Home renovation

The cost of a home renovation depends on many different factors. Various factors affect the final amount you will need to spend, such as the type and extent of the works to be completed, the size and location of the home, and the professionals you will need.

In general, the factors that affect the cost of a home renovation and the unforeseen situations that may arise during repairs make it hard to calculate the cost exactly. In an average home, a renovation costs around €140 per square metre.

The cost of a home renovation depends largely on the following factors:

• The age of the property and, by extension, the works required,
• The kind of result you are looking for,
• The total square metres of the property,
• The type and quality of the materials you want to use,
• Obtaining planning permits, if required

As you can see, you can spend less money, or you can choose to invest much more if you wish. An experienced engineer can guide you so you know the cost and scope of the works, as well as other details about the home renovation.

Bathroom renovation

A complete home renovation is usually a very costly undertaking that requires a large amount of capital, which is not always possible. In such cases you can turn to more affordable, individual projects, such as renovating the bathroom. Of course, there are many options for renovating specific rooms, such as the living room, the bedroom and others. On our website you will find useful information on a wide range of works, such as a complete home renovation, or essential advice on kitchen renovation. A bathroom renovation is a good choice if you only want to improve one part of your home, as it is a room every member of the family uses throughout the day. So by renovating the bathroom you lift everyone's mood and refresh the way the whole family sees the home.

Home renovation: painting and aluminium windows

In a home renovation, painting the exterior of your property can give it freshness and a new style. Although these two reasons are a good enough excuse to start painting, there are several more that may motivate you even further.

First, you will make your home stand out. By keeping the exterior of your property clean and fresh, you ensure it always looks beautiful and well kept. Make sure you use a colour that suits the overall look of your home and blends with the surrounding landscape. In addition, maintenance work increases its value. Building a home is a big investment and it's natural not to want its value to fall. A good way to maintain or even increase it is to have a fresh, clean exterior.

Aluminium window frames provide high levels of insulation, so you can shield your home from the cold in winter and from the heat in summer. They also offer excellent sound insulation. Combined with the right glazing, aluminium frames deliver high energy efficiency and high levels of soundproofing. And the security and peace of mind they provide are non-negotiable. They are durable, and their solid construction offers sturdiness and long life.

Unlike wooden frames, which need frequent maintenance and constant care and have to be replaced roughly every ten years, aluminium frames are highly resistant to the weather. Owners want windows that, once installed, they won't have to deal with any time soon, and that won't be damaged or worn by cold, rain, sun and wind.

Home renovation: laying floors (tiles, marble, wooden floors, laminate)

During home renovation works, a new type of flooring is usually chosen. Techniques and materials are plentiful, and everyone can find the one that suits their style and taste and works for their daily life. New materials keep opening up new possibilities, giving consumers a wide range of options to find what they prefer for their space. Microcement comes straight from Cycladic houses and the wider Mediterranean. It combines beauty and simplicity with a monolithic look, clean lines and sophisticated compositions. In recent years the trend has brought microcement into many different spaces, such as:

• Homes, hotels, shops
• Floors
• Stairs and walls
• Bespoke builds (built-in sanitary ware, washbasins, showers and built-in furniture)
• Other decorative elements

The technique is easy to apply on any type of substrate and is highly resistant to abrasion, cleaning products and oils, while easy cleaning and the distinctive look it gives any space make microcement a particularly popular, modern choice for home renovation.

Home renovation: external thermal insulation and waterproofing works

As we have mentioned before, a home renovation is a great opportunity not only to refresh the look of your home but also to upgrade its building elements. With simple, modern techniques you can protect your building from the weather so that its interior is not affected. By adding external thermal insulation and waterproofing to your home, you gain protection from rain and water, cold and heat, without the indoor temperature being affected – keeping it cool in summer and warm in winter. If you want to protect and insulate the façades of your building against extreme temperatures and adverse weather, the best way is to use an external thermal insulation system. This "cloak" wraps around the sides of your building while also adding a distinctive aesthetic value. One of the most serious challenges facing homes, and buildings in general, is water and moisture. Water inside the walls causes corrosion and can affect the durability of the structure.

In addition, mould and fungi can damage furniture and wooden structures. With effective insulation and waterproofing you can protect your home from these effects and stop worrying about corrosion that may develop from within.

Home renovation: the essential electrical and plumbing works

In most home renovations, the goal is to upgrade a property both aesthetically and in terms of safety and modernisation. During renovation works you can renew your home's electrical and plumbing networks. These installations are rarely maintained – except in the case of a serious fault – because the cables and pipes are hard to reach. So, once these installations are exposed because walls and floors are opened up, it is wise to invest in maintaining and upgrading them as part of the overall renovation.

Most old homes will at some point need to upgrade their electrical wiring. Today, the appliances and technology we use require a certain level of reliable power supply. A home renovation usually involves opening up walls and ceilings for several reasons, which gives you the ideal opportunity for electrical upgrades.

Make sure you plan these upgrades for both your current needs and those that may arise in the future. Adding extra sockets, creating an ethernet network and pre-wiring for an alarm are jobs ideally done during a renovation. It's the right time not only to renew your old wiring but also to install important new upgrades to your electrical network.

The need for plumbing work often leads owners to pick up their tools and do the job themselves. And while you may find it easy to install a simple tap or fit a new sink yourself, a professional, licensed plumber is invaluable for more difficult jobs such as repairing water-heater faults, installing a new bathroom, plumbing in a washing machine, adding a shower or running the plumbing in your new or renovated kitchen.

The first steps of the works for a home renovation

IG Constructions takes care of every task involved in renovating your home. Our goal is to deliver a result based on your taste that meets the needs of you and your family, combined with the know-how and experience of our team. In this way we create new spaces that express who you are and serve you in your daily life, together with the safe materials and functional spaces that proper design and execution by our team can offer.

The first step before any home renovation is the necessary removal and demolition work. Proper removal and demolition is a job for professionals. It requires technical expertise, care and creativity, and is always carried out with safety in mind. At IG Constructions we focus on the client: however complex the task, we will find the most suitable solution.

During the works for your home renovation we don't destroy indiscriminately, but carefully, methodically and in a controlled way. This takes intelligence and dedication, experience and innovation. At IG Constructions, it's in our nature. It's how we get every job done, time and again, even when it seems impossible. Efficiently and with clear aims, we take on any removal or demolition work required.

One of the most important parts of any building work, or of a home renovation, is plastering. As well as giving the walls a smooth surface, it offers extra protection against the weather, such as rain, sun or snow. We start by preparing the surface, then sand it and finally clean it, so that nothing affects the application of the plaster.

Any cracks and holes are filled with the right materials so that the plaster mix holds and bonds better to the surface. Every building or plastering job is carried out with study and care to achieve the best structural, aesthetic and functional result.

Home renovation: the secrets of the perfect living room

The first thing that comes to mind when people hear about a home renovation is changing the living room. For many, the living room is the most important part of a home. As well as welcoming guests, it is also a place for leisure and relaxation. A warm, inviting living room can certainly impress the people close to you and offer special moments to you and your family.

The most important factor that makes your home renovation a success is choosing the right colours. The colours you choose for your living room should mostly be neutral. Neutral shades (beige, grey, white etc.) let you add bold decorative touches and highlight furniture and textures. Neutral shades also suit every interior style. Whether the space is modern, vintage or more traditional, neutral colours in your living room will prove the right choice in your home renovation.

Aesthetics are particularly important in the living room, as it is the hub of your home, where you relax, spend time with your family and entertain guests. The design and decoration of your living room also reflect your personal artistic sense. By paying attention to a few key elements during the renovation, your living room can become a unique space. A stunning view from a large window, a beautiful fireplace, a staircase winding around a column or an original architectural design are some of the features that will make your space stand out.

The living room floor, like the floor of the whole home, is the largest design surface. It is therefore a foundation of a successful home renovation. When you remodel your living room, the floor plays an important role in tying together all the decorative elements of your interior. Your living room floor will be subject to the most wear from daily activities and visits. Before choosing tiles or parquet for your renovation, consider their functionality and durability. For example, a hardwood floor will not only look attractive but will also last a long time despite heavy use. One last thing to remember when choosing your floor is its effect on the furnishing of the room. Choose patterns and colours that complement the other elements of your interior decoration. You can choose from a huge variety of options, such as wood, tiles, granite or marble, to turn your living room into an impressive, modern space.

Finally, one last essential part of a home renovation is choosing the right lighting. There are many options, depending mainly on how you plan to use the space. Do you want brighter lighting for welcoming guests? Softer lighting for watching films or working on your computer? This will determine your final choice.