Deciding on a house to live in is betting on a life project.
Now, visualize a blank canvas where you could create whatever you wanted to build the home of your dreams.
When you decide to renovate an old house , something like this happens.
When it comes to betting on an old flat or house we have to be strategic in each of our decisions, so betting on a comprehensive renovation is the best of them all.
Old houses are the product of their time, and we cannot forget that today we have another lifestyle and other needs to cover.
When a flat is renovated, most of the work to be done is inside. Usually the structural elements, such as the roof, the façade and the slabs, are in charge of the community of neighbors. However, when rehabilitating a house, these elements are essential. As well as plumbing, electrical or gas installation.
Is it worth renovating an old house then? Let’s take a look!
Essential interventions when renovating an old house
Once you have decided that you are going to carry out the renovation of an old house, there are certain specific aspects that must be taken into account. Before moving inside, it is essential to check the structural condition of the house. If beams, pillars or load-bearing walls are not safe, this should be the first thing to take into account when renovating an old house.
It is vital that the construction of the house is solid, reliable and resistant in order to achieve a fully functional interior. Therefore, certain aspects must be taken into account:
Pay attention to electrical, plumbing, and gas installations
It is always advisable to change these facilities in an old house. If the home has never been renovated before, they will be obsolete and dangerous. It is the first thing to do for safety.
Investing in insulation
When renovating an old house, you have to check that there are no energy leaks. This type of housing does not usually have adequate insulation. Today we have effective and highly thermally resistant products, such as double-glazed windows and insulating profiles. You can’t miss reinforcing the insulation of walls, ceilings and floors and controlling currents. Good thermal insulation allows us to save up to 30% of energy on the electricity bill. In addition, it allows us to reduce CO₂ emissions into the environment. Sustainability and comfort, as this will substantially improve your future well-being.
The importance of coatings
Floors, walls and ceilings may suffer from some small problems (sources of moisture, leaks, etc.), although in the best of cases they will only need a facelift. The charm of vintage is trendy and combining old elements with new ones offers a charming result. Recovering and maintaining original elements such as cornices and mouldings, tiles and hydraulic tiles or leaving the original wall unpainted or exposed stone will ensure that the charm of these old houses is not lost.
Take advantage of lighting
With the renovation of your old house, leave the darkness behind. Natural light generates a feeling of spaciousness, so when planning the renovation it is important to take into account the orientation and distribution of the rooms to favor their lighting. Natural light influences our well-being, as well as energy consumption. Although we can also make use of new technologies, such as LED, which offers a multitude of lighting solutions and can also be used in future decoration.
Other ideas to consider
- Distribute the spaces to your liking. Get an extra bedroom, join spaces such as the kitchen and living room, or introduce a new toilet room. The renovation of an old house will give you a chance when it comes to creating a cozy space, but always adapted to current needs.
- Don’t forget to plan good ventilation, essential in these times. It’s time to decide if we want to add a new window or several, always taking into account the isolation we mentioned before.
- Try restoring the old door and maintaining it. Sometimes cleaning, varnishing and a change of lock will be enough to maintain that authentic touch to your property.
- If the house has old wooden stairs it would be interesting to maintain them with a small rehabilitation process.
- Play with contrasts when decorating your new home. The decoration of old houses is one of the most interesting and with the most possibilities.
The two main advantages of renovating an old house
The price
If you are considering buying an old house, you will know that second-hand homes are at a much lower price than new ones, at least 10 or 20% below value.
If the property needs a comprehensive renovation such as the one we are detailing, you will have the possibility of requesting a lower price from the seller according to the conditions of the house. This negotiation allows you to find a much lower value than with new properties.
In addition, older homes are free of mortgages and encumbrances, which will allow sellers to adjust the price to get them sold. The taxes to be paid for it will also be much lower. These rates are based on the value of the home, which is valued based on the condition it is in. As this will happen before the reform, the final amount may decrease considerably.
Renovating an old house revalues the property and can be more profitable than buying a new house.
The possibilities
As we said at the beginning of the article, renovating an old house is like painting on a blank canvas. You also have the possibility of having a property with history and personality, but fully adapted to your current and future needs.
Professional advice
For the renovation of an old house to be a success, planning is essential. There are several important aspects to take into account, so if you are considering this option to get your dream home, it is key to surround yourself with a professional team that can accompany you along the way.
Kaleidoscope is an architecture studio specialising in renovations that helps you from the planning of your new home, to the smallest details of lighting, custom furniture design and decoration of the rooms. Do not hesitate to contact us and let’s start designing together a home with a unique character.
