How To Renovate A Character Home
Character homes have distinct architectural features and unique design elements that when well preserved enhance living spaces while retaining the original essence of the property. This means the difference between renovating character homes and their more modern counterparts quite significant both for builders and homeowners.
The key to any successful heritage reno is finding the perfect balance between preserving this historical beauty and building a home that is suitable for modern living. Therefore a little bit of research can go a long way to ensuring the project goes smoothly – what do renovators need to know when tackling a special character house project? Let’s take a look below.
20 Things To Consider When Renovating Character Homes
New to character home renovation? Then here is some useful information about construction methods, and design tips and ideas for different character house styles, along with some ways to upgrade the performance of existing parts of your home.
1. Choosing The Right Builder. Perhaps the most crucial aspect of any heritage renovation is putting together the right design and build team. This means finding a reliable team who have completed character home renovations before and can understand how special your home is to you. Experienced heritage-home builders will appreciate the challenges that living in, and renovating, older homes can present. They are able to call on years of experience resulting in a much more authentic finished product, while understanding that addressing structural quirks, unseen damage and difficult to source materials will create additional work, impacting the budget and timeline.
2. Expansions And Additions. Most often older homes will have smaller rooms and less overall square meterage, so it is likely that as part of your renovation you will be looking to add space. There are two main approaches you can take; retaining the original style through the use of authentic materials and fittings while maintaining strict attention to detail (a necessary option where heritage rules are in place or where street appeal is a priority). The second option is to include a more modern contemporary addition that stands out from the rest of the house but is cleverly integrated or tucked in behind the existing structure so the original exterior character is preserved.
3. Insulation Upgrades. Whether the home has its original insulation or has been upgraded in parts over the years, renovating is the perfect time to renew all insulation (where possible). Using a combination of wall and ceiling batts, and underfloor insulation will ensure your character home is insulated well, providing long lasted warmth and increased heat retention. The simple task of upgrading your insulation can significantly improve your home’s energy efficiency and overall comfort for many years to come.
4. Incorporating Sustainable Features. Sustainability is central to all modern renovations and it’s easier to incorporate than you might think. Eco-friendly features can be as simple as LED lighting, solar electricity panels and rainwater preservation tanks that not only reduce your environmental footprint, but save on your electricity bill. Ensuring your renovation is kind to the environment results in a functional and sustainable future-proofed home.
5. Glazing Conversions. Double glazing is one of the most efficient ways to reduce heat loss in an old home. Installing double (or triple) glazing either retro-fitted to your existing wooden window frames or by installing entirely new aluminium window systems is a top priority when renovating character homes no matter what part of New Zealand you live in and is money well spent!
6. Don’t Forget The Fence! Removing, repairing or replacing your front fence requires some extra consideration in character reno’s. As a general rule, it is always better to stick with a fence style in keeping with the style and era of the house. Going modern can end up creating a mismatch between the house and the front yard creating a disconnect that is difficult to overcome.
7. Make The Most Of Natural Light. Older houses are often lacking in best use of natural light, so renovating is the perfect time to enlarge and even add windows. Taking the time to really think about window size, placement and use will greatly enhance living spaces going forward. Adding skylights, removing dated window dressings and can also make dark rooms seem brighter.
8. Replacing Plumbing And Wiring. As well as having old and sometimes unsafe wiring and plumbing that is nearing the end of its useful life, older homes often don’t have a sufficient number of electrical outlets or enough lighting for today’s modern living requirements. Renewing wiring and plumbing and installing modern LED lights, more plugs and even mains-pressure hot water systems if necessary can make a huge difference to any home. New wiring can also allow you to integrate smart home technology, adding an unnoticeable modern touch to your home ensuring comfort and functionality for future generations.
9. Installing New Heating Systems. While traditional fireplaces are often a key design feature of character homes, they are generally not practical or efficient enough for everyday use. Keeping these features intact sometimes just requires a little bit of imagination and ingenuity. What this looks like is up to you and your build team, however it might mean installing gas or electric inserts in existing fireplaces to mimic the appearance of an open fire or simply creating a decorative feature only and installing a more modern heating system that is concealed to minimise visual impact on the room (such as ducted heat pump systems which are less intrusive). The addition of under floor heating is also a good idea as it doesn’t interfere with the aesthetics of the home.
10. Blending The Old With The New. Renovating a character home and staying true to its original style doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate modern conveniences. In fact, the delicate balance between blending contemporary and classic features is what determines a successful period renovation!
11. Preserving Original Flooring. Timber floors can be polished and come up really nice if in good condition. Matching these floors can be a bit tricky if you are planning on an extension but you’ll be surprised what you can find at your local second hand dealer, plus even new wooden flooring can be very nearly matched, depending on the supplier and type of wood.
12. Modernising The Kitchen And Bathroom. Transforming your kitchen and bathroom with more practical use of space is one of the best ways to bring new life to an old home. This doesn’t mean you need to move away from character-style features if you don’t want to as these can be built into the design such as a claw foot/free standing bath, period-style kitchen cupboards and pedestal sinks. More modern features such as under floor heating and extraction fans can also be installed with little visible disruption to the design.
13. Replacing Old Roofing. Putting on a new roof pretty much goes without saying when renovating any heritage home. A new roof ensures you are providing a stable waterproof structure that will protect and preserve your precious interior renovations while also refreshing the appearance of the house’s exterior (reducing ongoing maintenance too!).
14. Opening Up Living Spaces. Reflecting the style at the time, character homes often have a fairly closed-in floor plan, where more modern homes of today tend to favour more open-plan living areas. Therefore, opening up rooms by removing internal walls (especially between the kitchen and living area) is a great way to modernise the interior spaces giving the home a more spacious feel while also creating better flow between living spaces.
15. Planning Rules And Regulations. Across New Zealand in areas such as Christchurch and Wellington, heritage protection rules exist that need to be adhered to when building and renovating. If all of the houses in your street are heritage houses, then there is a good chance yours might be too (especially in Christchurch). These rules impose restrictions and guidelines on construction work that is visible from the street to preserve the look and feel of the neighbourhood. Always check with your local council before beginning any character reno – it may save you a lot of money and significant heartache if your intended plans are not approved.
16. Preserving Architectural Features. Restoration work is a large part of any character home renovation. Preserving the period features maintains the look and feel of the property while also setting the tone for the home. Replacing broken or damaged facades, fretwork, chimneys, veranda’s, iron lacework and timber framed windows are just some of the architectural features you might be working with. Understanding the historical significance of your property, its individual style and the surrounding neighbourhood will aid in deciding which features to retain.
17. Choosing Exterior Colours. While retaining the original design elements might be the focus of a character reno, choosing the right colours are just as important. Respecting the original heritage colour scheme (or as close to as possible) offers a more authentic feel, or you could add a modern touch with contrasting colours highlighting the detailing.
18. Cost And Timeline Considerations. Renovating a character home will take longer and come with higher labour costs when compared to other properties. This is largely due to the complexity of the renovation process which will include the specialised carpentry work and materials sourcing required to match existing features, and unforeseen structural challenges that may not be apparent until work has begun. Factoring in these additional costs and timeframes will enable you to budget much more effectively.
19. Don’t Forget Outdoor Living Matters Too! Creating an inviting outdoor living area is an important part of any New Zealand home design. Outdoor living areas can make your home feel more spacious and connected to nature, while allowing for a feeling of overall completion of the period design of the property. If you are unsure of what plants and features might be suitable for the era of your home a quick online search should bring up some ideas, or you could go a bit more modern – it’s completely up to you!
20. Taking Responsibility. Renovating a character home comes with a certain degree of responsibility to preserve and protect the historical significance of the property. You are adding a new chapter to the history of this special home and it should be a responsibility that is carried with respect and pride, protecting the home for future generations.
When undertaking character home alteration, how your home can best be modified to accommodate your modern lifestyle without losing any of the character that you fell in love with in the first place is the main goal. Having worked on character house renovations over the years, including villas and bungalows, LM Architectural Builders are experienced in coming up with solutions that enhance and preserve historical features while offering a more modern living environment that can be enjoyed for years to come. Call us now to arrange a free consultation to discuss how we can help you get the most of your character home.
