether there is an inspection report;
• whether you want to demolish or move walls;
• the condition of each room and of the electrical panel.

Old wiring in an apartment from the 1960s to 1980s

LV portāls explains that in many homes the wiring was installed in Soviet times and the wires are 30–50 years old and worn. The Fire Safety Regulations currently in force require an inspection of the wiring every 10 years, with an inspection report. If after the inspection the wires are replaced, that is the first stage of a full renovation: new cables are pulled in before the walls are plastered and skimmed.

Since 01.07.2025, residual current protection is mandatory for reconstructed wiring; for household socket and lighting circuits its tripping current is no more than 30 mA. The installation is led by a certified construction specialist, and the test measurements are made by a certified electrical specialist; this can be checked in the BIS register of construction specialists. The apartment user is responsible for connecting their own equipment, while the electricity supply of the common property is ensured as part of managing the building. See rewiring in Olaine and old electrical wiring.

Replanning with load-bearing walls and the Olaine municipality building board

In a panel building, before demolishing any wall you must find out whether it is load-bearing. A non-load-bearing internal partition belongs to the apartment, and demolishing it is a simplified renovation with a construction notice in the BIS and a plan prepared by a registered construction company or a construction specialist. Load-bearing walls are common property; an opening in them is a simplified reconstruction, which needs an explanatory memorandum, the structural solution for the opening and, if the building is divided into apartment properties, the consent of more than half of the apartment owners. Such work starts only after the building board's note that the conditions for starting construction have been met.

Approval of reconstruction in Olaine is handled by the building board of Olaine Municipality. For work without an explanatory memorandum, where one is needed, an individual can be fined up to 400 fine units (up to €2,000). If your plan needs approval, write that in the request. Read replanning, wall removal and load-bearing wall.

Water from the apartment above: what to do before the renovation

If the ceiling or walls have been damaged by a neighbour's water, first prepare evidence. The regulations do not directly oblige the building manager to draw up a flooding report, so the injured person must collect the report, photographs and, if needed, an independent expert's opinion. Ask the building manager in writing to inspect, and keep estimates and invoices. In a dispute about whether the place of damage is in common property, in 2023 the Senate of the Supreme Court assessed whether the element is functionally connected with the building's system.

After that, the renovation can be skimming and painting of the ceilings and walls, sometimes also replacing the floor covering. Read neighbours flooded the apartment and renovation after flooding in Olaine.

Prices in Olaine

• Full renovation: from €280/m² of apartment area
• Rewiring in an apartment: from €20/m² of apartment area
• Socket, switch or light point: from €12 per point
• Demolition of walls, floors and finishes: from €6/m²

Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. Example: a 1-room apartment of 33 m², full renovation: 33 × €280 = from €9,240 (labour). If in the same apartment only the wiring is replaced, that is 33 × €20 = from €660, and each point from €12. The price changes with the number of rooms, the condition of the walls and floors, whether pipes and risers are replaced, and the chosen finish. An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment. For construction waste removal, see buvgruzuizvesanariga.lv.