Historic homes have a certain charm, but it can be difficult to respect guidelines for preservation while updating them with modern amenities.
Plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems in older buildings must be updated, or at least brought into compliance with modern safety and energy efficiency codes. These improvements must be made in such a way as to be invisible, as far as possible, to someone who appreciates the historical character of the building.
Thoughtful investigation and careful research and documentation are essential to any caretaking restoration. To learn more about how you can restore a historic home sensitively, continue reading.
Research and Documentation
Historic homes have charm all their own. When renovating historic homes, homeowners need to add the modern improvements and updates which will keep these spaces livable and comfortable, while maintaining the original character.
Begin by learning about your home’s history and architectural style so you can better recognise aspects that distinguishes your house from more recently built ones. Also, you might find that this research will be relevant to building restrictions imposed by preservation boards or historical societies that could affect renovation plans.
When you’re done restoring, have an experienced restoration team work with you to finish the project and maintain the integrity of the home. Preserve your crown moldings and hardwood floors and incorporate smart home and other modern appliances – and you’ll have a restored home that looks and feels right for the 21st century while still honouring its past.
Renovation Planning
Preserving the integrity of a historic house also takes smart planning. Choosing and purchasing appropriate materials, scheduling multiple contractors and specialists at the same time – renovation takes time, and commitment.If you renovate a historic building, always repair where possible instead of replacing: that window sash might no longer function properly as an original, but it can still have the look and feel of history.
Before cutting a hole, be certain to study any guidelines or restrictions on your property that relate to preservation. Laws can specify what you may or may not do to your home – and they can sometimes prevent retrofits of ductless heating or radiant cooling from happening at all.
With modern improvements, typically you can add in good taste (ie, by putting in energy-efficient insulation without harming existing walls or structures, you can improve property comfort without ruining the historic quality of your home).
Preserving and Restoring Original Materials
Since most historic houses are built with few if any architectural drawings, we must discover methods to stabilise and restore them as close as possible to their original state, including the architectural details, their materials, their physical integrity, and their workmanship form. This can often mean salvaging and reusing what remains and repairing rather than replacing as necessary and using period appropriate replacement materials.
Likewise, a high percentage of older utilities – many plumbing or electric wires predating regulation – will need to be replaced if they are to be made safe and efficient, making expert guidance all the more important to property upgrades that preserve historical character. There are often ways to do this effectively with careful research so that owners of historic properties do not lose their buildings’ historic character.
Renovating will usually involve removing non-load bearing walls to open spaces for the modern lifestyle while retaining the history of the architecture of the home. Modern upgrades in energy efficient windows and custom cabinetry while maintaining the history of the home will make them more comfortable to live in.
Modern Amenities Integration
A good historic repair must spend time being careful about what was right and what was wrong before. If we want to continuously improve the energy efficiency of a building, then we should install eco-systems such as insulation and energy-efficient heating/cooling, and by using period-appropriate paints/materials, we can retain the visual aspects of a home’s facade.
Livability will be enhanced by modern touches in the kitchen and bathroom, while improved safety and efficiency will be inherent in any upgrade to existing electrical and plumbing systems. Addressing the often deteriorating condition of outdated wiring, plumbing, and sewer lines will not only make homes safer but more enjoyable to inhabit. Hiding in-plain-view wiring upgrades (as I have done in my own historic home) is a particularly subtle way to address both non-beauty and dissonance.
Furniture pieces that bridge the gap between past and present will allow occupants to update their home without undermining the historic integrity of the living space. A home lift, for example, can be installed to modernise while making it easier to move about – this feature will enhance comfort and luxury, as well as adding value and increasing its appeal in the eyes of future buyers. Remodeling teams experienced in working on historical buildings will help with the modifications required to update a home appropriately.
