Renovating your home in 2026 means navigating a framework of public aid that is undergoing significant changes. Since September 1, 2026, MaPrimeRénov’ has excluded several common works from the “per gesture” pathway in mainland France: attic insulation, sloping roof insulation, terrace roof insulation, replacement of glazed partitions, ventilation, and thermodynamic water heaters. This refocusing, confirmed by decree no. 2026-822 of August 25, 2026, alters how an interior renovation project must be conceived, budgeted, and sequenced.
Interior renovation and heating: a choice that conditions the entire project
Competitors talk about planning and assessments. Few address a point that has become structural: in the context of a substantial aided renovation in a single-family home, the maintenance of gas heating now excludes the project from the MaPrimeRénov’ scheme. In other words, the heating system is no longer just one step among others; it is the first decision to be made.
If you plan to renovate several rooms, insulate your walls, and revise the electricity, the choice between a heat pump, pellet stove, or maintaining gas determines the eligibility of the entire file. Delaying this decision risks losing funding for related works (insulation, ventilation) that are no longer supported individually.
To compare options and structure a coherent project, you can consult the site imaginairdeco.fr before seeking a thermal engineering office.
MaPrimeRénov’ since September 2026: what changes for insulation works
The refocusing of MaPrimeRénov’ directly affects the most common insulation items in interior renovation. Lost attics, sloping roofs, terrace roofs: these works, long subsidized per gesture, are no longer supported in mainland France since September 1, 2026.
They remain fundable in two cases: when they are part of a substantial renovation (multiple items addressed simultaneously, with overall energy gain), or through energy savings certificates (CEE), the amounts of which vary depending on the suppliers.
The date of file submission, not the date of the quote
A technical point deserves attention. It is the applications submitted from September 1, 2026, that fall under the new rules, regardless of the date of the quote or the start of the work. According to Selectra, a project planned before this deadline could lose its eligibility if the file had not been submitted in time.
In practical terms, an administrative delay of a few days can eliminate several thousand euros in aid. This is not a theoretical risk: field feedback confirms that individuals have been caught off guard by this timeline.
Interior renovation budget: items that quotes do not detail
Most guides recommend establishing a global budget. However, few detail the items that inflate the bill without clearly appearing in the initial quotes.
- Bringing electricity up to standard: in a house over thirty years old, the electrical panel, wiring, and grounding often require a complete overhaul, as mandated by the NF C 15-100 standard for any major renovation
- Disposal of materials: removal of partitions, old tiles, insulation debris, the cost of the skip and transport to an approved waste disposal site is a regularly underestimated item
- Asbestos diagnosis before work: mandatory for buildings with a building permit dated before July 1997, it conditions the start of the work and can delay the schedule by several weeks if the result is positive
- Connections for water and heating after moving partitions: moving a wall often involves redoing the water, heating, and sometimes ventilation circuits, a cost rarely included in the initial estimate
Before signing a quote, explicitly request the details of these items. A serious craftsman includes them from the initial estimate.
Order of renovation works: the sequence that avoids rework
Renovating a room in the wrong order leads to costly rework. Installing a floor covering before addressing wall moisture guarantees detachment in the medium term. Painting before running electrical conduits means accepting to repaint twice.
The logical sequence goes from structural work to finishes: structure and framework, then electrical and plumbing networks, wall and ceiling insulation, installation of drywall, floor coverings, and finally painting and interior woodwork.
Interior wall insulation: balancing thickness and living space
Interior thermal insulation (ITI) remains the dominant choice in renovation, particularly because it does not alter the building’s exterior appearance. However, it reduces the usable space in each room. In an old house with thick stone walls, the thickness of insulation required can reduce the room by several centimeters per wall.
Field feedback varies on this point: some craftsmen prefer thin multi-layer insulations to limit space loss, while others believe that only a sufficient thickness of mineral wool or wood fiber ensures performance in line with the energy diagnosis. The choice depends on the desired performance level and the configuration of each room.
Interior renovation materials: balancing cost, durability, and clean work
The choice of materials is not just an aesthetic question. In renovation, compatibility with the existing support is paramount. Applying a lime plaster on a cellular concrete wall, or using a standard leveling compound on an old uneven slab, exposes you to rapid cracking.
For partitions, plasterboard (BA13) remains the standard for its ease of implementation. Water-resistant boards are mandatory in wet areas. For floors, ceramic stoneware offers a good compromise between wear resistance and maintenance, while solid wood flooring requires a perfectly flat and stable support.
Choose certified materials for their emissions of volatile organic compounds (A+ rating on the health label), especially if you are renovating bedrooms or poorly ventilated spaces. This information is included on the packaging of all construction and decoration products sold in France.
Interior renovation is anything but a linear process. Every decision, from the heating system to the finishing materials, affects the subsequent ones. The eligibility rules for aid are evolving rapidly: the framework in effect since September 2026 requires checking each item before starting a project, under penalty of self-financing works that could have been aided just a few weeks earlier.
