Living with history · since 2026

The Altbau Guide: know what your classic apartment needs.

Independent expertise on the costs, subsidies and technology of the classic Altbau apartment. Well-researched, jargon-free, no sales agenda.

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Costs · 8 min read

Replacing windows in an Altbau: what it really costs in 2026
Heating

Gas boiler, heat pump or night storage?
Subsidies

KfW & BAFA: how to get renovation money
Original features

Restoring stucco: guide & prices
DIY

Sanding floorboards: a guide for brave DIYers

Renting a sander, grit sequence, oiling vs. lacquering — DIY vs. tradesman cost comparison.

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Living

Why Altbau? 7 reasons to love a classic apartment

High ceilings, cross-ventilated layouts, solid walls — and what to budget for.

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Law & rent

Cosmetic repairs: what tenants must do — and what they don't

The current state of unenforceable clauses in German tenancy law, briefly explained.

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Renovation Cost Calculator

A realistic first cost estimate for your Altbau apartment — in 30 seconds.

Estimated total cost
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Based on typical German tradesman rates. A binding quote requires an on-site inspection. Subsidies (e.g. KfW) can reduce costs significantly.

About altbau.com

We write the independent guide for people living in (or dreaming of) classic Altbau apartments: tenants, owners, DIY renovators. No broker commission, no contractor agenda — just researched numbers, clear guides and honest comparisons.

Questions, corrections or topic requests? Write to us:

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Altbau from A to Z

Altbau
A building erected before 1949 — in practice: Wilhelminian-era villas and tenements with solid walls and high ceilings.
Denkmalschutz
Legal protection of historic fabric; changes to façades and original features need approval — and sometimes receive dedicated grants.
Kreuzlüftung
Shock ventilation across two opposing façades — the Altbau's energy trump card.
BEG / KfW 264
Federal funding for efficient buildings — the most important subsidy pot for windows, insulation and heating swaps.
Stuck
Ornamental plaster profiles on ceilings and walls — the calling card of the era, restorable and re-castable.
Dielenboden
Long, narrow softwood boards, the original floor of many Altbau rooms — recoverable by sanding.