Renovating an old property and restoring it to its former glory can be an intensely satisfying experience. Modern builds are great in terms of their quality, energy efficiency, and they fit in with our modern lifestyles, but they often lack charm. Bringing an old house back to life is not for the faint hearted though. Even a project that runs smoothly can take a lot of time, planning, energy, and money. If you’re up to the challenge though, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful home, full of character and history. There are a number of things you’ll have to look at when choosing to renovate.
Structural integrity
Before you buy your perfect property, you’ll need to check to make sure it is structurally sound. When you visit the property, look for incidences of cracks that are more than 3mm deep or seem to follow a pattern along the length of several bricks. In all but the very worst cases of neglect, a property can be salvaged. There are foundation repair solutions to make sure you can start your renovations from a secure foundation.
Bring in a professional before reconfiguring the layout
Changing the internal layout of the property is probably on your list of things to do. After all, older properties weren’t designed to fit in with our modern way of living. You might want to open up the space for open plan living or install extra suites. Any changes you make to the inside should be run past a professional structural engineer first. Removing parts of roof timbers, chimney breasts, or load-bearing walls could cause a lot of damage to the structural integrity of the property and be extremely dangerous. A structural engineer will be able to guide you on the safest way to complete the renovations without causing more damage. They will ultimately save you a lot more money than a badly renovated house will cost.
Retain as many original features as possible
Walking into your period home should invoke a sense of both the modern, and the historic. After all, you bought the property for a reason, it would be silly to fill it from top to bottom with completely modern features and decoration. Original features such as window shutters, fireplaces, ceiling roses, cornices, and flooring are all great little touches that add character. It’s very unlikely other people will have them too so that makes them all the more special when bringing an old house back to life. They’re a great talking point too.
If you’re unsure how to restore any of these original aspects of your property, there are many professionals out there who specialize in exactly this type of restoration and repair. If it is something you can afford to do then it is definitely worth it.
Tackle priority jobs
Restoring an old house is an exciting proposition but it may involve a lot of work. If you’re taking on a project and you’re keen to roll back the years and polish a vintage charm, it’s hugely beneficial to tackle priority jobs before you start thinking about finishing touches or fixtures or fittings. The finer details will make all the difference when it comes to the final reveal but focus your energies on the tasks that underpin the viability of the project first. If there are issues with the roof, there’s a strong smell of damp, the walls are leaning or the ground is spongy or uneven, set about enlisting professionals as soon as possible. You can enter in search terms like roof companies near me to find local experts online, and it’s also wise to ask around for recommendations. See if your neighbors, friends and colleagues have experience of using local businesses and ask for advice on local social media groups. The sooner you secure your site and cross off the most important jobs, the sooner you can enjoy the fun part of redecorating and putting your stamp on your home.
Celebrate the history of your property
Finding out about the history of your property can make you appreciate it all the more. See if you can unearth any old photos or articles about your property, you can then frame it and make it a great addition to the history of your home. All of these special touches help bring an old house back to life just as much as the actual reconstruction and restoration.
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