Heritage homes are a wonderful part of our culture and heritage. They represent our past, and being in touch with the past ensures a strong foundation for Australia’s successful future. This means that when it comes to renovating a heritage home there are a lot of things to consider in order to do it right.
The Delicate Matter of Heritage House Renovations
Everyone enjoys seeing a heritage house. But what’s it like to lie in a home that is around a hundred years old? If you’re one of the lucky few who happens to live in a heritage home, then you know they were originally not designed for modern conveniences. But you don’t have to live like it’s the turn of the twentieth century, because it is possible to renovate a heritage home. But when renovating a heritage house you must follow certain heritage house rules, usually put in place by your local council. Here are some things that you can and can’t do, and things to keep in mind with heritage house renovations.
Check with Your Local Council
The first thing you have to do before renovating a heritage house is check with your local council. There’s going to be guidelines and heritage house rules that are unique to you your area. Some councils are also stricter than others. Renovation topics where rules might exist include fencing, paint colour, lighting, gardens, and trees. You also often can’t change the façade, build up, or do any demolition work. A big part of renovation is planning, and you must know your local heritage house rules and regulations before you can begin to plan.
Make it a Place You Can Live In
We understand respecting tradition and the character of a heritage home, but it is still a home and homes are meant to be lived in. So don’t be afraid to make changes to the home to make it a comfortable and convenient place to live. This could mean replacing the wiring to be able to better handle the loads of modern appliances and electronics. It could also mean replacing the pipes and doing some plumbing work to increase water pressure. There are a number of ways to modernise a heritage home while still being true to the home’s character.
Don’t Forget Insulation
You have to live with your neighbours whether you like them or not. And if you do have a good relationship with your neighbours you want to keep it that way. This means that you are going to need them onboard when planning your extension. If your neighbours have any problems with your house extension plans, the best thing you can do is keep calm and bring their objections up with your home renovation builder. Together you should be able to find a compromise that will keep you and everyone in your neighbourhood happy.
Be Tasteful
Successful heritage house renovations is really a matter of taste. Heritage homes have a lot of presence, so people are going to drive by and notice your home. You want to make sure that what they are looking at is a charming representation of our past, and not gaudy or garish. This is actually very easy to do. Just be tasteful when planning your heritage house renovation. You’ll be pleased with the results and your neighbours will appreciate your exceptional taste.
Preserve as Much Detail as You Can
One of the features of many older homes is that they were built with an incredible amount of ornate detailing. This is what home buyers expected back in those days. Unfortunately, these kinds of details are easy to lose during renovation work. But this doesn’t have to happen. With proper care and consideration, you can make sure that the details are not only preserved but also brought out. If you have ornate moulding on the walls, you can make sure they are well lit so they can be seen. Stained glass windows could be draped with curtains that complement the colours. There are lots of ways to preserve and accentuate a heritage home’s details.
Work With Someone Who Knows and Understand Heritage Homes
Who you hire to do the renovation work is probably the most important point to consider when renovating a heritage house. Not all contractors are equally knowledgeable about heritage house renovations. Renovare Mt Gravatt are home renovation builders and have performed renovation work on serval heritage homes. You can count on the Renovare Mt Gravatt team to do any renovation work well and with the utmost care and respect for the history that any heritage home represents. You can depend on us.
If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can call us on 0477 881 387 or you can get in touch via the online form to speak about your home renovation ideas and plans.