{"id":77,"date":"2017-09-25T00:23:51","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T00:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medium.com\/@arthamoney\/essential-considerations-for-renovating-an-old-house-99edf58f4952"},"modified":"2017-09-25T00:23:51","modified_gmt":"2017-09-25T00:23:51","slug":"essential-considerations-for-renovating-an-old-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madrasrealty.com\/?p=77","title":{"rendered":"Essential Considerations for Renovating an Old House"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/800\/1*Fw-M1HIlKAC6gtqlyejDSA.jpeg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many home buyers are attracted by the charm and uniqueness of period properties, but are understandably anxious about considering those in need of extensive restoration.<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Renovating an old house is not a task to be taken lightly, and the costs inevitably end up being far higher than anticipated. Nonetheless, with the right approach and a thorough understanding of how old buildings work, restoring a period home to its former glory can be an extremely rewarding and profitable undertaking.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do Not Allow Yourself to Be Misinformed<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Homebuyers looking into purchasing old properties, even if they are not in need of extensive restoration work, should never employ surveyors or building contractors who do not specialize in period buildings. Modern construction methods have little in common with historic ones, and employing the wrong specialists is the quickest way to an enormously costly disaster. Be particularly wary of so-called damp specialists, who tend to know nothing about the way old buildings work.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Always Use Breathable Materials<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While modern constructions rely on using damp-proof building materials and barriers to keep water out, period homes were built using natural, breathable materials that collect and evaporate water. Surveyors who are not familiar with historic construction methods will often ramble on about the myth of rising damp and other damp-related problems, while inexperienced contractors may use completely unsuitable materials and construction methods that will cause severe damage to the structure.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Never Use Cement-Based Mortars<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modem buildings typically use cement-based render for exterior walls, but using such materials on a period property will cause extensive damage to the structure due to the fact that they are not breathable. Old structures need to be able to \u2018breathe\u2019, whereas using non-porous building materials will lock moisture into the walls and cause the original stone, brick and timber to fail. Home-based render should always be used on old buildings, also for the sake of preserving the original appearance.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Avoid Damp-Proof Courses<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So-called damp specialists often tell you that you need to Install damp-proof courses (DPCs) In the floors of period properties to prevent rising damp. Needless to they\u2019ll ask for a lot of money as well, but the results will wreak havoc for your period home. Moisture barriers prevent the natural evaporation of damp, leading to a build-up of water beneath them. In other words, in the case of older properties, they have the exact opposite effect to what is intended.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ignore Energy Efficiency Certificates<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) were introduced and made compulsory for home sellers in England and Wales in zoo 7, but were no scrapped as a legal requirement for listed buildings in 2013. The problem with EPCs is that they completely fail to take into account historic construction methods and, while a period home will always be less energy-efficient than most modem ones, EPCs are useless for older buildings.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Be Sympathetic to the Original&nbsp;Style<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trying to mix and match exterior details or add modern extensions is a sure-fire way to ruin a period property. You don\u2019t have to look too far to find period homes that have been unsympathetically modified to the extent that they look completely different and are likely not very structurally sound either. Fortunately, the 50s and 60s, during which countless old buildings were ruined, are well behind, and there are now many contractors who know how tc restore old properties properly.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">But Don\u2019t Neglect Modern Technology<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, modem technology is not always the bane of period home reconstruction projects. There are plenty of modern building materials and techniques that work fine for period constructions as well, such as electrical, security and heating installations. However, be sure to stay clear of the latest fads, and stick with tried-and-tested products and methods. After all, if a house has been standing for centuries, there\u2019s probably no need to break the winning formula!<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t Overload the Existing Roof Structure<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Replacing roof coverings with unsuitable materials can lead to disaster. The frame of the roof was built to accommodate a certain weight, so replacing original slates or other relatively lightweight materials with the latest machine-cut concrete tiles will likely cause the rafters to bow and the frame to collapse. Installing an unsuitable roof is also a quick way to ruin the appearance of a period home. The roof may still need strengthening, but that doesn\u2019t mean you can or should increase the weight on it.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t Be Afraid of Crooked Structures<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Historic timber-framed houses are constructed from natural materials that tend to warp over time. You\u2019ll see crooked old houses all over the UK, and although the most crooked ones are typically a result of not seasoning the timber properly before construction, they are usually still structurally sound. Oak beams inevitably warp over time, giving character to the house. Floors, ceilings and walls night not be completely straight, but these characteristics rarely indicate a problem.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Be Wary of Woodworm Treatments<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every week, thousands of homes are treated with toxic chemicals to eliminate and prevent reinfection of woodworm. However, in most cases the infections have been inactive for decades. So-called pest-control experts may point to the many small holes typically found in the beams of timbered structures as an active woodworm infection before trying to sell you expensive chemicals to deal with the situation. In other words, you should only treat active infections, characterized by tale-tale signs of fresh wood dust or active larvae beneath the surfaces.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Words<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s certainly a lot to consider when it comes to restoring an old home, and you\u2019ll inevitably need to seek out some expert advice from contractors who know exactly what they\u2019re dealing with. At the same time, you will also need to educate yourself on the construction and correct restoration methods for period properties so that you don\u2019t get lead astray by people who don\u2019t know what they\u2019re talking about. With plenty of care, attention and patience, your dream to restore a beautiful period home could become a profitable reality.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many home buyers are attracted by the charm and uniqueness of period properties, but are understandably anxious about considering those in need of extensive restoration. Renovating an old house is not a task to be taken lightly, and the costs inevitably end up being far higher than anticipated. Nonetheless, with the right approach and a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Essential Considerations for Renovating an Old House &#8212; OpenRealty<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/madrasrealty.com\/?p=77\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Essential Considerations for Renovating an Old House &#8212; OpenRealty\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Many home buyers are attracted by the charm and uniqueness of period properties, but are understandably anxious about considering those in need of extensive restoration. 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