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Challenges and Considerations When Renovating Older or Historic Homes

Challenges and Considerations When Renovating Older or Historic Homes in Edmonton

Challenges and Considerations When Renovating Older or Historic Homes

Old is gold. But not every old thing stands the test of time too well. Old homes come in both categories. They’ve got a particular class to them but they might topple down if not maintained right. Sometimes, you’ll even want to remodel your old place from scratch.

And hey, renovating older homes can be fun, but it’s as easy as pie. You’d have tons of reservations even fixing up a regular house, but when it’s an old one you need a whole other level of planning and implementation. So, in this blog post, we’ll explore how you can rejuvenate an old home while keeping its aesthetics on point.

Considerations Renovating Older Homes

As I mentioned earlier, there are many types of complications and challenges at play here. So, we’ll need to discuss all of them. Plus, I need to emphasize that this is not an exhaustive list. That means you may want to consult a professional for a more precise scope of operations and quotations for your project.

With that out of the way, let’s begin…

Retaining Architectural Integrity

The vision of an architect is imprinted in the final appearance of your house. So, when it ages, it can go two ways. It either appears too dated, or it’s just good enough to fix up with a modern luxurious appeal.

In the second case, preserving the architectural integrity of the house is critical. You can’t simply think of the bigger picture as is. You also have to consider minor details like the ornate frames, the window designs, the fireplace, and the concept of the original floors.

Some parts of your house you may want to save as timeless symbols of your family history, while others might be things you can live without. So, ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which parts of their property you’d keep alive and which you’d update per modern aesthetic standards.

Upgrading Built-In Systems

When you renovate an older home, appearance is just one thing. You also have to think about the systems you’re working with. Hidden and worn-down old equipment gets rusty, moldy, and used up. So, you need to consider updating electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.

Or at least, you should get them looked at by qualified professionals. If it’s all in good condition, you save costs. But if it’s not, you still save costs by spending now to prevent disastrous situations from happening later.

Meeting The Latest Standards

Sometimes, you don’t even want to spend money on your place, but authorities might force you to. This is because if you don’t keep up with your area’s building codes, your place might pose potential threats to the safety of the people around you.

So, when you think of remodeling, you should consider checking if you meet the latest standards and plan for those changes accordingly.

Sustainable Renovation Practices

Due to the rising concerns of global warming and other negative impacts mankind has helped peak against the plant, it’s wise to adopt eco-friendly choices when you reimagine your house.

Of course, it can be challenging to find a way to use green technologies and energy-saving solutions without changing the historic feel of the building. But finding the balance is critical.

The reason for that is the decisions you make in this regard will have an impact not only on the next generation but also on the whole world.

Anticipating Hidden Costs

Let’s not forget that renovating older homes is like peeling an onion. You see new problems with each layer. The cost you calculate for a home renovation project always goes up by a little.

But when we talk about old buildings or houses, builders find additional problems like lead paint, asbestos, or odd structural problems that you can’t ignore.

Authenticity VS Practicality

When remodeling, the choice of products is very important. You want material that matches your original theme but doesn’t deviate from durability.

One way you can do that is to pick materials not only for how they look but also for how long they will last. You’ll need some time to get your research for this, but it’ll be worth it.

You can also get opinions from experienced suppliers. These are people who are experts at keeping the authenticity of the past while incorporating the latest innovations into the present.

Rebuild With Care

In conclusion, fixing up old or historic homes is a work of love that needs careful planning and skill. You need to find a balance between keeping the building’s original look and adding modern features. This can often be challenging. But what’s not possible once you set your mind to it, right?

Even with complicated regulations and environmental concerns, it’s always possible to find the right combination of yin and yang for your project.

Anyway, these are some of the considerations before you can give your classic home a new life. If you’d like to learn more and discuss your project in specific, contact us today!

Meridian Master Builders

"Your vision, Our passion"

Meridian Master Builders Inc.

11019 178 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB.
T5X 6J3

Elio Gabucci: 780.441.5410

Copyright © 2024 Meridian || Made with love by Design Divides

Copyright © 2023 Meridian || Made with love by Design Divides