New Apartment or Old Apartment? The First 5 Decisions
New apartment or old apartment, what is the first decision?
The first decision between a new apartment and an old apartment is not material, but the condition of the existing plumbing line: in a new building the line is already set up to a current plan, while in an old building the line is checked first, then material selection follows. If this order is reversed, the chosen material may not match the existing line.
The difference between a new apartment and an old apartment is therefore in the infrastructure before the look; the 2015 example apartment in Yukarı Ayrancı shows this.
What determines the first 5 decisions in a new and an old apartment?
Five decisions are made in order; in a new apartment some of them come already resolved, in an old apartment all of them open up on survey day.
| Decision | New apartment | Old apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing line check | Usually not needed | The first and mandatory step |
| Wet area location | Can be used without change | Needs an approval process if moved |
| Floor level | Flat, no extra screed needed | Deviation can appear in the old screed |
| Electrical line | Compliant with current regulation | Line count and capacity are checked |
| Material selection | Can be made as the first decision | Not made before the infrastructure is clear |
Which approval process is required in an old apartment?
If a wet area is to be moved in an old apartment, the management approval process we explained in our apartment renovation permit and approval article comes into play; this step is usually not needed in a new apartment because the wet area location is not changed.
This difference also explains why the site schedule in an old apartment takes longer than in a new apartment.
Which is the right choice?
There is no right-or-wrong choice between a new apartment and an old apartment; both can reach the same result from a different starting point. The difference is that an old apartment has one extra step: infrastructure check.
Umut GÜRLER is an interior architect and a graduate of Çankaya University Interior Architecture; he has worked since 2009 (more than 17 years) on villa, apartment, office and clinic interiors in Ankara, and his office is in Cepa Ofis Kule. The example in this article comes from an apartment project he has completed.
Frequently asked questions about new and old apartments
What is the first decision between a new apartment and an old apartment?
The condition of the existing plumbing line; it is checked first in an old building, usually not needed in a new building.
Is approval required to move a wet area in an old apartment?
Yes, the management approval process comes into play; this step is usually not needed in a new apartment.
Can material selection be the first step in a new apartment?
Yes, because the plumbing line is already set up to a current plan; in an old apartment this decision is not made before the infrastructure is clear.
Why is the floor level checked in an old apartment?
Deviation can appear in the old screed; in a new apartment the floor is flat and extra screed is usually not needed.
Which is the right choice, a new apartment or an old apartment?
Both can be right; the difference is that an old apartment has one extra step: infrastructure check.
