Blog · 4 Nov 2026

Renovating an older flat: what to check before you start

A renovation is different from doing up a new flat. Behind the old tiles and paint there may be tired wiring, leaking pipes or damp walls, and new wardrobes won't fix any of that. Check these first, so the new interior lasts.

The short answer

Before you plan finishes, check what is hidden: the electrical wiring, plumbing and drainage, seepage and waterproofing, which walls can be changed, the floor, the windows, and your society's rules for work. Fix these first. Covering a problem with new carpentry or a false ceiling only makes it more expensive to fix later.

1. Electrical wiring

Older flats often have fewer points than you need today, wiring that has aged, and a distribution board without modern safety switches. Ask an electrician to check the wiring and the board, and plan new points for ACs, the kitchen and charging. If walls are being opened anyway, it is the right moment to rewire.

2. Plumbing and drainage

Look for slow drains, low water pressure, rust-coloured water, and stains under sinks. Old galvanised pipes corrode from the inside. If you are redoing the kitchen or bathrooms, replacing concealed pipes at the same time is far cheaper than breaking new tiles later.

3. Seepage and waterproofing

Damp patches, peeling paint, white salt marks or a musty smell usually mean water is getting in: from a bathroom above, an external wall, or the terrace in a top-floor flat. In Ahmedabad, check after the monsoon, when it shows most clearly. Find and fix the source, then let the wall dry before any wardrobe, panelling or paint goes on it.

4. Which walls can change

Opening up the kitchen or merging two rooms is a common wish. But some walls, beams and columns carry the building's load and must not be cut. Check the building plan and take advice before anything is broken. Your society may also need to approve structural changes.

5. Flooring

Decide early whether the old floor stays, gets polished, or is replaced, because it affects door heights, skirting and the order of work. Laying new tiles over old ones raises the floor level, so doors may need trimming and thresholds may change.

6. Windows and doors

Old windows often leak air, dust and rain. If you are changing them, do it before the new paint and curtains go up. Check the main door frame for termites, and treat any termite damage in the flat before new carpentry goes in.

7. Society rules and neighbours

Most housing societies set working hours, rules for debris disposal and lift use, and sometimes ask for a deposit or written permission before work starts. Get these in writing early, and let your neighbours know, so a weeks-long job doesn't turn into weeks of complaints.

8. Living at home during the work

Small renovations can be done room by room while you live there. A full renovation with wall changes, rewiring or new flooring is dusty and noisy, and most families are more comfortable staying elsewhere for the heaviest weeks. Plan this before you set dates.

The right order

Fix the hidden things first: structure, waterproofing, wiring and plumbing. Then the false ceiling, flooring and carpentry, and paint last. It is the same order as a new flat, with a repair stage at the start. See the stages of a full home interior for the rest, and what decides the cost of a home interior for budgeting.