Old House Restoration Inc | Making what’s old, new again

The word character is so overused when it comes to architecture. Its used for everything from old and run down, to renovated and rejuvenated. When it comes to old houses, the word character fits the bill. The design layouts of old houses were anything but practical. New construction houses are built for efficiency. Old houses were built for purpose and design. However, renovating an older house can be quite expensive and frustrating if not well planned.

Planning is the first step in older home renovation, and its often the one that gets overlooked. One thing that many historians-to-be do wrong is jump into cosmetic upgrades. Older homes are obviously older, so there needs to be an assessment of architectural and structural integrity before renovating a home to its former glory. Home rebuilders need to be aware of issues that need immediate attention, such as cracked foundations or roofs in disrepair. Its fun to shop for that vintage authentic front door, but if you ignore issues that impact livability, you might face an unexpected disaster.

Another thing that renovators should do is plan with the future in mind. If you intend to finish a basement into a living area, you need to plan for this in the early stages. This could require electrical and other code upgrades. If youre working with a restoration contractor, you should make sure theyre informed of your plans as well. Contractors will be able to help you realize your vision, or they can help you reel it in if your vision out paces the reality of your older home.

One great feature of older homes is the authentic flooring. Modern flooring is beautiful, but it cant duplicate the characteristics and variations of real wood flooring. Often though, the floors original to older houses are in disrepair. So, renovators attempt to install antique flooring in its place. This is usually a poor decision because its impossible to match the characteristics of a home, and antique flooring usually looks different before installation. Flooring is a restoration world of its own. These days, many renovators are opting for faux restoration quality flooring. Basically, this is newer flooring designed to look antique. Its usually in better shape and will inevitably be less troublesome. Additionally, with restoration technology its easier to match restoration quality flooring with the other characteristics and the design goals of your old home.

There are many ways to restore an older home to its former glory using modern construction. The charm of an older home is not only the history of the past, but also its the history to be created by you and your loved ones.

Here is the original post:
Old House Restoration Inc | Making what's old, new again