Ceiling height in Khrushchev: standard ceiling height in an apartment

The height of the ceilings in Khrushchev-era buildings is only one of the parameters that is taken into account when planning a major renovation of a room. Many owners of living space that has been inherited are trying, with the help of modern technologies, to transform and decorate their home, which has long failed to meet modern standards. The problem is that the standard ceiling height depends on the year the Khrushchev building was built, the series number used to construct a particular building, and even on the raw materials that became the main material. Apartment buildings of that period were of different heights and different construction options. What they have in common is only the time of construction and the good intentions of the state.

Typical urban option

Vertical dimensions in new buildings and old houses

For modern buildings under construction, special regulatory documents are provided, according to which the minimum limits for the vertical parameters of apartments are set at 250 centimeters. That is, you cannot build below the apartment. The maximum limit is not regulated, but the average vertical wall size is from 2.6 to 3.2 meters.

Panel houses

This concept includes not only modern buildings, but also those built during the times of Brezhnev or Khrushchev. Such houses also have names corresponding to the era - “Brezhnevka” and “Khrushchevka”. Fundamentally, they are not too different from each other in terms of size, except that the area of the apartments built during the Brezhnev era is slightly larger.

The standard ceiling height in a panel house built under Khrushchev is two and a half meters. Such dimensions are due to the savings in building materials and the speed of construction of houses in that era.

Under Brezhnev, comfort took on a more important position and the walls grew to 270 centimeters. It has become much more comfortable and convenient. This parameter is considered optimal to this day. In modern buildings, ceilings do not fall below 260 centimeters and are rarely raised above 280. According to standards, the average size of residential premises in most modern panel houses is 2.7 meters.

Stalinka

A separate story is the house built during the reign of Stalin. Back then, materials were not saved as much and the dimensions of the apartments were much larger. The walls could be 3, or even 3.5 meters above the floor.

The area of the premises was suitable for both sizes together, creating a fairly harmonious combination. Often, the surface of the ceiling in such houses was decorated with stucco, giving the rooms solidity and style.

Private properties

This is the most comfortable height and ensures relative ease of construction. At a height of three meters you can already afford to build any ceiling structure or place a beautiful large chandelier. At the same time, maintaining such a ceiling will not be difficult.

Other buildings

Regarding other buildings, such as a bathhouse or a garage, there are no particularly strict limits. Here, everyone is accustomed to being guided by convenience and practicality. For example, in a bathhouse, there is no need to install high ceilings - it will take longer to warm up such a room, and the ease of use will not increase too noticeably.

In garages there is also no need for large distances from the floor to the ceiling. For a standard passenger car, two meters is more than enough. If you need to put something larger in the garage, for example, a jeep or crossover, then the walls will have to “grow” up to three meters. So you can open the trunk without fear of hitting something, and wipe the roof if necessary.

Wallpapering

Just like in the previous method of decorating the ceiling, its original condition is of no small importance. For example, if the surface in a Khrushchev-era living room is perfectly flat, wallpaper can be glued immediately after priming. If there are significant defects, then you cannot do without leveling the ceiling.

The advantages of this method of finishing ceilings in the living room include accessibility and a large selection of materials. If you wish, you can carry out the work yourself. There are wallpapers on sale in various textures that can be painted in any color.

Khrushchev buildings

These houses are also special in their own way. There is an opinion that the ceilings are so low that it would not be difficult for a tall person to reach them, and the kitchens are scary due to the fact that they are too uncomfortable and small. Too steep flights of stairs do not add optimism.

Although the actual ceiling height in a Khrushchev building can reach 2.5 meters. It can be made smaller only if the floor was raised or a suspended ceiling was installed. This type of premises has a number of undeniable positive qualities: due to their small size, they are masterfully heated, preventing the formation of mold and fungi, rotting of beams and subsidence of floors, and their wiring can guarantee a standard number of household appliances. Everything was done as standard, but with the expectation that they would serve for decades.

Dropped ceilings

If you compare the cost of leveling the floor and installing a suspended ceiling structure, the latter option often turns out to be more profitable. In addition to this advantage, suspended ceilings have higher decorative properties, especially if they are properly decorated after installation.

When installing such structures, there is always a loss of height, and it can be divided into three conditional categories:

Up to 3 cm – single-level suspended ceilings;
Up to 5 cm – single-level structures with integrated lamps;
Up to 15 cm – single-level systems with built-in communications.

There are also multi-level ceilings, but they are clearly not suitable for Khrushchev-era buildings due to their massiveness and complexity. For the manufacture of ordinary suspended ceilings, plastic panels, tension fabrics and plasterboard can be used. Each material is worth considering in more detail.

Ceiling height standards in different houses:

"Stalin" and old buildings

Ceiling in “Stalin” style with stucco molding

Old buildings are distinguished by large room sizes. Ceilings are from 3.3 to 3.6 m high, often decorated with stucco or cornices. Installing tension fabrics in such houses can lead to a decrease in the level of the structure.

Repairing the ceiling is made difficult by the presence of wooden floors and external wiring.

The advantage of free space allows you to use a variety of styles in the interior. For example, the use of multi-level suspended ceilings hides the shortcomings of the main coating.

"Khrushchev"

Two-level ceiling in the "Khrushchev"

The need for housing for all families led to the creation of apartments with small spaces and low ceilings. The height is within 2.5-2.7 m from the floor.

The interfloor floors were made of reinforced concrete panels, easy to construct, durable and with simple cladding. The base was processed at the joints of the plates, and whitewash was applied.

By installing a suspended ceiling, you can visually enlarge the room using the colors and type of structure. Spotlights are better suited for lighting - massive chandeliers are impractical.

"Brezhnevki"

Stretch ceiling in Brezhnevka

Improved comfort increased the height to 2.6-2.7 m, and the rooms expanded. The apartments now have separate hallways, built-in wardrobes and mezzanines.

Simple, flat ceilings in such houses are convenient for repairs and installation of tension fabrics.

Panel and block high-rise buildings

Stretch ceiling in a panel house

The ceiling height standard starts at 2.5 m, in new buildings it reaches 2.75 m. The disadvantages of such apartments are the lack of free space, insufficient natural light and poor sound insulation. When repairing, you need to use high-quality materials that reduce noise levels.

The high ceiling characteristic of such houses allows the installation of tension and suspended structures.

Modern apartments

Ceiling in a modern interior

Depending on the layout, purpose and cost of the premises, the height may vary and reach from 2.7m to 3.2m.

In small apartments and studios, in order to reduce prices, the size of housing is reduced. Finishing work is aimed at maximizing the visual increase in the space of the house.

For the construction of luxury apartments, individual projects are created. The furnishings are handled by designers who calculate the optimal height and style for a particular room.

Private houses

Wooden ceiling with beams

The dimensions of the premises are practically not limited by external factors and depend on the wishes of the owner.

A comfortable ceiling height is considered to be around 2.9-3.2 m. It is worth considering that large sizes increase heating costs.

Finishing materials depend on the type of floor:

wooden beams are left visible, tension and suspended structures are installed, and sheathed with wood;
All types of design are suitable for reinforced concrete floors.

Choosing a style and advice from designers

With all the variety of stylistic solutions for the kitchen in the “Stalin” style, several directions are dominant:

Classic. Suitable for spacious rooms.
Minimalism. Owners should prefer a compact kitchen. It is distinguished by its laconicism, high functionality and limited color range.
Country. The predominance of wooden parts, antique accessories, and warm colors in the interior.

Within the framework of the styles used, designers advise using universal solutions, including the following:

Decorate the interior in light colors, especially in small rooms. They always visually expand the space. Dark color is acceptable in spacious kitchens with good light penetration.
Heavy fabrics are not recommended for use as curtains. They absorb odors and reduce light levels. Blinds and roller blinds look harmonious.
Large household electrical appliances are built into cabinets and niches to save space and improve the appearance of the kitchen.
Directional light from spotlights and spots will highlight the work area well, and hanging devices will give the dining space a cozy and complete look.
If it is impossible to hide the pipes, they are painted to match the walls.
It is recommended to avoid using many small details and decorative items that add chaos and fragmentation to the environment. A wall clock, a thematic painting, and live plants in an elegant stand will highlight the style.

Design of apartments with high ceilings

The standard ceiling height in an apartment does not always allow the owner to decorate it according to his own preferences. When a house has high ceilings, this is always considered an advantage, since in such rooms there is more light and air, and there is no feeling that you are in a confined space.

Rooms with high ceilings can have different designs, since they can be both small in area and large.

The design of an apartment with high ceilings of at least 3.7 meters allows you to realize your wildest fantasies when creating an interior. For example, under the base floor you can place an additional attic floor and place a sleeping place there. On the second tier they put a bed or arrange a library.

To avoid the feeling of emptiness, the design of apartments with high ceilings allows you to create, if not a full floor, but a cozy relaxation area, the entrance to which is created in the form of a staircase with small steps.

The interior of an apartment with high ceilings and a large area suggests choosing massive large furniture as furnishings. The main thing is not to visually overload the furnishings of the premises, since otherwise the feeling of large space and light will disappear without a trace, spoiling the design of the ceiling in the apartment.

As a rule, the design of a room with a high ceiling is made in the loft style, which emphasizes this advantage and involves the organization of hidden places for storing things, effectively organizing the surrounding space. Some owners of such apartments choose the Art Nouveau style.

In rooms with high ceilings there is enough space where you can imagine, as evidenced by the photo on the website. For example, it is possible to make beautiful shaped arches or lay out original openings in the doors. Various decorative elements are also used. If desired, you can create tension or suspended ceiling multi-tier structures without taking up significant room height. There will be no problems with how to set the ceiling level in a room with high ceilings; a few centimeters will not affect the overall perception of the space.

Ceiling height in the house, detailed in the video:

Secrets of redevelopment

What should be the height of the ceilings in a private house?

The main task of the owner of a Khrushchev house is to try to effectively use every meter of usable space

It is important to clarify here - not to clutter, but to use it functionally

Demolishing partitions is the first thing that comes to every resident’s mind. This method will add space to you and increase usable space. In this case, you need to familiarize yourself with the apartment plan, find out which wall is load-bearing (so as not to accidentally demolish it) and develop a detailed redevelopment plan.

For one-room apartments, the solution may be to create a studio apartment - when all the partitions are demolished and the room is combined with a kitchen and hallway. The latter is most often separated from the living room by furniture or conventional decor. To highlight the kitchen and separate it from the living area, you can raise the floor or use a flooring that is different from the room.

The studio apartment option is suitable for creative individuals or single people, but for families with small children it is better to leave the walls so that the space is divided into zones.

If you are not a fan of radical wall demolitions, replace partitions with arches or move doorways. Then you will get separate rooms and a more comfortable apartment.

A combined bathroom can be connected to part of the corridor - in the end you will get a large space where a washing machine or boiler can fit. The remaining space in the corridor can be used for a wardrobe. In this case, you will free up space in the room and you will have somewhere to store seasonal items.

Use mobile and multifunctional furniture. Especially if you have a one-room Khrushchev house, such furniture will become indispensable. Take a closer look at compact chests of drawers, wall-folding beds and cabinets.

If you have a storage closet, you can safely demolish it or attach it to an adjacent area - a corridor, a room. Owners of a two-room Khrushchev house, where one room does not have its own entrance, can add a new partition. There will be less living space, but you will have another personal space.

Cabinets that reach up to the ceiling will help save space in the kitchen. The main thing is not to make them too deep.

No matter how many rooms there are in your apartment, try to make them as bright as possible. The lighter the walls and ceiling, the wider the space appears. The ideal solution is to use shades of the same color for all rooms. In this case, regardless of the style, you can create a cozy atmosphere.

Also avoid saturated and bright colors in the decoration; it is better to add bright accents in the form of paintings, decor, pillows and souvenirs than to paint or paste over the Khrushchev in red or green colors.

Why is height so important?

The standard ceiling height in an apartment (h = 2.5...3.2 meters) often does not allow its owner to realize his interesting design ideas. Having high ceilings in a house is always an advantage, because in such houses there is more light and air, and there is no feeling of enclosed space.

The design project of a room with high ceilings (h=3.2...3.7 meters or more) allows you to embody bright ideas and the most daring decisions.

To avoid the feeling of emptiness, in apartments with high ceilings you can not only hang a multi-level crystal chandelier, but also create an additional attic floor - a recreation area, to which a small staircase leads, and at the top there is an additional sleeping area and a library.

Arrangement of space in residential premises with high ceilings has some features:

For the interior of large rooms with high ceilings, it is recommended to choose massive large furniture

At the same time, it is important not to visually overload the room, so as not to erase the feeling of light and space

It should be noted that the design of a living space with a high ceiling is often done in the loft style (a modern style that can be described by the motto: “fewer partitions, more fresh air”). This style emphasizes the advantages of the room and organizes hidden places for storing things, effectively organizing the surrounding space. But for some owners of living spaces with high ceilings, the Art Nouveau style is to their liking.

Regardless of adherence to style, there is a vast field for imagination. Shaped arches, decorative elements of varying complexity, tension or suspended multi-tiered ceiling structures will look very beautiful and relevant in such rooms. Another advantage of such a room is that there will be no need to set the ceiling level to a centimeter, since they are invisible in the general space.

How to adjust a room if the ceiling is low

The parameters of the room should be such that it is pleasant to be in it. For example, in a high and narrow room a person may feel uncomfortable because he will have the impression that he is in a well. There are several important parameters that would help ensure this comfort.

Visual techniques

There are many ways to elevate it using the right materials, colors and design techniques.

Mirror surfaces

Nothing will help visually enlarge a space like a mirror. However, we do not recommend getting carried away and covering all surfaces with mirrors; this will simply make the space uncomfortable. Try combining ceiling tiles with mirrored or highly reflective glossy inserts.

Color

Here, follow the rule that the ceiling surface is lighter than the walls. For small rooms, light pastel shades are well suited; they not only refresh the appearance of the room, but also visually expand it.

Pexels

Another little trick: think through your interior so that the colors gradually lighten as they rise from the floor to the top. For example, from a dark gray floor there is a transition upward to cool white.

Wallpaper

Here you need to try to find a wall covering with a vertical pattern. These can be stripes, floral patterns or painted branches. Give preference to light tones of wallpaper with a slight shine.

Try experimenting with a matte texture on the walls and a glossy texture on the top floor. In this case, the color of the surfaces must be the same. It is worth noting that if your ceiling height in your apartment is only 250 centimeters, then we recommend forgetting about decorative borders and baseboards. They tend to delimit space, thereby shortening it.

Interior items

It’s worth paying attention to the furniture, because correctly placed accessories, just like materials, affect the visual perception of the room. Install tall shelving and cabinets. This will become a significant accent that will stretch the room. Also choose sofas and armchairs with low backs.

Unsplash

Little things matter too. Place thin vases, small trees, folds in curtains on the shelves - all this stretches the vertical of the room and helps to raise even a low ceiling.

Tips for creating a pleasant atmosphere

Microclimate

Humidity and temperature should be comfortable and pleasant.

Cleaning
9 rules for a healthy microclimate in your home

Lighting

There should be a lot of light in the room, be it natural or artificial lighting. It’s better to have a lot of light elements that can be turned off and on if necessary.

Ventilation

The supply of fresh air is a very important element that affects the comfort of staying in the apartment.

Characteristics of the layout of the Khrushchev house

Wide double-leaf, square-looking windows of the apartments, an iron 4-slope roof (something like a technical floor), it can also be completely flat and without an attic (there is no technical floor), or flat-pitched (some kind of hybrid).

Windows on the outer end panels. The fire escape, without a common fire balcony, is adjacent to the end of the Khrushchev-era building. The layout of the house provides for the location of four apartments on the site. Apartment layout: 1-room, 2-room. 3-room apartments with a ceiling height of about 2.55 meters.

The layout of the apartment is designed so that it is always a walk-through. The toilet and bathroom in the Khrushchev building are combined. Heat supply and water supply are centralized. The layout of the house does not provide for a garbage chute and an elevator. The number of floors of “Khrushchev” buildings - in addition to 5 floors, there are also 7 and 9 floors; houses with 3 and 4 floors are less common.

In addition to the balcony, one of the advantages of the apartment layout is the storage room. Thermal insulation is not very good, because... The panels from which the house is assembled are hollow, filled with glass wool. The number of entrances in the house provided for by the layout is from three.

All apartments, except the corner ones, according to the layout of the house, face one side. The exterior design of the house is either covered with small ceramic tiles (color options: white-blue, light gray), or not covered (color options: gray, white, yellow, beige).

External view of the house layout of series 1-335 “Khrushchev” photo:

For reference

During the Soviet period, in 1961, the cost of constructing large-panel frame houses with the Khrushchev layout was the lowest in history and amounted to 96 rubles per square meter.

The layout of the Khrushchev houses of the 1-335 series was considered by some experts to be the most unsuccessful of all those developed under Khrushchev.

Advantages of the layout

Availability of storage rooms and balconies.

In fact, there may be more advantages, although the layout is typical. but there is always some twist.

This section will be updated as we receive feedback from readers who live in houses and apartments of this layout. I'm sure they have something positive to say :)

Disadvantages of layout

Very low thermal insulation of walls, especially sensitive in our climate. Thin partitions between rooms;
The ceilings also have slight sound insulation;
Combined bath and toilet;
Cramped hallways;
Small total footage;
First floors without balconies;
Small kitchens;
No isolated rooms

Some of the listed disadvantages of the apartment layout in the Khrushchev can be redone - expand the kitchen, make the rooms isolated, if their location allows.

Photos of apartment layouts in Khrushchev-era buildings

The layout of the apartments consists of 1-room, 2-room and 3-room apartments with the following area characteristics:

1-room “Khrushchev” - total area: 30 sq.m., living area: 18 sq.m., kitchen area: 6.3 sq.m.

Layout of a 1-room Khrushchev apartment photo:

2-room “Khrushchev” (version 1) - total area: 41 sq.m., living area: 26 sq.m., kitchen area: 6.9 sq.m.

Layout of a 2-room Khrushchev apartment photo:

2-room “Khrushchev” (version 2) - total area: 45 sq.m., living area: 35 sq.m., kitchen area: 6.3 sq.m.

Layout of a 2-room apartment “Khrushchev” photo:

3-room “Khrushchev” (version 1) - total area: 55 sq.m., living area: 42 sq.m., kitchen area: 6.3 sq.m.

Layout of a 3-room apartment “Khrushchev” photo:

3-room “Khrushchev” (version 2) - total area: 58 sq.m., living area: 48 sq.m., kitchen area: 6.3 sq.m.

Layout of a 3-room apartment “Khrushchev” photo:

Anyone interested in the floor plan of apartments in Khrushchev-era buildings can look at this standard plan.

Layout of apartments on the floor of a Khrushchev building:

As a result of considering the layout of the house of series 1-335 of the Khrushchev type, we can conclude that at one time it was in demand and relevant housing, because the majority of the population huddled in wooden barracks and communal apartments.

By the way, they still huddle together now, but smaller. And the demand for housing continues to remain high, which leaves apartments with the “Khrushchev” layout in demand to this day.

How to understand projects

"Stalin", Stalin's houses

All names come from the name of Stalin, during whose reign these houses were built. The main building material for the construction of Stalinist houses is brick. Brick houses were distinguished by higher number of storeys, elegant facades, spacious apartments, and better sound insulation.

These are large, beautiful houses with Soviet attributes. The facade of the house was usually decorated with stucco decoration. The outside of Stalin's houses was covered with plaster; large "nomenklatura" houses could be faced with stone or ceramic tiles. These houses have a high ground floor. The size to the ceiling is at least 3 meters. Hence the calculation of the height of the house. Therefore, the height of a five-story building is at least 20 m.

“Stalin” is the common colloquial name for apartment buildings built in the USSR from the late 1930s to the late 1950s

After Stalin, Khrushchev began to fight against “excesses” and before the start of mass construction of Khrushchev houses, “torn” Stalinist houses were erected without stucco decoration and often without plaster.

"Khrushchevka"

Who doesn't know them! By the way, there are still plenty of them all over the country! Now they are being demolished in big cities. But at one time, the “Khrushchevs” made it possible to resolve the acute housing shortage. At that time, no one was interested in the appearance of housing. Therefore, the apartments were small, the architecture of the houses was extremely simple and functional. They were built quickly, from standard parts, but there were many disadvantages. For example, the ceiling height was 2.48m. Later it was increased to 2.60 or 2.64m.

By the way, low-rise Khrushchev apartment buildings were built not only in villages, but also in small towns. Panel houses were popular. Because they were built quickly.

"Brezhnevki"

The name of a series of houses built in the USSR from the mid-1960s to the end of the 1980s, mainly during the reign of L. I. Brezhnev. The name “improved apartments” is also found. For more spacious houses built in the 1980s - “new layout”.

These are the same “boxes” as “Khrushchev buildings”. But in these houses the ceiling height was 2.7m. There were more spacious stairs and landings. Therefore, the height of the five-story building was completely different. The roof of all Brezhnevkas is flat, covered with bitumen materials, and, unlike Khrushchevkas, is equipped with internal gutters. Low-rise houses for rural and suburban construction can have two- or multi-pitched slate roofs.

Brezhnevkas were built in the USSR from the mid-1960s to the end of the 1980s.

Brezhnev's houses differ from Khrushchev's in the following features:

Availability of a watch (since 1970), an elevator and a garbage chute; in later Brezhnevkas there is a staircase, etc. “back door” are combined;
Higher number of floors, the most common are houses with a height of 9 (in later versions also 10), 12 and 16 (later 17) floors. In many cities, “Chinese walls” were also built - long Brezhnev roads with a large number of entrances;
A large number of apartments on the landing - from 4 to 8;
Larger area;
A large number of rooms in apartments: if in the most popular series of Khrushchev buildings 1-447, 1-335, 1-464 there are mainly two-room and one-room apartments, then in Brezhnevkas four-room apartments appeared and the number of three-room apartments increased;
Separate bathroom;
Lack or fewer passage rooms;
A relative variety of shapes (for example, both tall and wide buildings, rounded). In many cities, “Chinese walls” were built - long Brezhnev roads with a large number of entrances.

Characteristics of brick, large-block and panel “Khrushchev” buildings

Khrushchev buildings were built according to standard designs in the style of functionalism. Nothing extra. They were panel, brick, and less often large-block. As a result, the most famous were the Khrushchev panel buildings. Because they were quickly built from pre-prepared reinforced concrete panels.

The speed of construction of “Khrushchev” buildings was very high, so the quality of the houses often suffered because of this. In addition, these houses had low thermal insulation of external walls and poor sound insulation inside the house.

Typically, the height of most “Khrushchev” buildings was 4 or 5 floors. Because the height of a five-story building is the maximum height where building codes do not require an elevator. As a result, the 5-story format replaced the 4-story format due to the opportunity to build more apartments.

“Khrushchev buildings” could have 2 or 3 floors. These were more common in rural areas or small towns. Some series of Khrushchev buildings even had a garbage chute. Of course, the height of the house directly depended on the height of the ceiling.

Large block "Khrushchev".

How to fix slab surface defects

Let's return to the ceilings. The main complaint about the slabs remains - the quality of the surface. Thanks to modern materials and technologies, it is possible to correct any curvature, including the curvature of the ceiling panel. The minimum height from floor to ceiling should be 2.25-2.45 m. This is dictated by the fact that during the operation of the apartment the ceiling surface can be simply damaged.

This is especially critical in the case of polyvinyl chloride stretch ceilings. If you accidentally break the canvas, you will most likely have to replace it completely. That is why suspended ceilings in Khrushchev-era buildings are rare, and instead of them, water-based wallpaper is often used, which hides unevenness and defects in the ceiling. You can choose wallpaper of any color and choose one of hundreds of textures, then the ceiling can turn into an aesthetic element on which fatal overlap errors are not so visible.

SERIES 1-434С – (year of construction 1958-1964)

Khrushchev - series 1-434С (1 room)

Khrushchev - series 1-434С (2 rooms)

Khrushchev - series 1-434С (3 rooms)

Panel five and four storey houses with four apartments on one site.

Peculiarities:

The height of the premises is 2.5 m;

Combined bathroom;

Kitchen – 5.9 m²;

Features: storage room, built-in wardrobes, balcony.

The living room area in 1-room “Khrushchev” apartments of this type is 15.9 m²; 16.9 m²; 17.4 m²; 18.2 m²; 19.5 m²; 20.7 m²; in 2 and 3 room apartments 16.2 m²; 17.2 m²; 18.1 m²; 18.6 m² and 19.3 m², depending on the layout. The storage room is located at the end of the living room or at the end of the bedroom in a 2-room apartment, and between the 1st and 2nd bedrooms in a 3-room apartment. Exit to the balcony from the living room. Bathroom combined next to the kitchen.

Whitewashing and painting

When giving preference to this option for finishing the ceiling in a kitchen or other room, it is worth objectively assessing the appearance of the original surface. If there are any defects, it is worth carrying out work to eliminate them, which can entail considerable financial costs. Despite this, for small apartments this finishing method is the optimal solution. The benefits also include the environmental friendliness of the renovation.

Compared to whitewashing the ceiling, painting it slightly expands the design possibilities, since it becomes possible to paint the surface in any color.

Typical distances to the window sill in apartments

If, when designing a private house, the height separating the window sill from the floor is determined individually, then in apartment buildings this trend corresponds to the requirements and standards of the time in which they were built. Moreover, these features affect not only the standards of openings and the above-mentioned distances, but also the gaps between radiator sections, as well as distances from the wall.

Buildings of the Stalin era ("Stalins")

Apartment buildings of the pre-war and post-war era are distinguished by the originality of window openings, the width of which varies from 50 to 60 cm. Tall and narrow windows in them were installed 70-80 cm from the floor, which made it possible to easily install a heating radiator in a specially prepared niche. Such indentations do not interfere with modern renovations, but due to the recesses in the wall, they allow you to “hide” the battery without assembling additional sheathing.

An example of a door to a loggia and windows in a Stalin-built apartmentSource 2gis.com

Khrushchev buildings

Residential buildings built during the era of the “reign” of N.S. Khrushchev. In the conversation they were called “Khrushchevka” and negative ones: “Khrushchev” and “Slums”. In most cases, these are small-sized 5-story panel or brick buildings. A distinctive feature of budget buildings of this era concerns strict compliance with GOST, which prescribed the following criteria:

The distance from the top edge of the window sill to the floor is 92 cm.
From the bottom – 82-86 cm.
The depth of the internal slope is 25 cm.
The distance from the top edge of the window opening to the ceiling is 24 cm.
The protrusion of the window sill from the plane of the wall is 9 cm.
The length of the battery relative to the window opening is 70-75%.

Brezhnevka

From the point of view of the people living in them, “Brezhnevki” were called deteriorated “Stalinka” or improved “Khrushchevka”. Another nickname assigned to this arithmetic mean between two diametrically opposed apartments is “Improved” (naturally in comparison with the small-sized apartments built during the Khrushchev era). However, the window openings have been preserved from the previous period of Nikita Sergeevich’s reign.

Modern development

Since the beginning of the 1990s. regulation of the size of window openings and the distance from the window sill to the floor has been discontinued. As mentioned earlier, the criterion is only advisory and is determined in accordance with individual parameters that ensure normal lighting.

Example of window location in a modern apartmentSource wp.com

Since 2000 in multi-storey construction, panoramic glazing is used, which implies a gap between the floor and the window of 30-40 cm. As mentioned earlier, radiators are “hidden” along the windows or a heated floor system is used, which allows the opening to be lowered to the baseboard.

An example of successful use of a window sillSource mr-build.ru

Height in residential apartments

It is believed that the standard ceiling height, regardless of the time when they were built, is approximately two and a half or three meters. Moreover, two meters is the minimum, and if you stay in a room with such ceilings, you will not have the feeling of an overhanging ceiling.

“Czech shoes” have an optimal height of 2.6 meters

Most modern developers adhere to a similar concept, which is why in all new houses the height is no more than 2.8 meters. This is enough to live quite comfortably.

Stalinka

What can you say about Stalinist apartments:

A distinctive feature is the height of the ceilings in Stalinist houses; it can be more than three meters;

The height of the ceilings in the “Stalin” building is a little less than 4 meters

Stalinka apartments are bright, large apartments with spacious rooms, kitchens and bathrooms, large door openings and wide corridors;
Stalin buildings were built soundly and reliably, while they did not skimp on building materials at all and were made for people.

Khrushchev buildings

People have their own opinions about Khrushchev, for example:

it is believed that the height of the ceiling in the Khrushchev-era building is too low and a fairly tall person can reach the very ceiling by simply rising a little;
in Khrushchev-era apartments the area is too small - six-meter kitchens, in which it is simply impossible for two people to cook;
Narrow landings and twisted doors complete the picture.

In reality, the minimum height is 2.5 meters. If the height is less, it may turn out that someone raised the floor or installed a suspended ceiling.

Although it is worth mentioning several advantages of these apartments. They are very economical and their aim was to improve the standard. Namely:

thanks to low ceilings, heating costs were reduced;
Construction standards are the same everywhere. Although there are no large windows in Khrushchev houses, there are also no rotten beams or floors;
all engineering systems were oriented to standard needs, and even the wiring will withstand a regular set of household appliances.

New buildings

In many new buildings belonging to the elite level, the minimum ceiling height is more than three meters. This is because the cost of such housing is significantly higher than average.

In general, the height of the ceilings directly depends on the total cost of the area, which can be economically justified. That is why everyone who loves high ceilings simply physically cannot save on housing. When asked how high the ceiling should be, most builders, taking into account the comfortable and financial part of this issue, voice 2.7 meters. This value is the best, and it is necessary to adhere to it when purchasing a home.

Thanks to high ceilings, interesting solutions can be used

Vertical dimension definition

Foundation + roof. The depth of the foundation is different everywhere. For example - 2.20 m. + 5 m. = 7.5 m. The height of the floor with ceilings is approximately 3 m. Then the height of the five-story building will be 22.5 m.
If the house has no basement, and the vertical from the ground is 1.5 m. We calculate the height of each floor together with the ceiling - 15 m. We add the roof height (according to the standard 5 m.) We get 21.5 m.
It would be easier to determine the height of a house if there was a standard vertical floor dimension. But there is no standard. Because there have always been different house designs. Some had a basement and a multi-pitched roof. Others with a semi-basement and attic. Houses were built with a basement and a high ground floor. Houses with a flat roof but with a 2.5m basement were also built.
Therefore, on average, a really 5-story building is about 15 m long. It all depends on the thickness of the floor and the height of the floor.
The very first brick houses could be 14 m high. The ceiling height was small - 2.40 m. By the way, in “Stalinist” houses the amount of air per person was taken into account. In the planning of “Khrushchev” buildings, in the early stages, they were not interested in such trifles.
Soviet-era houses are a thing of the past. Along with them are standard projects with GOST standards, standard blocks and parts. Therefore, it is simply impossible to determine at what height the apartment is located if you do not know the design of the house. Therefore, a five-story building, taking into account the roof, can be from 22-28 m vertically.

The height of a five-story building. A variant of a standard house design with 2 entrances.

On practice

The modern indicator of the distance from ceiling to floor depends on many factors. The main one is the standard of living of the owners of the premises. In apartment and private buildings, as well as cottages that are built for further sale, developers can take into account the wishes of customers. As they say, every whim is for your money. Typically, the height of ceilings in a panel house fluctuates between 2.5-3.2 m. It is believed that a value of 2.5 m is the lower threshold at which there is no feeling of discomfort and a “pressing” effect.

The height of Stalin's ceilings

The height of apartments in Stalinist buildings is 3-4 m. They were built back in the 30-50s of the twentieth century during the reign of Stalin. These apartments are large and bright, have wide corridors, voluminous door and window openings, spacious bathrooms, kitchens, and rooms. We can safely say that such premises fully comply with ergonomic requirements.

Spacious rooms in Stalin buildings meet all ergonomic requirements

Ceiling heights in Brezhnevka

High-rise Brezhnev buildings (from 9 to 16 floors) appeared in the USSR in the 70s. At first, the premises in them were called apartments with an improved layout. If you compare them with the rooms in Khrushchev, then it really looked like the truth. The distance from the floor to the ceiling surface in Brezhnev's houses is 2.5–2.7 m. The total area of the apartment is 20-80 sq. m. m.

Brezhnevkas are characterized by average parameters, which are considered optimal for life

Ceilings in new buildings

Today, different standards are applied when building houses. Elite class apartments can have a height of 3 m or more. The cost per square meter of such housing is significantly higher than average. In budget options, they stop at a value of 2.7 m, which is considered optimal both from the financial side and from the point of view of comfort. The average height of rooms in a nine-story building is 2.6–2.8 m.

Tall rooms in new buildings allow you to implement the most original design options

Let's recognize load-bearing walls

Regardless of what kind of house your home is located in - a panel Khrushchev building or a nine-story brick building - it will definitely have load-bearing walls and simply interior partitions. The latter can actually be removed without any consequences, while violating the integrity of the former will lead to serious troubles that threaten not only your apartment, but even the entire house. But sometimes the planned project requires that a through opening be made in one specific place, or maybe the wall is completely in the way?

In any case, you should not resort to dismantling without familiarizing yourself with the floor plan. If you don’t have one at hand, contact the technical inventory bureau or try to determine the load-bearing walls yourself.

In panel houses

Without finding technical documentation for the apartment, load-bearing walls in a panel house can be easily determined by their thickness: the fact is that the main walls supporting the floor panels are always a little thicker. Thus, the minimum thickness of a load-bearing wall in a standard panel house is 12 cm, not taking into account the layer of plaster and finishing materials, and additional partitions are 2 cm thinner.

Typically, internal walls do not affect the stability of the entire house, but only serve to divide the single space of the apartment into rooms. It is allowed to begin alteration and demolition work only after all walls have been carefully measured and key structures have been identified.

And one more thing: nine-story panel houses in most cases consist of main walls - such a structure is very reminiscent of a classic house of cards. When planning an apartment renovation in such a house, it is better to familiarize yourself with the detailed plan before starting work.

In Khrushchevka

There are several ways to understand which walls in a Khrushchev building are load-bearing:

the first, most correct one is to study the technical documentation; the second method suggests paying attention to the purpose of the wall - if you have a Khrushchev building, then load-bearing walls usually divide the floor into separate apartments, and secondary walls already divide each of them into rooms; the same applies to the areas separating the room from the flight of stairs or common corridors - they are always the main ones; but the wall between the room and the balcony, unlike brick houses, on the contrary, does not carry an important load, but retains heat; in a divided bathroom, you can safely demolish the partition - this will not affect the integrity or stability of the building in any way. There is another way to determine which walls are load-bearing - this is by drilling: the thickness of the main partitions is such that one drill is not enough for a through hole. There is another way to determine which walls are load-bearing - this is drilling: the thickness of the main partitions is such that one drill is not enough for a through hole

There is another way to determine which walls are load-bearing - this is by drilling: the thickness of the main partitions is such that one drill is not enough for a through hole.

How to correctly calculate ceiling height

In addition to the standard indicator h, regulated by relevant documents, when choosing an apartment for living or when building a private house, it is also necessary to take into account the optimal ceiling height, which is convenient and comfortable. It depends on:

the height of the people who will live in the apartment/house. There should be at least 30 cm from the person’s outstretched arm to the ceiling;
room area. If this is a large hall, the figure in question can be from 3.5 m, a kitchen or dining room of 20 m² - 2.8 m. This method of determining the optimal height is only suitable for a private house, when it is possible to draw up a project before its construction. Despite the fact that the cost of a multi-level structure will be more expensive, living in it will be much more comfortable;
the remaining distance from the floor covering to the ceiling structure after completion of the repair. For example, installing tension and suspended structures together with heated floors in an apartment can take up to 20 cm in height.

When determining the ceiling height in your apartment, consider your own preferences. Some people feel comfortable with a minimum height of 2.5 m, while others consider 3 m comfortable. Also, do not forget that the height of the ceilings also plays a decisive role in interior design. With a sufficient distance from floor to ceiling, you can install not only ceiling lamps, but also other original lighting devices, as well as mount complex multi-level structures.

Foundation and roof

The height is 27 meters lower than the real one, the reason is due to unaccounted values. The house is not built directly from the ground, it stands on a foundation that has some elevation from the ground level. Residential floors come after the basement. The ground floor of a house is a room that is partially located in the ground; in high-rise buildings it is usually a basement.

Entrance to the ground floor

The foundation is quite a massive structure and must withstand the weight of 9 floors, which can be 15–18 thousand tons (one entrance). But it is almost all hidden underground and is not taken into account.

The roof is a complex technical structure

This is another plus meter to the resulting result, in total it is already 28 meters. A technical floor or roof can be added to this result, approximately 2.0 meters. In some buildings, instead of a technical floor, the elevator lifting mechanism was installed on the roof, and then the height of its cut will be indicated on the project.