Things to Know before Remodeling an Apartment

Even if you change a part of the room by remodeling, it will improve the usability of the room you usually spend and make your daily life comfortable. However, when performing remodeling, it is important to have a clear purpose, not a rough image of "easy to use" or "comfort". To that end, this time we will introduce what you need to know before remodeling an apartment and examples of room remodeling.

Things to Know when Remodeling an Apartment Room

Difference from Renovation
The word "renovation" is similar to "remodeling". Remodeling means repairing to bring it closer to the state when it was newly built, and is often used in a wide range of construction work. On the other hand, renovation refers to construction work that matches the current lifestyle, with the purpose of adding new added value to what is already there. However, in some cases, the two may be used interchangeably, or remodeling may be termed as a minor repair and renovation as a major repair.

Confirm in Advance whether the Desired Remodeling can be done.

If the house is a structure that supports pillars and pillars in combination, there are many cases where relatively free remodeling such as removal of walls can be performed. However, in the case of a structure in which the walls are combined and supported by the surface, the walls support the house, so there are restrictions on the walls that can be removed. Especially in a condominium, what kind of remodeling can be done depends not only on your own room but also on the structure of the whole condominium. Therefore, before start remodeling, please check whether you can do the construction you want in advance.

Check the rules when remodeling an apartment
Condominiums have management rules, and even if they are proprietary parts, they generally have rules regarding remodeling. Depending on the content, it is required not only to obtain approval from the owner and the management association but also to obtain the consent of the residents on the upper and lower floors before carrying out the works. Please check the terms and conditions of the condominium and comply with the restrictions regarding renovation, reform and remodeling works. It is often the case that apartments can be remodeled only in the private areas such as rooms. Please note that entrance doors and balconies are common areas and cannot be remodeled in principle.

Let's imagine the cost required to remodel the room
When remodeling a room, it is also important to check the management agreement and the construction structure of the condominium, but it is probably the cost part that is worrisome. No matter how much you would like to make a remodel, if you can't afford it, it won't come true. By grasping the rough cost, it will be one of the materials for studying the contents of reform.

Here, we will introduce the market price as a guide, how much it costs to remodel the room.
<Remodeling of living room/room>
200,000 yen to 2 million yen for living room
100,000 yen to 1 million yen for storage
500,000 yen to 1 million yen for Japanese-style room 
100,000 yen to 1 million yen for Bedroom ​

Make your room more comfortable, example of Condominium Remodeling

What kind of remodeling should be done to make the present room more comfortable? Next, we would like to introduce an example of an apartment remodeling.

Expand your space by eliminating rooms and corridors
Many people want a spacious space for places where the family spends a long time, such as the living room. You can expand the room by removing the walls that separate the living room, such as the corridor and living room. In some cases, if there is a room that is not used much, the wall of the room adjacent to that room is removed and the room is expanded by one room.

Change the flooring material to make a Japanese-style room a Western-style
It is a common case that one of the rooms is a Japanese-style room, but there are people who do not use it much when they actually live. If you prefer a Western-style room, you can replace the tatami mat in a Japanese-style room with a wooden floor and arrange it in a Western-style room. If you have the courage to change it, you can use a flooring mat that can be arranged on the flooring just by spreading it.

Replace wallpaper and ceiling cloth
If you want to change the taste of the entire room, try changing the wallpaper or the cloth on the ceiling. The walls and ceilings are large and easy to see, so a slight change in color or pattern can greatly change the impression of a room. Also, when choosing a wallpaper, pay attention to not only the design of the wallpaper but also the function of the color. For example, a light color such as white or beige makes it easy to match with any interior, making it easier to see the entire room, but dark colors create a chic atmosphere, and depending on the arrangement of furniture, it may happen that the entire room may look narrow. 

Install underfloor heating
In winter, etc., it is often the case that the floor feels cold, and it may not be possible to warm up with just the air conditioner. If you feel a strong cold, you may consider floor heating. There are two types of floor heating: "hot water type" and "electric type". The hot water type is suitable for a wide range and when it is used for a long time, and the installation cost is higher than the electric type, but running cost is low. On the other hand, the electric type is suitable for narrow spaces such as the feet of the kitchen where the usage time is short. The installation cost is lower than the hot water type, but the running cost tends to be slightly higher. ​The construction cost will vary depending on the location and range of construction, as well as the type of floor heating, so let's get a quote first and consider it.

Next time, we will explain a little more detailed remodeling of condominiums, detached houses, and renovation of machiya house. Thank you and best regards,