Winter Renovation in Kazakhstan: What Works, What Doesn't and How to Plan

In Kazakhstan many people put off renovation "until spring". In reality, winter barely affects work inside a heated apartment: most restrictions date back to when renovations were done in unheated buildings. There are real challenges, but they are different — dry air, slow drying with closed windows, deliveries in frost and work on unheated balconies.

Here is which work you can do in winter, what is better postponed, how the climates of Almaty and Astana differ and how to plan so you move into a finished apartment by summer.

Climate: Almaty vs Astana

Winter in the two main cities is very different. In Astana, January is the coldest month with an average of about −14 °C, and frosts below −30 °C occur almost every year. In Almaty the January average is about −5 °C, thaws are common, but severe cold happens too.

For interior work this matters mainly for logistics and ventilation. In Astana materials are more likely to freeze in transit, and you cannot leave a window open for long. In Almaty ventilation is easier, but on frosty days with poor air quality windows stay shut too. In both cities what counts is not the outdoor temperature but conditions inside the apartment.

What you can do in winter without limits

If the heating works and the temperature is stable, almost everything is possible: demolition, partitions, electrics and plumbing, plastering and skimming, screed, tiling, painting, ceilings, laminate and parquet, kitchen and wardrobe assembly.

Follow the material data sheets, not the calendar. Ceresit CM 11 tile adhesive, for example, is applied at air and substrate temperatures from +5 to +30 °C. Many interior paints require at least +10 °C and air humidity no higher than 80% — that is what Tikkurila specifies for its Siro Himmea ceiling paint. A heated apartment meets these conditions easily.

Laminate and parquet must acclimatise before laying. Manufacturers usually ask for about 48 hours in closed packs in the room where the floor will go; Classen, for example, specifies at least +18 °C and 40–60% humidity. This is especially important in winter: boxes brought in from the frost must not be opened and laid straight away.

What is limited or better postponed

Unheated loggias and balconies. Insulating, tiling or painting below zero is a bad idea: mortars and paints do not gain strength or adhesion. Plan work on a cold balcony for the warm season.

Facade and exterior work: sealing joints outside, finishing the facade of a private house, roofing. Here the season really matters.

Window replacement. It is done in winter too — installers use thermal curtains and replace windows one at a time — but in severe frost the apartment cools quickly, and foam and sealants have their own temperature limits. Ask the window supplier at what temperature they are prepared to work.

Work in an apartment without heating. If the building is not yet connected or radiators are removed, all "wet" processes must stop or temporary heating must be arranged.

Dry air: the main winter problem

With central heating, indoor humidity can drop to 20% or lower: heating warms the air but adds no moisture. For finishes this means plaster and filler dry too fast on the surface while staying wet inside, which can cause cracks. Wooden floors and solid wood furniture shrink and open gaps in dry air.

What to do: do not try to speed up drying with heaters or heat guns aimed directly at a wall; get a hygrometer and watch the humidity; for parquet and wooden doors keep humidity within the manufacturer's range, using a humidifier if needed. Ventilate briefly and regularly rather than leaving a window open for hours.

Screed and plaster: why it takes longer

Sand-cement screed gains strength and dries over weeks. You can usually walk on it after 1–2 days, but it must be completely dry before the finished floor goes down. For example, Ceresit's data sheet for its CN 173 self-levelling compound requires a sand-cement screed to be at least 28 days old with moisture no higher than 2% by the CM method, or 1.8% for heated screeds.

In winter with closed windows drying is slower, so an honest schedule builds in a margin. Do not trust promises to "lay laminate a week after the screed": substrate moisture is measured, not judged by eye. Underfloor heating can speed drying only according to the manufacturer's procedure, raising the temperature gradually.

Material logistics

Many water-based materials are damaged by freezing: paints, primers, some grouts and sealants. The packaging usually says whether freezing is allowed. Buy from suppliers with heated warehouses, ask for delivery in a warm vehicle and do not leave them in an unheated stairwell or on a balcony.

Dry mixes do not mind frost but do mind moisture: bags brought in from the cold can collect condensation. Let them warm up in the apartment. Tiles and porcelain stoneware are not harmed by cold, but they should reach room temperature before laying.

Advantages of a winter renovation

In the off-season crews are often less busy, so it is easier to find good tradespeople and agree on timing. Around New Year and after the holidays furniture, lighting and finishing stores often run sales — if your finishes schedule and shopping list are ready, you buy what you need, not whatever happens to be discounted.

Another plus: in winter you immediately see how the heating performs, where windows leak and which corners are cold. You can fix these problems during the renovation rather than after.

A winter strategy, month by month

If you want to move in by summer, this works well. December–January: design. Our design project usually takes 2–4 weeks, a working project for spaces up to 60 m² takes 3–7 days, and the season makes no difference. Meanwhile you choose a crew and compare quotes based on the schedules.

February–April: rough and finishing works — demolition, partitions, electrics, plumbing, screed and plaster, then tiles, paint and floors. May–June: furniture, lighting, decor and the move. These timings are approximate: a lot depends on the area, the scope of work and whether decisions are made on time.

Checklist before starting in winter

Heating works and the temperature is stable. You have a hygrometer and know the humidity requirements for parquet and doors. Water-based materials are stored and delivered warm. The schedule includes a margin for screed and plaster drying. Cold balcony work is moved to the warm season. The project and schedules are ready before work begins.

The last point matters most. Winter is less rushed, which makes it the best time to think your apartment through calmly. Estimate your budget with the renovation calculator, fill in the project brief or message us on WhatsApp — by spring your crew will have finished drawings.