Selecting construction materials for a home renovation in Romania involves navigating a market where quality tiers vary considerably, import chains are inconsistent, and the same product can carry three different price points across neighbouring stores. This guide covers the main material categories — tiling, plastering, insulation, and flooring — with attention to what distinguishes acceptable from problematic choices at the point of purchase.

Ceramic vs. Porcelain Floor Tiles

Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are widely available at Romanian chains such as Dedeman, Hornbach, Leroy Merlin, and Arabesque. The distinction matters more in wet areas and high-traffic corridors than in bedrooms.

Ceramic tiles absorb more water (above 0.5% by weight) and are appropriate for walls and low-traffic floors in dry rooms. They cut more easily and cost between 25–60 RON/m² for standard formats. In bathrooms, ceramic wall tiles in the 20×60 cm range remain the dominant choice.

Porcelain tiles fire at higher temperatures, achieving water absorption below 0.5%. Full-body porcelain (where the colour runs through the entire thickness, not just the glaze) is more resistant to chipping on edges. Price ranges start around 50 RON/m² for basic rectified porcelain and can reach 200–400 RON/m² for large-format Italian imports.

What to check at the store

Look for the PEI rating on the box — PEI 3 is adequate for residential floors with normal use; PEI 4 for hallways and kitchens. Avoid tiles marked only with decorative use (PEI 0–1) on any floor surface.

Plaster and Rendering Systems

Interior plastering in Romanian renovation practice divides broadly into two systems: traditional lime-cement renders and gypsum-based machine plasters.

Lime-cement renders (tinci) remain common in older apartment blocks where wall surfaces are uneven and the substrate is brick or AAC (cellular concrete). They require more skill to apply smoothly and a longer drying time — typically 28 days before painting. Cost per square metre for material and labour ranges between 40–70 RON depending on surface condition.

Machine-applied gypsum plaster (glet de ipsos) has become standard in newer construction. It sets faster (48–72 hours before a primer coat) and produces a smoother surface without a finishing coat of white cement. Products from Knauf, Rigips, and local manufacturers such as Alfix are all available, with 25 kg bags costing between 35–55 RON. One bag covers roughly 10–12 m² at a 3 mm thickness.

For exterior walls, silicone or acrylic decorative renders (tencuiala decorativa) are applied over a base coat and insulation board. Grain size (1.5 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm) affects texture and cleaning difficulty. Finer grains look cleaner but collect atmospheric deposits faster in urban areas.

Thermal Insulation Materials

Energy efficiency became a priority on the Romanian renovation agenda following utility price increases in 2022–2024. The main options for wall insulation are:

  • EPS (expanded polystyrene): The most common choice for block facades in Romania. Density grades matter: 15 kg/m³ is the minimum allowed for thermal systems; 20 kg/m³ is preferable for longevity. A 10 cm board achieves a U-value around 0.38 W/m²K on a standard brick wall.
  • Mineral wool boards: Better fire resistance and acoustic performance than EPS, but heavier and more expensive. Used in buildings where fire class requirements are higher (above 4 floors under Romanian regulations). Price is roughly 40–60% higher than equivalent EPS.
  • PIR panels: Rigid polyisocyanurate boards with the best thermal resistance per centimetre. Used where wall thickness cannot accommodate the full depth needed by EPS. Less common in residential retrofit but available at specialist insulation suppliers.

Installation quality has a larger effect on final performance than material specification. Gaps at joints, missing anchor points, and insufficient mesh embedding are the most common causes of insulation system failures seen in Romanian post-construction inspections.

Flooring: Laminate, Engineered, and Solid Hardwood

Flooring choice in Romanian apartments is often driven by budget constraints and the tendency to avoid wet installation processes. Laminate covers the largest share of the market.

Laminate flooring is priced between 30–120 RON/m² and available in AC3–AC5 wear classes (AC4 is the practical minimum for residential use). Products in the 60–90 RON range from brands such as Kronotex, Quick-Step, or local distributors typically perform adequately for 10–15 years in bedrooms and living rooms. Avoid products below 7 mm thickness in older apartments where subfloor unevenness is common — thinner boards telegraph surface irregularities.

Engineered hardwood (parchet stratificat) uses a thin solid-wood veneer over plywood layers, providing dimensional stability across humidity changes that solid wood cannot match in panel-heated Romanian apartments. The timber layer thickness determines refinishing potential: 3–4 mm allows one sanding; 6 mm allows two or three.

Solid hardwood (parchet masiv) is available but less common due to cost (150–350 RON/m² before installation) and the need for acclimatisation in a heated apartment before fitting — typically two weeks in the room where it will be installed.

Practical notes on adhesives and underlays

Romanian renovation practice sometimes cuts corners on underlays — using thin foam instead of a combined acoustic+thermal underlay. A 3 mm acoustic underlay reduces impact noise transmission by roughly 15–18 dB, which in a block of flats is the difference between a tolerable and an intolerable floor for the apartment below.

Where to Buy and What to Watch For

The main hardware chains operating in Romania as of 2026 are Dedeman (Romanian-owned, largest network), Leroy Merlin (French, urban centres), Hornbach (German, larger cities), and Arabesque (tiles and flooring specialist). Each carries different ranges at different price points.

Smaller specialist importers often carry Italian and Spanish tiles not found in the main chains, at prices that are competitive for higher-end ranges. These are worth visiting when the project requires large-format tiles (80×80 cm and above) or technical specifications not available from standard stock.

Building supply depots (depozite de materiale) carry bulk construction materials — sand, gravel, cement, AAC blocks, reinforcement steel — at prices lower than retail chains but with minimum quantities that require transport planning.

A reliable external reference for construction standards in Romania is the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDLPA), which publishes technical norms and building regulations.

This article reflects general market conditions as observed in 2025–2026. Prices and product availability change over time. Always verify specifications with the supplier before purchasing materials for a specific project.