I am new to the forum and recently bought a cooperative apartment. I have a ceiling height of 249.5 cm. I want to lower the ceiling with plasterboard and install spotlights. I consulted with a painter to discuss the price, etc., and he mentioned that it would become too low if I lower the ceiling. Can you lower the ceiling by 10 cm and have spotlights? Or does it have to be about 15 cm?
What do those with experience think? Should I skip lowering the ceiling?
This is my first time buying something in Sweden, and I have no experience with construction, etc. I probably need to renovate the entire apartment (68.5 sqm) and have a limited budget. If I skip lowering the ceiling, there will probably be extra room in the budget to invest in other things of better quality, but at the same time, I want nice lighting. I'm entirely unsure how to proceed.
Here are 2 pictures of the living room.
There's an alternative to do the same as someone else did, lowering the edges with spotlights
Agree, 2.50 in ceiling height is worth more than spotlights and 2.40. In smaller rooms like bathrooms, the extra ceiling height doesn't make much of a difference, but in a larger living room, it makes a big difference.
Do not lower the ceiling in the living room. It is fitted with large ceiling spotlights! It is better to invest in targeted ambient lighting that illuminates certain areas with a soft light. Spotlights are fine in the hall, bathroom, and kitchen.
Then I suppose you also think that it becomes too enclosed with a 235 cm or 240 cm ceiling?
Should I just take down the edges like in the last picture?
Of course, it's possible to live with 2.35 - 2.40, that's what I have now. But my previous apartment had 2.50 like yours (same floor type - it creates a different feel if you refinish it, much brighter), and it was better.
What do you want to achieve with spotlights along the wall? If it's the light distribution on the wall you want, I think there are simpler ways to achieve that with a little cable channel and spotlights intended to be mounted under kitchen cabinets and the like.
Have you looked at spots and the space they require? If it's about LEDs, it should be possible to manage with lowering by 50mm? Many lower the ceiling for the sake of spotlights and must reasonably consider it worth it. For my part, I agree that I would never lower the ceiling for that reason.
I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to respond. It's now clear that I will not have any spotlight or lower the ceiling. That gives a little more budget for white goods in the kitchen
150,000 budget for a 68 sqm 2-room apartment renovation. The bathroom, however, does not need renovation for a while (about 8 sqm), the rest will be renovated.
The kitchen I will order costs about 75-80k. Some friends will help with various things and of course, I will help out. This way, I avoid craftsman costs.
* Remove a door and fix a wall instead (no craftsman fee)
* Rewire electrical, change electrical panel (will have an electrician)
* Remove wallpaper etc., paint walls and ceiling (no craftsman fee)
* Replace Kitchen (no craftsman fee)
* New wardrobes etc...
* New Floor (about 60 sqm)
I guess the budget is enough even if I incur small extra costs.
The kitchen that I will order costs around 75-80 k. Some friends will help with different things, and of course, I will help too. So I avoid craftsman costs.
* Relocate electricity, change electrical panel (will have an electrician)
Slightly OT but why do you want to change the electrical panel? What does it currently look like? How old is the apartment? What do you wish to achieve with the change? What deficiencies are you intending to address today?
The reason I ask is that I've gotten the impression that many people replace perfectly good diazed panels because they somehow believe that a modern standard panel is better, and that's not always the case in my opinion.
Slightly OT but why do you want to change the electrical panel? What does it look like today? How old is the apartment? What do you want to achieve with the change? What are the current shortcomings you intend to address?
The reason I ask is that I have the impression that many replace perfectly good diazed panels because they for some reason believe that a modern standard panel is better, and this is not always the case in my opinion.
As I said before, I don't have much experience or information about renovation or construction. However, I have friends who have renovated houses or condos before.
The apartment hasn't been renovated since the 60s except for the bathroom (2013). According to my friend who has experience, the electrical panel is very old from the 60s. It's best to replace it during the renovation before it causes problems since it is very old.
I can send some pictures (will get the keys in 10 days, so they will be the broker's pictures) of the apartment but don't have a picture of the electrical panel. If you have any advice/tips on what I can do or need to do, I am very open to suggestions.
floor plan:
I will build a wall instead of the door between the kitchen and the bedroom.
kitchen:
living room
Hall
Kitchen that I plan to order. Ikea and Epoq. Not decided yet.
According to my friend who has experience, the electrical panel is very old from the 60s. It's best to replace it during renovation before it causes issues because it's very old.
In the 60s, there weren't as many power outlets as we want today. If it's a small panel with only a few circuits, it might not be sufficient when you renovate and add more outlets, a washing machine, a dishwasher, and the like. It's possible to supplement the existing panel with another that contains circuit breakers and a few new circuits. But it might be aesthetically nicer to replace everything.
What I'm trying to say is that there may be good reasons to replace the electrical panel. But it doesn't have to be necessary. Ask your friend to clarify what the problem is. The fact that the existing panel is from 1965 is not a problem in itself.
In the 60s, there weren't as many electrical outlets as we want today. If it's a small panel with only a few circuits, it might not be enough when you plan to renovate and add more outlets, a washing machine, dishwasher, and such. It's possible to supplement the existing panel with another one that includes a residual-current device and a couple of new circuits. But it might aesthetically be nicer to replace everything.
What I want to say with this is that there might be good reasons to change the electrical panel. But it doesn't have to be necessary. Ask your friend to clarify what the problem is. The fact that the existing panel is from 1965 is not a problem in itself.
Right now, there aren't enough circuits. It was for aesthetic reasons that we're going to replace it. He's talked about a residual-current device and new circuits, but according to him, it wouldn't look good in the hallway. I agree with him too.
I got the keys to the apartment now and got my driver's license in the same week, super happy . Let's see if I can manage the renovation too
Apparently, I had asbestos behind the tiles in the kitchen. The tiles have been taken down, the asbestos is removed but not completely. It looks more like sanded. I don't want to deal with this any longer. Even though I had a mask, I started feeling mentally unwell.
I have cleaned everywhere, but the asbestos that remains on the concrete (sanded), can you put putty over it?
Alfredo said:
