Apartment Renovation in Brest: How to Succeed in Your Project in 2024?

Rénovation appartement Brest

Apartment Renovation in Brest refers to a advantageous project if you wish to acquire a residence in the heart of this major city in Brittany. The real estate market in the neighborhoods of the capital of the Finistère department consists of approximately 80% of properties built before the 1990s.

Thus, renovations to meet energy, acoustic, and aesthetic standards are recommended in this area to reduce your bills, enhance your assets, and improve your living environment.

However, renovating your apartment or house is a costly and complex investment, requiring skills. Discover here all the necessary steps to accomplish the renovation work on your apartment in Brest.

Rénovation appartement Brest

Developing Your Apartment Renovation Project in Brest

To successfully carry out your apartment renovation project in Brest, start by determining the work to be undertaken. To do this, it's advisable to analyze the characteristics of your property in detail by asking the right questions.

What is the current condition of the apartment ?

Apartment or house renovation in Brest must involve a diagnostic phase to determine the necessary work. Therefore, you must first assess the condition of your property to define your project. This is an essential document that allows you to check and list the state of your property before renovation work. It should accurately mention all descriptions of the apartment, such as:

  • its energy performance (its Energy Performance Diagnosis or DPE), the condition of its insulation and heating system,

  • the condition of the openings (window insulation),

  • the condition of the wall and ceiling paint, the flooring (the condition of the parquet or tiling),

  • The electrical installation in all rooms, particularly in the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen,

  • The state of the plumbing network in the kitchen and bathroom (e.g., the existence of water leaks),

  • The characteristics of the facade of your apartment.

To obtain accurate results regarding the assessment of your apartment's condition in Brest, it's advisable to use the services of a real estate expert.

What type of renovation is needed for your apartment in Brest?

After diagnosing the condition of your apartment, you can now define the type of renovation needed to enhance its value.

Refreshing Your Apartment in Brest

The refreshing project involves renovating certain elements of your apartment or house and improving your living environment. It encompasses minor works that have no impact on the structure of the building, electrical installation, or plumbing. Refreshing primarily concerns the floor, ceilings, and walls. This operation essentially includes :

  • Changing floor coverings (laying tiles or parquet flooring),

  • Sanding and varnishing the surface of the floor (wooden parquet).

  • Removing or installing wallpaper on walls,

  • Refurbishing wall and ceiling surfaces and painting them.

You can carry out all these interior refreshing works yourself if you're handy. However, for a customized implementation of your project, seek the advice and services of an experienced craftsman.

In addition to refurbishing the floor, walls, and ceilings, apartment refreshing also involves interior design and decoration. The works may include changing or replacing furniture entirely, installing curtains, and setting up garlands, suspensions, and plants.

Rénovation appartement Brest

Partial Apartment Renovation in Brest

As the name suggests, a partial renovation project of an apartment or house only involves part of the property. This can be the bathroom, kitchen, dining room, bedroom, or living room. For each of the rooms concerned, the works to be carried out include :

  • Changing floor coverings (wooden parquet for the bedroom and living room, and tiling or linoleum for the bathroom, kitchen, and dining room, for example),

  • Repainting the walls and ceilings,

  • window renovation (replacement or enlargement),

  • Bringing the electrical and plumbing installations up to standard (especially in the kitchen and bathroom),

  • Creating or removing plasterboard partitions or non-load-bearing walls,

  • Space planning and final interior decoration.

As part of the bathroom renovation, specific works are necessary, among which are :

  • Installing a basin,

  • Installing a walk-in shower and bathtub,

  • Setting up a shelf on the walls or storage space under the sink.

If the partial renovation of your apartment targets your kitchen, the works usually involve installing or replacing electrical appliances. They can also include arranging compartments or double-bottom closets, refreshing the paint, and decorating the interior.

Complete Apartment Renovation in Brest

Completely renovating your apartment means refurbishing the living areas in your interior (bedroom, living room, hallways, kitchen and dining room, bathroom, etc.). However, the works you undertake must not modify the building's structure. Thus, this type of renovation does not involve major construction work, such as removing load-bearing walls, for example.

In addition to completely refurbishing the bathroom and kitchen, here are other types of works to consider for completely renovating your apartment or house in Brest :

  • Changing windows to double glazing,

  • The custom fitting of a wardrobe in your bedroom and your children's room, is also part of the renovation.

  • Fitting wardrobes in hallways,

  • Setting up multifunctional furniture in the living room,

  • Renovating floor coverings, walls, and ceilings in each room of your apartment,

  • Fully restoring the electrical and plumbing systems.

Furthermore, when it comes to completely renovating your apartment or house in Brest, insulation works should not be overlooked. Energy renovation is mandatory as soon as your building belongs to thermal class F or G. In this context, you must plan for insulation of walls, windows, floors, and ceilings. To improve thermal comfort inside your home, it's also essential to renovate your heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems.

To succeed in completely renovating your apartment, it's also important to carry out space planning and final decoration works well.

Heavy Apartment Renovation in Brest

Unlike the complete renovation of an apartment or a house, heavy renovation involves structural work. In other words, this type of project includes work that may affect the building's structure. This includes:

  • For removing or creating load-bearing walls,

  • For fully renovating your electrical and plumbing systems,

  • For any works leading to a structural modification of the building (extension, elevation, modification of the floor structure).

In reality, heavy renovation of an apartment or house combines complete renovation and major construction works.

What are the priority works?

Whether it's a simple refreshment or a complete renovation, regardless of the project envisaged, it is always essential to establish a construction schedule in advance. This step allows you to prioritize the work to be done, as they cannot all be carried out simultaneously. Therefore, organize your list accordingly (insulation before painting, for example). Likewise, the schedule helps you define the delivery deadlines of your project by the participating craftsmen.

Maîtrise technique et expertise

Selecting Apartment Renovation Professionals in Brest

Now that you know the necessary renovation works for your apartment in Brest, it's time to choose the renovation professionals. To do this, you need to pay close attention to the following points.

Request Multiple Renovation Quotes from Professionals

The first parameter you should rely on before choosing the trades for the renovation of your home in Brest is the quote. It is a legal document, an itemized but detailed estimate, step by step, of all the services provided by a specialized craftsman or company. 

Precisely, the quote must specify the quality and quantity of materials, labor, and prices practiced by the professionals necessary for the completion of the work. For each of the estimates included in this document, the contractor must be more precise in their calculation. Generally, this document must include several mandatory mentions stipulated by articles R. 123-237 and R. 123-238 of the Commercial Code, namely :

  • Date of drafting;

  • the name, address, business name, and contact information (phone number and email address) of the craftsman or company ;

  • its System for Identifying Companies (SIREN) number ;

  • The legal form and amount of the company's share capital;

  • its individual identification or VAT registration number ;

  • Name and address of the client;

  • Start date and completion deadlines for the work;

  • Detailed breakdown of each work item, in quantity of materials and unit price;

  • Hourly or fixed labor rate required on the site;

  • Any travel expenses;

  • the conditions of payment, delivery, and execution of the renovation work ;

  • the total amount excluding taxes (HT) and including all taxes (TTC) to be paid, specifying the applicable VAT rates ;

  • Characteristics of the company's professional insurance.

To be valid, the quote provided by a contractor must be dated and signed by the client's hand, and include the mention "quote received before work execution".

As a client, you have the right to request multiple quotes from different craftsmen or companies to compare prices and foster competition. To help you make the best choice, it's better to be accompanied by an architect.

Investigate the Skills, Experiences, and Quality of Each Craftsman

Apart from comparing quotes for work, it is also important to inquire about the skills, experiences, and professionalism of the craftsmen. To assess this, you can inquire about the quality of their past work.

Moreover, a few minutes of conversation with their former clients will help you gauge their personal, professional, and relational quality. Social networks also serve as good allies for getting to know a person better. To deepen your understanding of a craftsman's skills, you can review their portfolio.

Hiring a Renovation Company for Your Apartment in Brest

Renovating an apartment or house in Brest is an interesting but challenging project. You need many building craftsmen. Bringing them together requires a lengthy and costly process, hence the need to enlist the services of a general building company.

This entity gathers a team of skilled and experienced craftsmen (architects, masons, plumbers, electricians, interior decorators, etc.) to handle your project. The quality of the renovated property will guarantee the success of your rental investment, as you will quickly find tenants eager to move in.

Reno takes care of your apartment renovation in Brest !

Apartment renovation in Brest transcends mere renovation works. It evolves into an immersive experience shaped by actors such as Reno, your architectural firm in Brest. When it comes to apartment renovations in the region, the importance of choosing the right renovation company becomes crucial. And this is where agencies like Reno come in.

The Reno firm in Brest positions itself as a leader in carrying out renovation projects. Their expertise extends beyond simple renovation works to the design of unique projects, from bathroom renovations to spectacular facade renovations. Renovation projects led by Reno are a perfect symbiosis between architectural innovation and compliance with state standards in the Finistère department. 

Brest, in western France, emerges as a dynamic hub for energy renovation works. This orientation towards sustainability is part of the future vision of renovations in Brest. Renovation works are no longer just aesthetic improvements but a response to environmental challenges.

Mathieu Amara

Mathieu Amara

Diplômé en sciences politiques, j'ai toujours eu une passion pour la rénovation et les travaux.

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