Reconstruction of the prefabricated core requires ten days - iDNES.cz

The biggest weakness is the prefab core. Therefore, the basis of most apartment renovations in a block of flats is, for reasons of hygiene, aesthetics and safety (the electrical installation does not meet current standards and is often in a desolate state, which is dangerous in wet conditions), almost always rebuilding the core of the block of flats.

In addition to the fact that it is often in a considerably "depreciated state", it is a far cry from current ideas about modern hygienic and at the same time relaxation spaces.

In panel apartments, you can most often come across prefabricated cores, the structure of which consists of a wooden frame into which polystyrene and cardboard boards are inserted. Cores with reinforced concrete construction were used significantly less often. Although it had a longer service life, its considerable weight complicated construction.

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How to do it

If you decide to completely reconstruct the core of the apartment, it is necessary to clarify how the bathroom and toilet should look and how much you can actually invest in the reconstruction. Next, you need to decide whether you will undertake the reconstruction yourself or entrust it to a specialized company.

She can help you not only with the removal of the umakart core and the construction of a new bathroom and toilet, but also with the design of a new hygienic room. Today, most studios or companies can draw up a modification proposal, including 3D visualization. The proposal usually contains possible layout solutions, materials and a preliminary calculation.

The next step is to fill in the tender sheet, where the request for details is clearly specified.

The tender sheet will serve as a basis for the assessment of the current state by an expert, who will also provide all the documents related to the treatment of water, sewage, electrical installation and air conditioning.

Next comes the detailed itemized budget, which forms an attachment to the work contract, which must not be forgotten. Together with the tender budget, the total duration of the implementation is determined according to the scope of work.

Building authority yes or no?

Before starting the reconstruction itself, you need to decide how drastic the reconstruction you intend to undertake. Three situations can arise: you need a building permit, notification, or you can even do without a building permit or notification.

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For this third option, two basic criteria must be met: firstly, the walls of the residential core must be replaced with material of the same or very similar weight, and secondly, the original layout must be preserved.

The building authority will require a conversion notification in the case of building modifications that change the use of part of the building, but which do not interfere with the supporting structures of the building, do not change its appearance and an environmental impact assessment is not required. This is the case when, for example, as part of building modifications, you intend to expand the bathroom or move the toilet, for example, to the hall area, which can be interpreted as a change in the use of part of the building.

There is, however, one important "but": in the case of reconstructions of housing cores, there is usually a partial or complete change in the internal arrangement of the partitions of the apartment, i.e. to a layout solution other than the approved one.

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When renovating, it is always an effort not to interfere with the load-bearing structures of the house, but they are affected statically, whether by weighting the ceiling or vertical structures, and thus also the foundations of the entire house.

That is why it is advisable to find out in good time from the relevant building authority whether the building modifications will require a building permit or notification, or whether you can do without them completely. In addition, the requirements of individual building authorities vary considerably.

The planned reconstruction of an apartment or housing core must also be reported in time to the owner of the apartment building, the association of owners, the housing cooperative, etc. If someone does not have time or does not like dealing with the authorities, they should contact a company that has a package of services and processing the necessary permits.

Before starting the reconstruction, it is also necessary to inform the residents of the building about the date of commencement and completion of the construction work, the name of the implementing company and the telephone contact for the construction coordinator.

Realization schedule

Many building materials can be used in the reconstruction of a block of flats, but ytong is most often used. The reason is easier construction than from classic fired materials (individual blocks are joined using a special glue, no mortar is needed), acceptable weight and sound quality, and long durability. This material also has the necessary health certificates and it holds tiles well.

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However, you can also give preference to, for example, special plasterboard suitable for humid environments. Implementation usually takes ten days, but it depends on the scope of the work being carried out.

The progress of the work can be described simply as follows:

1. day: Existing water, waste, gas and electricity distributions are disconnected. Dismantling of the existing core, subsequent removal of demolished waste and introduction of construction material is underway.

2. day: On the program is the establishment of partitions and their gradual construction, for which aerated concrete with a thickness of 100, 70 and 50 mm is most often used. However, partitions can also be made of plasterboard at the customer's request.

3. day: It's time to stretch the distribution of electric cables, water, waste and level the floor (or pour in the underfloor heating).

4. day: The joints are cleaned after the installation of distribution lines, assembly of the structure and installation of the plasterboard ceiling.

5. day: Thin-layer plasters are applied, the bathtub is underlaid and the tiles are laid.

6. day: The program includes plastering unclad walls and ceramic tiling.

7. day: Next comes the painting and installation of panel doors.

8. day: Furnishings such as a toilet, sink...

9. day: Typical bathroom furniture, electrical sockets, switches and light fixtures are installed. The cleaning of the construction site should also be done on this day.

10. day: And now all that remains is to hand over the completed building to the investor based on the handover protocol.

Types of housing cores

Types of housing cores

Possibilities of layout changes are fundamentally influenced by the construction of the housing core. For that reason, it is first necessary to find out how the existing housing core is being solved, which of its walls are non-load-bearing and therefore can be moved, replaced with new ones, and which, on the other hand, are load-bearing, which means that their removal is out of the question.

Housing core H + kk Being bordered by a panel wall on two sides makes it difficult for us to expand the floor plan of the core. Considering the availability of the apartment, it is possible to work with the front and possibly also the back wall of the core. Considering that in the case of the side panel partition it is not a load-bearing structure, it is possible to consider a variant in which it will be removed during the design.

Dwelling core F + kk Given that in this type of core, the front wall with the door is made of a brick or concrete partition, it is possible to partially save during the reconstruction. In the case of the front partition, it is again a non-load-bearing dividing structure, so as in the previous case, its removal can be considered.

Housing core T The core is set between three concrete walls, which limits the possibilities of layout modifications. We recommend keeping the existing kernel layout.

Housing core E This type of housing core, which is often adjacent to a large, spacious hall, allows us many variants of possible modifications.

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Prepared in collaboration with Perfecto design.