In the environment of high housing prices and old houses in Taipei and New Taipei, decoration has become a required course for many people, whether they are buying a second-hand house or renovating an old house. According to market reports, the number of housing units in Taiwan that are over 30 years old has exceeded 5 million, accounting for more than half of the total, and the two northern districts are key areas for renovation of old houses. For inexperienced decoration novices, they often feel at a loss to start when faced with complex engineering projects. This article will systematically dismantle the decoration process, from clarifying requirements, budget allocation to key project acceptance, and provide a practical introductory guide to Shuangbei decoration.
1. The first step before decoration: clarify the core difference between "decoration" and "decoration"
Many people tend to confuse the two when planning, but they are essentially different. Understanding the differences is the first step to allocating your budget effectively.
- Interior decoration: Refers to projects involving the "structure" and "basic functions" of the house, such as: removing partitions, replacing old water pipes and wires, redoing bathroom waterproofing, solving wall cancer, etc. This type of project is to ensure the "safety" and "health" of living. It usually takes a long time and is expensive, but it is an indispensable foundation for the renovation of old houses.
- Interior decoration: It is the creation of "beauty" and "style" based on the structural safety of the house, such as painting the walls, installing system cabinets, selecting furniture and decorations, etc. Its project scale is smaller and its flexibility is greater.
To put it simply, "decoration" treats the root cause, and "decoration" treats the symptoms. For old apartments that are common in the Shuangbei area, the first task is usually to carry out "decoration" projects such as updating water and electricity pipelines and waterproofing projects. After ensuring safety, the "decoration" style can then be considered.
2. Practical budget planning and use of government resources
Against the backdrop of inflation and labor shortages, decoration costs from 2025 to 2026 have entered a stage of "structural increase". Planning your budget properly is crucial.
- Budget allocation mentality: It is recommended to divide the total budget into three major parts: "hardware decoration", "furniture" and "home appliances". Among them, "hardware renovation" should be prioritized in "basic projects" that are invisible but have far-reaching impacts, such as water, electricity, waterproofing, structural safety, etc. Experts suggest that 10% to 20% of the total budget should be reserved as a reserve fund to deal with emergencies.
- Make good use of government subsidies: To reduce the burden, the government provides a variety of subsidies. For example, under the "Old House Repair Subsidy", apartments that are over 30 years old can apply for structural reinforcements, pipeline updates, etc., with a maximum subsidy of NT$600,000. In addition, there is a subsidy for "replacing old energy-saving appliances with new ones", with each first-class energy-efficiency air conditioner or refrigerator receiving a subsidy of NT$3,000. Taking the initiative to learn about and apply for these grants is part of smart budget control.
3. Key project acceptance points that should not be taken carelessly
In decoration projects, many projects are difficult to inspect once they are completed and sealed. Therefore, "section acceptance" is the only way to protect rights and interests. The following are some of the most critical acceptance links:
1. Water and electricity projects (the lifeblood of the house):
- Safety first:Confirm that the wire specifications comply with regulations, and there should not be too many sockets on the same circuit. High power consumption areas such as kitchens should have independent circuits. You must not arbitrarily increase the ampere of a fuse-less switch to avoid electric tripping. This will cause the wire to overheat and fire, resulting in loss of protection.
- Water pipe test: After the new water supply pipeline is installed, a pressure test of at least 1 hour must be performed to check whether there are leaks in all joints.
- Record and save evidence: Before sealing water and electricity pipelines (covering them with cement or wooden boards), be sure to take photos and record the direction of all pipelines to facilitate future maintenance and search.
2. Waterproofing and mud work (to eliminate the nightmare of water leakage):
- The waterproofing layer in bathrooms, balconies and other areas must be applied evenly and without bubbles. After completion, be sure to conduct a water storage test for more than 24 hours and go to the neighbor's house downstairs to confirm whether there are any signs of water seepage in the ceiling.
- Check whether the "drainage slope" of the floor is sufficient to ensure that water can flow smoothly to the drainage holes without accumulation of water.
3. Inspection points for other work items:
- Wooden/system cabinets: Check whether the doors and drawers open and close smoothly, whether the joints are smooth, and confirm whether the formaldehyde level of the boards used (such as E0, E1) complies with the contract.
- Paint: Check whether the wall surface is smooth under natural light and whether there are obvious brush marks, particles or color differences.
- Floor: Whether it is tile or wooden floor, step on it in many places to check whether there is any hollow sound or uneven shaking feeling.
Conclusion
When decorating in Shuangbei, facing the complex market environment and high-standard living needs, sufficient knowledge and preparation in advance is half the success. As a homeowner, you don’t need to be an expert, but you do need to understand the key points of communication and check-in. Starting from clarifying your own needs, preparing a budget pragmatically, and strictly executing acceptance checks at each stage, only then can you truly transform the hard-earned funds into a safe, comfortable and durable home. Remember, a detailed contract specifying materials, construction period, payment method and warranty terms is the most important guarantee document during your entire renovation process.
New knowledge on air-conditioning power consumption and Taiwan climate maintenance regulations in recent years (2025-2026 current situation)
With the high temperatures in summer breaking historical records and the adjustment of electricity price structure in recent years, the latest statistics from the Energy Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs show that air-conditioning equipment accounts for more than 47% of residential electricity consumption in summer. Many people mistakenly believe that if the air conditioner is not cold, they only need to "replenish the refrigerant." However, in fact, refrigerant is not naturally consumed during normal operation in a closed circuit. If the refrigerant is insufficient, it means that there are micro leaks in the copper pipes or joints. Simply replenishing the air conditioner will only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. Refrigerant leakage will aggravate the high temperature overload of the compressor and shorten its service life.
According to Taiwan's standard operating specifications for air-conditioning projects, it is recommended that professional technicians with a refrigeration and air-conditioning decoration technician license perform "full machine high-pressure water washing and evaporator deep sterilization" every 1 to 2 years for detached air-conditioning indoor units. Especially in the humid summer in the Shuangbei Basin, the air drum and water collection tray are easy to breed black mold and jelly-like biofilm. This is also the main reason for the sour smell in the air-conditioning outlet and the backflow of the drainage pipe. Regular maintenance can maintain CSPF (Air Conditioning Seasonal Performance Factor) level one energy efficiency level, which can save an average household 15% to 20% of air conditioning electricity bills every year.
Autonomous simple maintenance vs professional maintenance safety red line
- Homeowners can do by themselves: Remove and clean the nylon filter regularly every 2 to 3 weeks (rinse with clean water and dry in a cool place, do not expose it to the sun to avoid deformation and embrittlement); clean the air outlet blades of the indoor unit with a dry cloth; check whether there is any accumulation of debris within 50 cm around the outdoor unit that hinders heat dissipation.
- Professional technicians must be entrusted according to regulations: Refrigerant pressure testing and leakage repair welding, high-pressure cleaning of indoor unit air drums and aluminum fins with liquid chemicals, reset of the drainage slope of hidden cold water pipes in the ceiling, and 220V dedicated power circuit configuration and leakage circuit breaker replacement.
