Bathroom renovation in a Khrushchyovka

What a “Khrushchyovka” is

“Khrushchyovkas” is the name for buildings built in the second half of the 1950s, for example buildings of the 1-317 and similar projects. They are mostly two- to five-storey buildings, and five-storey ones have no lift. The oldest were built of sand-lime brick, the later ones of panel blocks. The apartments are small: a one-room apartment about 29–35 m², a two-room 39–41 m², a three-room about 51 m².

In the oldest five-storey buildings the bathroom and toilet are often combined, and the size depends on the particular apartment. Check in your apartment and in the request write the length and width of the room.

What to choose in a small combined bathroom

In a Khrushchyovka bathroom the main question is space. A bath takes up a whole wall, while a shower with a floor drain frees space for a washing machine. If you need a bath, think about a shorter model or a sink above the washing machine. Each decision changes where the pipes go, so it is decided before demolition.

• Bath or shower with a floor drain: a drain needs a sloping floor, and the floor level by the door may change.
• A toilet with a concealed cistern in the front wall, or an ordinary floor-standing toilet.
• A place for the washing machine: water supply, drain pipe and socket before the tiling.
• The direction of the door and the threshold, if the floor level rises.

For more ideas for a small room, see the page small bathroom renovation, and for a combined room with a toilet, the page combined bathroom renovation.

Old pipes, wiring and materials

In many homes the wiring was built in the Soviet era, and the wires are 30–50 years old. The electrical installation is inspected every 10 years, and if the installation is changed in the bathroom, the new one needs residual current protection. Water pipes from the riser to the appliances are part of the apartment, and they can be replaced before the tiling.

In buildings built before the asbestos ban, some materials may contain asbestos, for example pipe insulation. It cannot be reliably identified by appearance; it is determined in a laboratory. Demolition of asbestos may be carried out only with the permission of the State Labour Inspectorate. If in doubt, order an analysis before demolition; more on the page asbestos in an apartment.

Neighbours and sound

Cityreal.lv writes that Khrushchyovkas have weak sound insulation, so demolition and drilling will be audible to the neighbours. The Riga Municipal Police explain that everyday noise is usually not an offence, but disturbing a person's peace can be an administrative offence, and the apartment owners' association can set house rules. Ask the building manager whether the building has set times for renovation, and warn the neighbours.

The work in the usual order

1. Plan and choices Bath or shower, the place for the washing machine, the toilet.
2. Demolition Old tiles, paint and appliances are removed; if asbestos is suspected, analysis first.
3. Pipes and wiring The pipes up to the riser and the electrical points are replaced.
4. Levelling and waterproofing Old walls are levelled, a slope is formed in the floor if there will be a drain, and waterproofing is applied.
5. Tiles and appliances Tiling, grouting with silicone in the corners, and installing the plumbing.

How much a bathroom renovation in a Khrushchyovka costs

Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. The whole bathroom renovation costs from €3,000. Separate jobs: demolition of old tiles from €9/m², waterproofing from €6/m², tiling from €24/m², floor drain installation from €100 per drain, installing a toilet during a renovation from €50 per toilet.

The price is affected by the size of the room and the number of corners, the condition of the walls after demolition, whether the pipes, risers and wiring are replaced, and the chosen finish. In the request also write the floor. All prices are on the prices page.

What the price includes