Doing a spot of DIY in an apartment brings new challenges to the table, in comparison to completing DIY tasks in a house. For example, in high-rise apartment blocks, it can be difficult to bring materials up to the higher levels. As well as this, any DIY work is likely to cause more disruption to apartment neighbours, due to the close proximity between units.
Today, we're looking at the ins and outs of doing DIY in an apartment, covering everything you need to know before you take on any major tasks.
What can/can't you do?
First of all, it's vital to know what you can and can't do when it comes to your apartment.
If you rent your apartment:
Before you complete any DIY work in your rented apartment, it's vital to check with your landlord that you can do the task(s) that you want. Many landlords don't allow much in their rented apartments to be changed, however some will let you have more free reign, especially if they like the changes you would like to make.
Major cosmetic changes are usually not carried out by renters in apartments, as it's likely that this apartment will be lived in by other residents in the future, and therefore would be a waste of money in the long-run. If anything major (such as flooring, doors) does need changing, then it's up to your landlord to make and pay for these changes instead of you.
If you own your apartment/are a leaseholder
If you own the lease of your apartment, things are a little more different.
For example, you're free to make any cosmetic changes within your apartment, however, any repairs such as rotten window panes or faulty fire doors in communal areas, are up to the block management company/owners to pay for and fix.
To put it simply, the communal areas and general standard of your apartment block should be proactively maintained by your block management company, but you can make any cosmetic changes within your apartment as and when you please.
For full control of the management of your building and therefore apartment, there is the option to buy your freehold. There are many reasons for you to buy your freehold, but being able to do what you want, whenever you want in terms of DIY is one of the biggest benefits.
How to do renter-friendly DIY:
Renter-friendly DIY is DIY that you can do that doesn't remove any of your landlord's features, and that can be easily taken away without causing any damage.
There are several things that you can do:
Hang things without marks:
Knowing how to hang things on walls without leaving marks is very important if your landlord doesn't allow for you to hang things on the walls with nails.
Replace your door handles:
Again, this is a very simple DIY task that can be reverted easily. This can be achieved using a screwdriver and spanner in no time. Just keep hold of the original door handles so you can change them back when required.
Change your furniture:
You can simply replace the existing pieces of furniture with new ones. Swap couches/chairs/tables to give your home a whole new look. This is especially suitable for those that rent unfurnished apartments.
Cover furnishings:
If your apartment comes furnished, then using upholstery to cover furnishings such as tables and chairs is a great way to make semi-permanent changes to the look of your apartment. For example, cover a dull table with a patterned tablecloth, or a dark sofa with a bright blanket.
Install removable backsplash and tile covers:
If the floor of your bathroom or kitchen is not of your choice, or your backsplash is dull and lifeless, you can install removable covers that help make the décor more 'you'. This usually comes in the form of peel and stick tiling, and is available in many different styles.
Problems with doing DIY in an apartment:
Whether you own or rent your apartment, there are several things that make doing DIY in an apartment tricky.
Getting to high floor apartments:
One of the most common problems with carrying out DIY in an apartment, is that high floor apartments are difficult to reach, especially with a lot of heavy equipment. If you can't safely do so, a crane might be required.
Minimal amount of space:
Apartments are more likely to be smaller than houses, which does make DIY activity a bit more tricky. To overcome this, working with smaller pieces of equipment might deem essential, and working smarter and not harder is key.
Noise:
Another issue is noise pollution. Making lots of noise might annoy the neighbors, and your landlord is likely to kick you out if you annoy them repeatedly. Because apartment units are so close together, it's hard to ensure that neighbors won't be able to hear any DIY tasks that you're doing.
However, most neighbors will be understanding if you tell them that you are completing DIY work, especially if you stick to hours during the day.
To conclude, doing DIY in an apartment is significantly different to doing it in a house. From the minimal amount of space to struggles getting to high-floor apartments, it might seem harder at first, but will be worth it when your apartment looks and feels the way you'd like it to.
