8 Renovation Projects That Can Transform an Old Property

If you have bought or inherited an old house that has seen better days, you may be wondering how you can make it more habitable and attractive.

No matter your budget, there are things you can do to improve the look of an old property. Don’t be overwhelmed and start with the tasks you can afford, which will make the building more palatable to your needs.

Here are 8 renovations projects that can transform an old property.

Photo credit: Pixabay

If the property is very old or has not been adequately maintained, the windows and doors will likely need to be replaced.

Updating the windows will not only make the property look better but will save you money on heating and cooling bills as new energy-efficient windows will seal up gaps and reduce drafts. Reducing heat loss in your home will reduce your carbon footprint as you won’t need to crank up the heating.

When choosing windows, look for ones that will complement the appearance of your home. For example, if your house was built during the Georgian period, you may want to consider installing authentic wooden sash windows with six or eight panes per frame. Also, ensure that the windows are double or triple glazed and possess the Energy Star rating emblem. These windows have been certified as at least 40% more energy efficient than regular windows. Do some research before you commit to buying windows, as they can be a considerable expense.

A new front door can boost a home’s curb appeal more than anything. A wooden door painted in Chartwell Green and furnished with a black wrought iron handle and letterbox would look great on a period cottage. In comparison, a property built in the 1980s might suit an anthracite gray composite door with contemporary chrome furniture.

Doors are available in wood, uPVC, steel, fiberglass, and composite materials. The advantage of wood is that it can be painted or stained in a color of your choice. However, wood is prone to warping in extreme weather conditions. Upvc is the least expensive and requires little maintenance, but it cannot be painted.

Installing a new kitchen is often at the top of people’s lists of home renovation jobs. Most people like to have a functional kitchen with all mod cons.

A new kitchen will make a significant impact on the aesthetics of a home. Although to maintain the value of your property, it would be best to choose a style of kitchen that suits the vintage of your home. For example, an ultra-modern high gloss kitchen might not look appropriate in a Tudor cottage with a thatched roof. If you opt for appropriate styling, you can still have high-tech appliances such as an Aga or multi-fuel stove in a period property.

It is always nice to fit a fresh new bathroom, rather than use an ancient old loo. Modern life generally favors showers over baths as they are quick and use less water. So when choosing a bathroom, opt for a suite with a shower cubicle or at least a shower head over a bath so you can have the best of both worlds.

If you want to have a sleek new bathroom but retain the feel of an old home, you could buy a claw foot bath, Victorian-style sink, and toilet with a high cistern. Beautiful porcelain tiles can dictate the overall look of a bathroom, so choose wisely.

Ensuring your home is safe is probably one of the first tasks you should take on during a renovation. Old electrical wiring can be downright dangerous, never mind highly annoying.

Rewiring a home is a tremendous job and an expensive one. It should be done before you do any decorative jobs or install a new kitchen or bathroom because it is a messy job as floors, walls, and ceilings need to be cut into in order to install new cabling. New back boxes need to be fitted onto sockets and switches, power and lighting circuits, telephone and aerial sockets need to be rewired. Once this is done, sockets, switches, new technology, and light fixtures can be added or moved.

The floors in a building cover a vast expanse, so replacing flooring can transform a home quickly and relatively easily.

Lift any old carpets and see if there are original floorboards underneath. If there are and they are in good condition, you could sand them down and paint, stain, or varnish them.

If you do not want wooden floorboards, you could lay plush carpet, vinyl, or ceramic tiles. Just remember, if you are installing new wiring or underfloor heating, ensure you do so before applying floor tiles.

So this is the fun part – decorating. If the walls in your home are smooth and in good condition, you can go ahead and paint or wallpaper to your heart’s content. However, if there are holes or cracks in the walls, you should fill them with something like Polyfilla. If they are in really bad shape, you may want to get a plasterer to skim over them. Plastering is an extremely messy job, so it should be one of the first renovation jobs you do; otherwise, new carpets, kitchen units, and windows could get splattered with plaster.

Old houses may have many layers of wallpaper from years of owners putting their own stamp on the place and can be difficult to remove – especially since some generations would varnish over wallpaper when they applied it. Stubborn paper can be easily removed with a wallpaper steamer or a chemical stripper.

A cheap and easy way to make your property look 100% better is to clean it and clear clutter. Cleaning the property from top to bottom will eradicate cobwebs, mold, dirt, years of dust, and that ‘lived-in’ smell.

Remember that renovating a property is a labor of love. Be prepared for a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. Don’t lose hope, though, because it will all be worth it in the end as you will end up with a desirable residence that is worth much more money than you purchased it for.

Published in: Home advice | Author: Lynn