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🛠️🇩🇪 Renovating in Germany in 2025: What You Should Know + Essential Baumarkt Vocabulary

Whether you’ve just moved into a new apartment, bought your first home, or simply want to refresh your space, renovating in Germany can feel overwhelming at first — especially if German isn’t your native language.

But the good news is:
Germany has some of the best hardware stores (Baumärkte) in Europe, great materials, and clear systems.
All you need is the right information (and the right vocabulary).

This guide shows you:
✔ How renovation works in Germany in 2025
✔ Common rules & what surprises newcomers
✔ Important words you must know before going to OBI, Bauhaus, Hornbach, Toom, Globus Baumarkt
✔ Useful phrases & tools vocabulary

Let’s get started.

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🏡 1. Renovation Rules in Germany (2025 Overview)

Germany loves structure and clear rules. Before renovating, keep in mind:

🔹 1.1. Mietwohnung (Rented Apartment)

You usually need permission for:

• painting walls in extreme colours

• drilling many holes

• replacing flooring

• installing lamps permanently

• changing bathroom/kitchen fixtures

Always ask your landlord (Vermieter) before major changes.

🔹 1.2. Haus / Eigentumswohnung (Owned Property)

You can do almost anything — except:

• removing load-bearing walls

• changing heating systems

• modifying electricity without a certified electrician

• installing new windows without building permission

🔹 1.3. Noise Times (“Ruhezeiten”)

Germany has strict quiet hours:

• Weekdays: no loud noise after 22:00

• Sundays & holidays: NO drilling, hammering, or loud renovation

Always check your building rules (Hausordnung).

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🧰 2. Important Baumarkt Vocabulary You MUST Know

Here’s everything you’ll see on signs, labels, and product descriptions inside German hardware stores.

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🪚 Tools – Werkzeuge

German	English
der Hammer	hammer
der Schraubenzieher / Schraubendreher	screwdriver
der Akkuschrauber	electric screwdriver/drill
die Bohrmaschine	drill
der Schlagbohrer	impact drill
der Bohrer	drill bit
das Maßband	measuring tape
die Wasserwaage	level
die Zange	pliers
das Cuttermesser	utility knife
der Schraubenschlüssel	wrench
der Inbusschlüssel	Allen key

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🧱 Building & Construction Materials – Baumaterial

German	English
die Wandfarbe	wall paint
der Putz	plaster
der Gips	gypsum
die Spachtelmasse	filler / joint compound
die Grundierung	primer
das Silikon	silicone
der Kleber	glue
der Mörtel	mortar
die Fliese	tile
der Fugenmörtel	grout
die Dämmung	insulation

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🪟 Home Improvement Vocabulary

German	English
die Tapete	wallpaper
der Tapetenkleister	wallpaper glue
der Bodenbelag	flooring
das Laminat	laminate floor
das Parkett	real wood floor
der Vinylboden	vinyl floor
die Teppichfliese	carpet tile
die Leiste / Fußleiste	baseboard
die Steckdose	power outlet
der Lichtschalter	light switch
die Armatur	faucet
das Waschbecken	sink
der Siphon	siphon / drainpipe
die Mischbatterie	mixer tap

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🎨 Painting – Malerbedarf

German	English
der Pinsel	paintbrush
die Farbrolle	paint roller
die Abdeckplane	protective sheet
das Malerkrepp	paint tape
der Farbeimer	paint bucket

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🪵 Wood & Shelves – Holz & Regale

German	English
die Holzplatte	wooden board
die Latte	wooden batten
das Brett	plank
das Regalbrett	shelf board
die Schraube	screw
der Dübel	wall plug
die Halterung	bracket

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🛒 3. German Baumarkt Shopping Tips

✔️ Ask employees for help (they are very knowledgeable)

Useful phrase:
„Wo finde ich…?“ – Where can I find…?

✔️ Bring measurements (Maße)

Germany loves exact numbers.

✔️ Check return rules

Many stores allow returns within 30–90 days.

✔️ Delivery (Lieferung) is often available

Large items like floors, tiles, worktops can be delivered to your home.

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🧠 4. Common Phrases to Use in a Baumarkt

• „Ich suche…“ – I’m looking for…

• „Gibt es das auch in einer anderen Größe?“ – Is this available in another size?

• „Können Sie mir helfen?“ – Can you help me?

• „Wo ist die Holzabteilung?“ – Where is the wood section?

• „Welche Farbe empfehlen Sie?“ – Which paint do you recommend?

These simple sentences make everything easier.

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🏁 Final Thoughts

Renovating in Germany can be exciting — and with the right vocabulary, you’ll feel confident talking to contractors, navigating a Baumarkt, or reading product descriptions.

Once you understand the system, renovation in Germany becomes much easier and even enjoyable.

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🇩🇪✨ Want to learn all German vocabulary for home, renovation, daily life, and more?

Practice with interactive tools here:
👉 https://konnektoren.help 💛

A modern platform to learn German faster and more confidently — perfect for life in Germany.