Apartment renovation in Mangaļi - for low-rise buildings and apartment blocks

Mixed development by the port: what it changes in a renovation

Mangaļi is a historic name in Northern Riga for the area between Mīlgrāvis, Vecmīlgrāvis and the port zones. Mangaļi railway station at Vitrupes iela 2 on the Zemitāni-Skulte line opened in 1872; it is a class I freight station with intensive freight traffic, and Mīlgrāvis station used to be called Dzirnupe and was later renamed Mangaļi. In Soviet times, dormitory-type apartment buildings were built in Mīlgrāvis, usually located close to the railway. Mangaļi has both low-rise buildings and larger apartment buildings.

If the apartment is in a former dormitory-type building, in the request write whether it has its own bathroom and kitchen, because the list of work depends on it. If the bedroom windows face the railway, note that too; soundproofing can be built on the inside. If the building is divided into apartment properties, the apartment includes the non-load-bearing partitions, the finish, the doors and the pipes up to the risers, while the external walls, load-bearing walls, floor structures and the building's utility systems are common property, and work on it needs the association's consent.

In Riga, for buildings older than 50 years that are not under state protection, the City Development Department, when examining a construction proposal, can determine the cultural and historical value. This is worth knowing if the renovation touches the facade, windows or structures. Approval of reconstruction in Mangaļi is handled by Riga municipality's City Development Department (formerly the Riga City Building Board).

Bathroom renovation: order of work and drying

A bathroom renovation (all work) includes demolition, waterproofing, tiling and installing the fixtures. The duration is determined not only by the amount of work but also by the drying of materials, as stated by the manufacturers.

1. The base A cement screed and plaster under tiles must be at least 28 days old, with moisture below 4% (Ceresit CM 17).
2. Waterproofing Ceresit CL 51: the second coat is applied about an hour after the first, and tiling can be done about 2 hours after the second.
3. Tiling The adhesive must cover at least 65% of the underside of the tile; grout on walls after at least 12 hours, on the floor after at least 24 hours.
4. Grout joints For Ceresit CE 40 grout, water load is permitted after 24 hours, with full strength after 5 days.

The manufacturers' times depend on temperature and humidity. More: bathroom renovation, bathroom tiling and drying times.

Pipes up to the riser and the riser itself

When renovating a bathroom, the pipes up to the riser belong to the apartment owner. The riser is common property, so replacing a section of it needs a decision of the apartment owners' association, and the work is organised by the building manager. In 2023 the Supreme Court held that the water supply inlet valve at the apartment entry is inseparably connected with the building's common water supply system, so talk to the building manager about it first as well.

Leave a hatch around the risers: the owner must allow the building manager's specialists to reach the utilities. Each owner covers the building's management costs according to their share, so replacing the risers of the whole building is usually paid for jointly. See riser replacement and combined bathroom renovation.

If water from the apartment above or from a riser has already damaged your ceiling, collect evidence before the renovation. The regulations do not directly oblige the building manager to draw up a report, so ask in writing for an inspection, photograph and film the damage, and keep the estimate and invoices. Losses are compensated by the person who caused them by their action or inaction. On this situation: renovation after flooding.

Mīlgrāvja iela and the port roads: the request

Mangaļi is reached by Mīlgrāvja iela, the northern port roads and along the railway. The residential development areas of the Mīlgrāvis neighbourhood take up 26.8 ha between Mores iela, Aplokciema iela and Briežu iela, and between Viestura prospekts and Ostas prospekts, so in the request write the exact address and from which street to approach the entrance.

• The type of building: a low-rise building or an apartment block; the year of construction or the series, if you know it.
• The floor, and whether there is a lift.
• The area in m² and the number of rooms.
• Which rooms, and whether the bathroom is combined.
• Whether you will change the risers, radiators or walls.
• A short description of the condition of the rooms; you can send photos or a plan to the specialist when they contact you.

Neighbours and noisy work

Demolition and drilling are the noisiest part of a renovation. The Riga Municipal Police explains that making noise is not directly prohibited in itself and everyday noise is usually not a violation; liability arises if public order is disturbed. For disturbing a person's peace, a warning or a fine of up to €500 can be applied. The police do not measure the noise level in residential rooms; if noise is disturbing now, you must call the municipal police so that it is checked on the spot.

House rules can be set by the apartment owners' association, and they must be followed, so before the renovation ask the building manager whether the building has rules on renovation hours. See renovation work hours.

Prices for an apartment in Mangaļi

• Bathroom renovation (all work): from €3,000.
• Removal of old tiles: from €9/m².
• Waterproofing in a bathroom: from €6/m².
• Cosmetic renovation: from €100/m² of apartment area.

Prices are for labour; materials are separate in the estimate. Example for separate bathroom jobs: tiling 18 m² × €24 = from €432, waterproofing 5 m² × €6 = from €30 and installing a floor drain from €100, total from €562. These are only those three jobs; a whole bathroom renovation is from €3,000. An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment.

Work: bathroom renovation in Mangaļi, cosmetic renovation in Mangaļi, riser replacement in Mangaļi, tiling in Mangaļi.