Best Options For Restoring Old Auckland Villas
Buying an old home instead of a newly built one offers the advantages of character and style. Old homes have something that make people turn their heads. They carry the spirit of their times, and as a result give us romantic dreams of times gone by. Nonetheless, buying an old home comes with additional expenses triggered by the various restoration and renovation works. You cannot just buy it and move in, because you are already used to today’s level of comfort and safety. You need to upgrade your old home to the modern living conditions that make it habitable. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when buying and restoring an old villa or home:
1. How good is the structure in itself?
You need to make sure the foundation is solid, that there are no water infiltration in the basement and no cracks in the concrete. Very old houses may need the foundation to be rebuilt and the basement floor changed. However, some houses may be strong enough and only need a renovation, without the need for radical measures.
2. What is the state of the plumbing system?
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It is very important to assess correctly the state of the pipes, because you are going to use that water for cooking and drinking. You don’t want to ingest lead which is what many old water systems were made from. Therefore you should check whether the pipes are made from lead. If they are, you have two options: replace the entire system or install a filtration device to remove lead from the water. A plumber or a restoration specialist will be able to estimate the efforts and the costs of each type of work, so that you can make an informed choice.
3. What is the state of the electrical system?
Electricity is a must-have in our modern world. We have lots of electrical appliances and devices therefore we need to make sure our house can support them all without problems. Older electrical circuits were not designed for such heavy duty appliances and this is one of the reasons for house fires. Therefore you must have the wiring checked by a qualified electrician and perhaps replace the wiring. You can do this only for the kitchen or you can do it for the whole house. Again, a specialist could assess your actual circuits, the power outlets and everything related, then make an upgrade plan to turn your home into a safe one from electrical point of view.
4. How does the exterior look?
The exterior of the house may need renovation. That’s normal for old homes. However, you need to take into consideration that there may be rules and laws that demand you restore the house in its original style. Sometimes you are limited even in what type of materials you are allowed to use. If you intend to do exterior renovation works, be it we talk about the walls or the roof, you must obtain all legal approvals needed to proceed with your project. If you don’t do this, you risk a big fine.
5. What to do about the windows?
Old windows have a special charm, but they lack the comfort and thermal insulation offered by modern double-glazing ones. When buying an old home, you have the option of restoring the old windows and insulate them properly or to remove them and replace them with modern ones. If you go for complete replacement, you may consider paying a bit more for making them imitate the original look. It is possible, if you install the double-glazing glass panes into solid wood frames. Nonetheless, you need to keep in mind this option will take more money out of your pocket than the vinyl frames everybody uses today.
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As a conclusion, it is a wonderful idea for villa restorations, but you need to be prepared to spend a significant budget for making it habitable. If you are going to undertake a major restoration of a few rooms then it will be a good idea to completely replace the old plumbing and electrical systems. You will have a few walls taken out so why not endure a small amount of additional mess by having the entire infrastructure brought up to modern codes of compliance. Any future buyer will want to see that this has been done so take the plunge and get everything sorted at one go.
For advice and guidance on prices for restoring an old villa in Auckland, restoration specialists such as Repair and Restore Ltd can help.