What differs is what is hard to change: the housing website nopo.lv writes that the internal walls of this series are usually load-bearing, and the risers run through all the floors. The whole job costs from €3,000, with materials separate in the estimate.
What is known about 602 series buildings
602 series buildings in Riga were built roughly from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, mostly with nine storeys, some with six. The load-bearing walls are expanded clay concrete panels, the floors are reinforced concrete slabs, and, according to nopo.lv, the internal walls are usually load-bearing. Such buildings are in Purvciems, Mežciems, Imanta, Pļavnieki, Ziepniekkalns and Iļģuciems.
The bathroom differs by apartment plan. Some apartments have a separate bathroom and toilet, in others, for example in one of the three-room plans, the bath and the sink are together, but the toilet is separate by the entrance. The size of the room depends on the specific apartment, so write the dimensions in your request; you can send a plan or photos to the specialist when they contact you.
Walls that may be load-bearing
If you want to enlarge the bathroom at the expense of the corridor or the toilet, in the 602 series a load-bearing wall may be affected. Which walls are load-bearing can only be said from the building's design or a structural engineer's opinion.
A new opening in a load-bearing wall is a simplified reconstruction. According to the Riga municipality's explanation, it needs an architect and a structural engineer with a construction practice certificate, an explanatory memorandum and, if the building is divided into apartment properties, the consent of more than half of the apartment owners. Work may start only after the building board's mark on the fulfilment of the conditions for starting construction work. More on the page load-bearing wall.
Cabinet Regulation No. 529, paragraph 1.¹, sub-paragraph 6 and paragraph 7.², sub-paragraph 8; Construction Law (Būvniecības likums), Section 17(1); the Riga municipality's explanation on LV portāls 04.12.2025. Checked 11.11.2026.
Risers in a nine-storey building
A riser is common property of the apartment owners, and in a nine-storey building it connects all the apartments in one vertical line. If during a bathroom renovation you want to replace a section of the riser in your apartment, this affects common property: the association's consent is needed, and the building manager organises the work. If the association has decided to replace the risers in the whole building, the costs are usually covered by each owner according to their share.
Before tiling, ask the building manager whether replacement of the risers in the building is planned. If it is, new tiles around the riser may have to be opened up again. Replacing a riser section in an apartment costs from €100 per riser; more on the page riser replacement.
Law on Residential Properties (Dzīvokļa īpašuma likums), Section 4(1) point 1, Section 11(3), Section 13(1). Checked 11.11.2026.
What to check in your 602 series apartment
- Whether the bath and toilet are separate or in one room.
- Where the risers run and whether there is a hatch by them.
- Whether the ventilation duct draws: hold a sheet of paper to the grille.
- Whether there is mould in the corners by the external wall: apollo.lv mentions possible damp penetration for these buildings.
- What the pipes are from the riser to the fittings and whether you will replace them.
If there is mould in the corners, the cause must be found out first, otherwise it will appear on the new tiles too. On this, see the page mould in a bathroom.
Work in the usual order
- Association consent for risers If the work affects risers, the association's consent is needed first, and the building manager organises the work.
- Demolition The tiles and fittings are removed, the walls and floor are exposed.
- Pipes and electrics The pipes from the riser to the fittings are replaced and, if needed, the electrical points.
- Levelling and waterproofing The surfaces are levelled, primed and waterproofing is applied to the floor and the wet zone.
- Tiles and fittings Tiling and grouting are done, then the bath or shower, the sink and the toilet are installed.
How much bathroom renovation costs in the 602 series
Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. The whole bathroom renovation costs from €3,000, and the price is determined by the size of the room, the condition of the walls, whether the pipes and risers are changed, and the chosen finish. If you also replace a riser section, add from €100 per riser; for a bath, from €130 per bath. All prices are on the page prices.
What is in the price
What this work includes
- demolition, waterproofing and tiling;
- installing the bath or shower, the sink and the toilet;
- replacing a riser section, if it is included in the list of work.
What is calculated separately
- materials and plumbing fixtures;
- architect, structural engineer and building board documents, if the room is enlarged;
- replacing a riser section (from €100 per riser), which needs the association's consent.
Sources
- Construction period of the 602 series and load-bearing walls of expanded clay concrete panels; internal walls usually load-bearing checked 11 November 2026
- 602 series buildings are mostly 9-storey checked 11 November 2026
- 602 series buildings in Riga neighbourhoods; construction period checked 11 November 2026
- A three-room plan with a combined bathroom and a separate toilet by the entrance checked 11 November 2026
- Weak soundproofing, possible damp penetration, check corners for mould checked 11 November 2026
- An opening in a load-bearing wall: simplified reconstruction, explanatory memorandum checked 11 November 2026
- Architect, structural engineer and the consent of 50% + 1 of owners for an opening in a load-bearing wall checked 11 November 2026
- Work starts after the building board's mark checked 11 November 2026
- The riser is common property; costs by share checked 11 November 2026
