Simple apartment repair includes cosmetic work that does not require serious changes and redevelopment. This is your option if you want to refresh the appearance of the room and eliminate minor defects. For example, you wanted to change the color of the walls, glue new wallpaper or replace the old linoleum with a laminate.
In this article we will tell you what materials and tools you will need to make simple repairs in the apartment yourself.
Content:
- Where to start simple repairs?
- List of building materials for simple room repair
- What tools will be needed for repair
Photo: With the necessary materials and tools, you can make a simple repair in the apartment yourself
Where to start simple repairs?
Start by assessing the condition of the room. You need to determine the volume of necessary work, identify all defects and problem areas. To do this, inspect all the rooms and pay attention to the condition of the walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors. Check where there are cracks, chips, irregularities and other disadvantages that will need to be eliminated.
After the inspection, make a detailed list of work. Include all tasks in it, ranging from the removal of old coatings and ending with painting or gluing new wallpapers.
The next step is the dismantling of old coatings. For example, you will need to remove old wallpaper, paint or other finish. After removing the old coatings, clean the walls, ceiling and floor from dust, dirt and residues of materials. This is necessary so that there is a good adhesion of new finishing materials with the surface. If there are minor defects on the walls, for example, cracks or chips, they need to be eliminated.
If you plan to leave any of the coatings unchanged, for example, the floor, cover it with a film and fix it with painting tape. Doors, windows and other elements that do not require replacement must also be closed so as not to spoil them during dismantling and finishing work.
Please note: at the dismantling stage, you can find hidden defects that were not visible during the initial examination. For example, you may have mold for wallpaper or damage to the plaster under the paint. These problems will have to be solved before the start of the main finish.
Photo: After cleaning and eliminating defects, proceed to the planning and calculation of materials
List of building materials for simple room repair
The first thing you need after dismantling old coatings is a primer. This material is used to improve adhesion between the walls of the walls and finishing materials. The primer also helps to reduce the absorption of surfaces, which is especially important for porous materials, for example, plaster or drywall. Before applying the primer, the surface should be clean and dry. This will provide better penetration and fixing of the primer, creating the perfect basis for plaster and putty.
The plaster is used to align the walls and eliminate large defects. Depending on the condition of the walls, plaster is applied in several layers, each with a thickness of about 2-3 cm. This process requires accuracy, since the final result depends on the even layer. The calculation of the amount of plaster is based on the volume of work and the thickness of the applied layer.
After plaster, you can start putty. It is used to eliminate small irregularities and prepare the surface for painting or pasting with wallpaper. The putty is applied with a thin layer, and then thoroughly polished. For finishing for painting, it will take about 1.5 liters of putty per square meter of the surface, and for wallpaper gluing this amount will decrease to 1 liter per square meter. The putty is important not only for aesthetics, but also for good adhesion of paint or wallpaper with the surface of the walls.
Wallpaper is a popular wall decoration. To calculate the number of wallpaper, it is necessary to take into account the height of the ceilings and the area of the walls. Do not forget about the reserve to fit the picture and possible errors in the sticker. Without selection, the supply is 10 cm to the height of the ceiling. If you decide to glue the wallpaper with the selection, follow the recommendations on the roll: the supply depends on the step step on each line.
Paint is another version of the finishing material for the walls. The volume of paint depends on its type and number of layers. Calculate the paint according to the recommendations of the manufacturer: the bank always indicates the expense per square. In addition, before painting, you will need to apply a primer layer – consider this when calculating the number of materials.
You can replace the flooring with linoleum or laminate. The laminate is taken based on the floor area with a margin of 10%, and linoleum with a margin of 1–1.5 cm.
In addition, you will need decorative elements: skirting boards and borders. The calculation of their number is carried out separately, depending on the length of the walls.
Photo: The calculation of the material must be done according to the recommendations of the manufacturer
What tools will be needed for repair
To carry out a simple repair of the apartment, a certain set of tools will be required. Some of them can be borrowed by acquaintances or rent, but the presence of your own set will greatly facilitate the process.
You definitely can not do without a screwdriver. It is used for fast and convenient fastening of various elements, for example, drywall, skirting boards and shelves.
Bulgarian, or Ushm (angling machine), is useful for cutting and grinding metal, wood and other solid materials. This tool is especially useful when dismantling old structures or fitting new materials in size.
The perforator needs to drill holes in the walls or floor. It is used for dismantling, as well as for installing fasteners, for example, dowels and anchors.
Roulette is a simple but necessary tool for measurements. It is used at all stages of repairs, from planning to laying the flooring or installing furniture.
The level is used to align the walls and install furniture, and the plumb line is to check the verticality. These tools will help to avoid errors when measuring and performing finishing work.
For plaster, putty, primers and applying finishing materials you will need spatulas, rollers and brushes. Spatulas are used to apply plaster and putty, rollers – for painting large surfaces, and brushes – for painting parts and inaccessible places, as well as for applying primers to corners. To glue wallpaper, rollers for applying glue and special plastic spatulas for leveling the canvas are also needed.
In addition, you can not do without a standard set of tools. It includes a hammer, pliers, screwdrivers of various types and sizes, metal scissors, a stationery knife and other useful items.
Photo: Before starting the repair, make sure you have all the necessary tools
In conclusion
Before you start simple repairs in the apartment, you need to carry out a detailed examination of the premises, identify all defects and problem areas, remove old coatings and carefully clean the surfaces. This will create a strong basis for finishing work and will avoid unforeseen problems.
A set of building materials for repair includes a primer, plaster, putty, wallpaper, laminate or linoleum, as well as decorative elements. Each of these materials plays a role: the primer improves adhesion, the plaster levels the walls, putty eliminates small defects. And the tools for work include a screwdriver, a grinder, a punch, roulette, level, plumb, spatulas, rollers and brushes.
