Renovation of an apartment in a tenement house in Wrocław can be a significant challenge. Wrocław's tenement houses offer something hard to find in most new developments. High ceilings, large windows, thick walls, wooden ceilings, original joinery, distinctive apartment layouts, and details that are practically unheard of today. This is why apartments in older buildings are so popular. At the same time, renovating such a property can look completely different from the finish of an apartment handed over from a developer. What initially appears to be a minor wall imperfection or an old floor in need of replacement can, once work begins, reveal a problem that was simply not visible before.

In the case of renovation of an apartment in a tenement house in Wrocław It's especially important to prepare not only for the scope of work, which we know before starting the project, but also for things that may arise along the way. Old electrical wiring, weakened plaster, uneven subfloors, unusual ceiling structures, repeatedly reworked plumbing systems, or previous renovations carried out to completely different standards – the list of potential surprises is long. This doesn't mean that renovation of the tenement house It has to be problematic. This means, however, that it should be planned differently than the standard refresh of a multi-year-old apartment.

The biggest mistake is assuming that just because a property looks good before renovation, its technical condition doesn't leave much room for improvement. In older buildings, the surface often reveals very little about what's underneath. Only removing the floor, chipping away at a section of plaster, or opening up the building reveals the true condition of the property. That's why, before starting work, it's worth knowing what to look for, where additional costs might arise, and which elements should be checked before a final schedule is created.

Not every tenement house is the same – that’s where you need to start

The term "tenement house" encompasses a wide variety of buildings. Wrocław encompasses representative structures from the late 19th century, pre-war residential buildings, and tenement houses that have undergone major or minor renovations over the decades. Two apartments, even those located on the same street, may require a completely different approach to renovation.

The age of the building isn't the only factor. The overall condition of the property, including previous renovations, the type of construction, the plumbing system, the history of the specific apartment, and any previous owner interventions are also important. One apartment might have a new electrical system, new risers, and well-prepared subfloors, while another might still require most of these elements.

Therefore, pricing a renovation project based solely on square footage is significantly more risky than pricing a new apartment. Two 60-square-meter apartments can have a similar layout, yet the scope of work and final renovation cost will differ significantly.

Before starting the project, it is good to not only ask "how much does the renovation of 60 meters cost?", but first of all to determine, what actually needs to be done in these specific 60 meters.

What you don't see often has the biggest impact on your budget

New wall colors, flooring, doors, bathrooms, and kitchens are all easy to visualize before the renovation begins. It's much harder to get excited about hidden wiring or the condition of the subfloor beneath the parquet floor. However, these very elements can have a huge impact on the entire project.

Older apartments often have undergone several renovations. The problem is that each renovation may have only involved a portion of the installation. In one room, the wiring was replaced a dozen or so years ago, while in another, the older installation was retained, and the two systems were later combined. A similar situation can occur with plumbing. From the outside, everything works, but only a closer inspection reveals how the installation was implemented.

For this reason, when renovating a home, it's worth being very cautious about leaving old elements in place just because they "still work." If the walls are going to be opened anyway, and the apartment is going to be in good condition for years to come, it's sometimes more prudent to redo a specific area than to leave in place an installation that, after the work is completed, will require damaging the fresh finish to access.

This doesn't mean automatically replacing everything. The decision should be based on the technical condition of the specific apartment. Rather, it's about assessing hidden elements as seriously as those that will later become visible.

Electrical installation – a few new sockets can mean a much larger scope of work

A modern apartment requires significantly more electrical outlets than a space designed decades ago. The kitchen is packed with appliances, the living room boasts a TV, audio equipment, a router, and chargers, the bedroom needs sockets on both sides of the bed, and increasingly, air conditioning, automation, LED lighting, and a work-from-home station are being added.

Therefore, during renovation of an old apartment it rarely ends with the exchange of a few contacts.

First, you need to assess the existing installation and its capabilities, and then compare them with the new functional layout of the interior. If you're changing the kitchen's location, designing the built-in furniture, adding appliances, or completely rearranging the rooms, the installation should be designed specifically for this layout.

This is one of the reasons why renovations in Wrocław In older buildings, they require thorough planning before finishing work begins. It's not wise to design electrical systems based on the principle "a socket here, a lamp there." First, it's good to know where the sofa, TV, table, bed, kitchen, wardrobes, and other essential appliances will be.

This is especially important for custom-made furniture. If you're planning floor-to-ceiling built-ins, illuminated shelves, a desk integrated into a shelf, or a kitchen with tall columns, the installation location begins to have a direct connection to the furniture design.

The walls in an old tenement house don't always want to cooperate with the design

On an architectural plan, the walls are straight. In the design software, the corner is 90 degrees, the ceiling is horizontal, and the opposite walls run parallel. In an apartment that's decades or over a century old, reality can be different.

Small deviations don't have to be a problem in and of themselves. They become a problem when we start creating elements that require high precision. A good example is a custom-made kitchen or wardrobe. If the built-in unit is to fill a recess from one wall to the other, a few centimeters of difference between the width at the floor and the width at the ceiling becomes significant. The same applies to tall furniture that reaches almost to the ceiling.

Irregularities also affect tiles, moldings, drywall, doors, and joint finishing. Sometimes, the best solution is to precisely level the surface. Other times, it's worth preserving some of the character of the old building and adapting the design to the existing geometry.

It's important to make a conscious decision. Trying to make every inch of a century-old apartment conform to the geometry of a new one can unnecessarily increase the scope of work, while leaving large irregularities unaccounted for in the design will backfire later during installation.

Old plaster – leave it or chip it off?

This question comes up in many renovation of apartments from the secondary market. The answer depends on their condition.

If the plaster adheres well to the substrate, is not damp, does not loosen, and allows for the desired effect after proper preparation, complete removal may be unnecessary. However, if during work it turns out that larger fragments are loose, cracked, or simply do not provide a stable base for new layers, the situation is different.

The worst solution is to cover up the problem.

New plaster and paint may look great for a while, but they won't fix the weak subfloor beneath. If the old layers lose adhesion, the finish can begin to crack or fall off along with them.

This is where one of the characteristic features appears renovation of the tenement house: the actual scope of work can be estimated very well before the implementation begins, but not everything can be predicted with 100% accuracy without discovering the individual layers.

Therefore, a well-planned budget should include a reserve for items discovered after dismantling.

The floor can be the biggest surprise of the entire renovation

Old parquet flooring can be one of the most beautiful elements of a tenement apartment. If its condition permits, renovation often produces excellent results and preserves a piece of the interior's history. However, not every floor can be saved, and simply removing the finish doesn't always end the problem.

What lies below is much more important.

In older buildings, the floor structure can differ significantly from that found in newer apartments. Therefore, before planning new layers, it's important to understand what's involved. Leveling rooms, preparing a stable subfloor for new flooring, and resolving issues revealed after dismantling can increase both the time and cost of the project.

This is especially important in interiors where we plan to combine several materials. The kitchen may have a different finish than the living room, the bathroom requires a properly prepared subfloor, and the investor often expects a seamless transition between rooms without accidental height differences.

Such things are best solved at the stage of planning the floor layers, and not when one material is already laid and the other has just arrived at the construction site.

Wooden ceilings require common sense, not patterns

One of the significant differences between older and modern buildings may be the construction of the ceilings. Some buildings feature solutions that shouldn't automatically be applied to technologies found in new buildings.

This is important when planning new flooring, heavy furnishings, or major changes to the apartment's layout. If the scope of the renovation involves structural elements or there are concerns about their condition, an appropriate assessment should be conducted by a specialist with the appropriate qualifications.

It is not worth basing such decisions on the fact that "a similar thing was done in another apartment.".

Two townhouses can look almost identical from the street, yet have different renovation histories and different conditions. This is why, when undertaking major renovations, a case-by-case assessment is paramount.

Demolishing walls in a tenement house – we don't start with a hammer

Changing the layout of rooms is one of the reasons why investors decide to general renovation. Older apartments can have large rooms, but also layouts that don't suit modern living. This can lead to ideas like opening the kitchen to the living room, enlarging the bathroom, creating a walk-in closet, or combining two smaller rooms.

However, not every wall can be simply removed.

Before any intervention, its function must be determined and the planned change must be verified as technically and formally feasible. Depending on the scope of work, appropriate approvals, a design, or an opinion from a person with the required authorizations may be required.

In tenement buildings, the building's history can be an additional complication. What we see today doesn't always reflect the original layout. The apartment may have been remodeled earlier, and documentation doesn't always provide a complete picture of all the changes.

Therefore, any major structural interventions should be preceded by an assessment of the actual condition.

Plumbing – moving a kitchen is not always as easy as it looks in the design

In a visualization, moving a sink from one wall to another is trivial. In a real apartment, water must be supplied and wastewater effectively drained. This latter aspect, in particular, can limit design freedom.

The drain requires a suitable route and technical specifications. The further the device is moved from the existing riser, the more carefully the installation options must be analyzed. A solution that looks great on a floor plan may not always be equally effective after considering all the floor layers and the actual construction of the apartment.

A similar situation applies to the bathroom. Changing the position of a sink is usually easier than moving a toilet to a completely different location. A bathtub, a shower without a high shower tray, or a linear drain also require appropriate preparation.

Therefore, it's best to establish the functional layout of the bathroom and kitchen early on. This allows you to test the feasibility of the idea before the investor becomes attached to a visualization that later becomes impossible to implement sensibly.

Ventilation – an element that must not be treated as an obstacle to development

Tall kitchen cabinets look great, especially in townhouses, where the height of the rooms allows for very attractive proportions. However, it's important to remember that furniture design doesn't exist in isolation from the building's installation.

This applies, among other things, to ventilation.

Ventilation grilles and ducts should not be covered simply because a kitchen cabinet or wardrobe would fit perfectly in a given space. The method of connecting devices must also meet the technical requirements of the specific premises.

In older buildings, it's especially important to check existing solutions before building in walls and ceilings. Once the furniture is installed, access to some installations can become significantly more difficult.

A good building design should therefore take into account not only aesthetics and storage, but also technical elements that must remain accessible or maintain a certain mode of operation.

High ceilings are an advantage, but you have to know how to use them

One of the greatest advantages of apartment buildings is their height. A room with a height significantly exceeding the standard for new buildings offers completely new design possibilities. Tall doors, decorative lighting, stucco, large paintings, and vertical structures can be incorporated.

This does not mean, however, that every wardrobe should end exactly at the ceiling.

When designing custom-made furniture in Wrocław In older apartments, it's important to find a balance between maximizing space and maintaining the interior's characteristic proportions. In some rooms, tall buildings are a huge advantage—especially in walk-in closets, hallways, and kitchens. In others, they can visually overwhelm the space.

Height also influences the cost of furniture and its assembly. Fronts have their own technological limitations, very tall elements require appropriate division, and the curves of walls and ceilings become more visible as the height of the structure increases.

This is where individual measurement is particularly important.

Custom-made furniture in a tenement house – ready-made solutions do not always use the potential of the interior

Older apartments often have alcoves, unusual corners, high ceilings, wide window sills, or areas remnant of previous room layouts. This can be a problem for pre-made furniture. Quite the opposite is true for well-designed built-ins.

The alcove can be used for a wardrobe, bookcase, or workspace. A high kitchen allows you to move less frequently used items to the upper levels. In the hallway, you can create a cohesive space instead of placing several independent pieces of furniture that don't utilize the full height of the room.

However, it is not about building everything up.

The most interesting interiors in tenement buildings often arise when modern elements are combined with preserved features of the old building. Simple cabinetry can look great next to restored doors, wooden floors, or moldings. A minimalist kitchen doesn't have to imitate a century-old piece of furniture just because it's located in a tenement building.

Good custom-made furniture allow you to adapt contemporary functionality to a space that was created in completely different times.

Should I keep the old elements?

A major renovation doesn't have to mean removing everything and starting with blank walls.

If the apartment has original parquet floors, doors, moldings, stoves, woodwork, or other valuable elements, it's worth assessing their condition before deciding to remove them. Some of them may add character to the interior that can't be easily recreated with new materials.

On the other hand, just because something is old does not automatically mean it needs to be preserved.

A piece should be assessed for its condition, potential for renovation, safety, and whether it truly fits the planned interior. Sometimes, renovating old joinery yields spectacular results. Other times, its condition makes the cost and scope of work difficult to justify.

The best designs don't result from "leave everything" or "take everything away." They result from selection.

Renovating a tenement house also involves logistics

It's easy to include tiles, paint, wiring, fixtures, and furniture in a cost estimate. It's much easier to forget about logistics.

And in the center of Wrocław it can have real significance.

Access, the possibility of parking a delivery vehicle, removing debris, transporting materials to higher floors, the lack of an elevator, a narrow staircase, and restrictions on the hours of carrying out noisy work – each of these elements influences the organization of the project.

Imagine delivering a large countertop or tall fixtures to an apartment several stories above ground level. Just because the fixture was properly made doesn't mean it will fit easily down the staircase.

Therefore, when designing larger elements, you need to think not only about their final destination, but also about the path they must take to get there.

It's a minor detail until everything fits. When it doesn't, it suddenly becomes one of the most important issues of assembly day.

How much does it cost to renovate an apartment in a tenement house in Wrocław?

This is one of the first questions an investor asks and at the same time one of the most difficult to answer without seeing the specific premises.

In the case of a developer-built apartment, it's easier to create an approximate range. In a townhouse, the number of unknowns is greater. The cost is influenced not only by the standard of finishing, but also by the condition of the installations, floors, plaster, walls, joinery, and elements requiring renovation.

Therefore, two apartments with identical square footage may require a completely different budget.

One will primarily require a new electrical system, bathroom, and kitchen, along with some surface renovation. In the other, once work begins, it will become clear that a much broader scope of work is required, including flooring, plastering, and installations.

That is why when planning costs, it is good to separate three things: the work that definitely needs to be done, the elements that depend on the investor's decision, and a reserve for the scope that could not be clearly assessed before the start of dismantling.

A financial reserve in an older apartment isn't a sign of a poorly prepared cost estimate. It's a way to prepare for the renovation of a building with a history of its own.

How large should the budget reserve be?

There is no single value appropriate for every apartment.

The more elements have been discovered and verified in advance, the fewer the unknowns. If a property has recently undergone a comprehensive renovation and we have documentation of the work performed, the situation is different than in an apartment where the last major renovation took place decades ago.

The planned scope also matters. The risks involved with a cosmetic refresh are different than those of a major renovation involving installations, flooring, layout changes, and new furniture.

Instead of treating the reserve as a fixed percentage automatically entered into every estimate, it's more prudent to analyze the biggest unknowns in a given property. If we don't know the condition of the flooring, that's where the risk may lie. If the electrical system is partly old and partly new, it's worth taking a closer look before finalizing the budget.

The reserve should be risk-based, not a universal formula.

What should you check before buying an apartment in a tenement building if you are planning a renovation?

The best time to spot a potential problem is sometimes before the purchase contract is signed.

When looking at an apartment for renovation, it's worth looking beyond the color of the walls and the arrangement of the furniture. The condition of the plumbing, signs of moisture, cracks, the condition of windows, floors, and common areas can reveal much more about future expenses.

It's also worth taking a closer look at what modernization work the entire building has undergone. The condition of the roof, facade, plumbing, or staircase doesn't always directly impact the scope of work. apartment renovation, but it gives a broader picture of the property.

If the premises require a very large reconstruction, it is a good idea to check before purchasing whether the key assumptions of the project are even possible to implement.

It may turn out that the apartment is beautiful, but the desired kitchen and bathroom layout would require changes that are technically or formally impossible to implement in the intended form.

The order of work is more important than the pace

When undertaking a major renovation, the natural question is: how long will it take?

However, a much more important question is whether the individual stages have been arranged in the correct order.

Speeding up one project doesn't help much if you have to revisit it later. Closing the wall before all the installations are done doesn't save time. Ordering a project based on dimensions that will change later doesn't speed up the project either.

A complete renovation of an old apartment should follow a logical sequence. First, we assess the condition and scope, then we perform the necessary dismantling and technical work, then we prepare the surfaces, and only at the appropriate moments do we move on to the next layers of finishing and furnishing.

Some processes can take place in parallel. Furniture design can be developed while earlier stages of renovation are underway. Materials with longer delivery times can be ordered in advance. However, this requires that decisions are made based on information that is already sufficiently reliable.

When should you order furniture for a renovated tenement house?

It is not worth waiting for the first conversation about furniture until the walls are painted and the floor is ready.

The layout of the kitchen, wardrobes, built-in TV units, and bathroom furniture can impact installation and surface preparation. Therefore, it's best to create a concept in advance. The final measurement should be taken only when the room has reached a stage that allows for the actual dimensions of the installation to be determined.

In a tenement house this is especially important due to the previously mentioned unevenness.

An old floor plan may provide the dimensions of the wall, but it will not replace a measurement taken in the actual interior after the work affecting the geometry has been completed.

This approach allows us to prepare installations in accordance with the furniture design, and at the same time not to start production based on dimensions that may still change.

Renovating an old apartment should not involve removing its character.

One of the biggest temptations during a major renovation is to restore the entire interior to a perfectly new, uniform state.

Sometimes this is the right direction. But a townhouse offers opportunities that a new apartment simply doesn't.

High ceilings, large windows, aged wood, well-proportioned rooms, and preserved details can become the starting point for a truly contemporary interior. There's no need to choose between "old" and "new." You can retain valuable elements while incorporating modern fixtures, a functional kitchen, good lighting, and minimalist furniture.

Contrast often produces the best effect.

New, simple custom-made buildings It can enhance old stucco rather than compete with it. Restored parquet flooring can look great with modern lighting. Original doors can become the most striking feature of a room, even if the rest of the interior is very contemporary.

Renovating doesn't have to erase a home's history. It can streamline it and adapt it to modern life.

The most expensive fixes usually result not from the problem itself, but from when it is discovered.

Moving an outlet during installation is a minor change. Moving the same outlet after plastering, painting, and installation is a completely different task.

Similarly with plumbing, floors and furniture dimensions.

That's why anticipating the next steps is so crucial in a good renovation. It's not about knowing the answer to every question before the first day of work. The point is to have the answer before a given decision affects subsequent elements.

In older apartments this is especially important because the number of variables is greater.

If a surprise occurs after dismantling, it is necessary to assess not only the problem itself, but also how its solution will affect the schedule, subsequent work, ordered materials, and the construction design.

Good coordination won't stop a century-old building from offering surprises. However, it will ensure that surprise doesn't automatically turn into chaos.

Not sure where to start with your kitchen renovation? Take advantage of our checklists and learn how to prepare step by step for a general renovation of your kitchen in Wrocław.

Renovations Wrocław – why does experience with older buildings matter?

Renovating a tenement building requires a slightly different approach than mass-producing new apartments. In a new building, most of the elements were completed relatively recently, using modern technology. In an older building, it's often necessary to first understand what we're dealing with and only then decide how to proceed with the subsequent work.

Experience also helps determine which problems are truly significant and which are simply the result of the unique nature of an old building. Not every unevenness requires radical intervention. However, not every old element is suitable for retention.

A well-conducted renovation should combine the technical assessment of the apartment with the final interior design.

At GP SYSTEM we deal with renovations in Wrocław, interior finishing, and custom-made furniture. This allows us to include custom-made kitchens, wardrobes, bathrooms, and other furnishings during renovation work.

This is particularly important in tenement houses, where standard solutions do not always match the actual dimensions and geometry of the rooms.

Does renovating an apartment in a tenement house have to be more difficult?

It doesn't have to be more difficult. It's usually just less predictable.

A new apartment provides the contractor with a relatively clear starting point. In a townhouse, some information is only revealed after work begins. If the investor is prepared, has adequate budgetary provisions, and doesn't plan a schedule without any margin, many potentially stressful situations simply become another stage of the project.

The most important thing is to thoroughly examine the apartment, carry out the correct sequence of works and make technical decisions before they are covered with subsequent layers of finishing.

It's also not worth skimping on elements that will be difficult to access after the renovation. A beautiful countertop, designer lamp, or more expensive fronts can be relatively easily replaced in the future. Installing a fixture beneath a freshly finished wall is a completely different story.

A tenement house after renovation – a combination that is difficult to find in new buildings

A well-renovated apartment in a tenement building can combine two things that rarely come together: the character of an old building and the comfort of a modern interior.

We can retain high ceilings, proportions, wood, and selected details, while also benefiting from new electrical systems, a functional bathroom, thoughtful lighting, a comfortable kitchen, and built-ins tailored precisely to the residents' lifestyle.

To achieve this result, however, the renovation must begin with more than just choosing tiles and wall color.

First you need to get to know the apartment.

Check its condition, understand its limitations, decide what to keep and what to change, and only then plan the next stages of implementation. This approach allows us to fully utilize the building's potential rather than struggle with its unique characteristics throughout the renovation.

If you are planning renovation of an apartment in a tenement house in Wrocław, it's worth discussing the scope of work before dismantling begins. At GP SYSTEM, we can look at the project holistically – from renovation and finishing work to custom-made furniture to match the interior.

Frequently asked questions

Is renovating an apartment in a tenement house more expensive than in a new building?

It cannot be assumed that this will always be the case. However, an older apartment may require additional work related to installations, subfloors, plastering, or renovation of existing elements. Therefore, the actual condition of the specific property and the scope of the planned renovation are more important than the age of the building itself. Want a detailed quote? Use our our form and find out how much your renovation will cost.

When renovating a tenement house, does the entire electrical installation need to be replaced?

There's no universal rule that requires replacing the entire system in every old apartment. Its condition should be properly assessed. However, during a major renovation, it's worth thoroughly inspecting existing systems, especially if the system has been partially modernized over the years.

Is it worth keeping old parquet?

If its condition allows for renovation, old parquet can be one of the most distinctive elements of a home. However, before making a decision, it's important to assess both the wood itself and the condition of the layers beneath it.

Is it possible to change the layout of an apartment in a tenement house?

This is often possible, but the scope of the changes depends on the building's structure, installations, and formal requirements. Before demolishing or modifying walls, their function and the requirements for the planned intervention should be determined.

When to order custom-made furniture to an apartment in a tenement house?

It's worth preparing a development concept while planning a renovation, especially if it affects electrical, plumbing, or lighting installations. The final measurement is performed once key areas have reached their target dimensions.

Does GP SYSTEM perform renovation of apartments in tenement houses in Wrocław?

GP SYSTEM carries out renovations and interior finishing in Wrocław and performs custom-made furniture. The scope of a specific project is determined based on the condition of the apartment and the planned work. Contact us for details.