The best ways to modernize your heritage house

Modernizing a heritage home is much more challenging than doing a regular renovation project. There are rules and guidelines you have to follow before modifying something that is considered a piece of history. Similarly, trying to keep the house authentic can be difficult, especially if building methods and materials used on the building were unique. As a result, heritage home improvement projects are considered a major undertaking. Luckily, there are ways to speed up the process and maintain the house’s heritage as much as possible. Here’s what you should do if you want to modernize a heritage building.

Check with local authorities

Before you can start making any major changes to the heritage home, you should verify that what you’re doing adheres to regulations. There are special laws that govern heritage buildings, and sometimes they can prevent you from renovating and modernizing the house. However, this depends on the local council and how strict they are regarding heritage buildings. Some councils are more stringent than others, and you might not be able to make even minor changes to the house. 

There is a big difference between homes that are individually listed and ones that are part of heritage overlays. The latter mostly controls changes and modifications to the external parts of the heritage building. Rarely does it include any regulations for the interior, so you can do with it as you please. In some cases, you may have to limit renovations so that they don’t remove certain building materials that were used in the past.

Don’t demolish history

While renovations and modernization can help breathe life into a heritage house, it’s important not to go overboard. Before you start knocking down walls and pillars, make sure that you aren’t destroying a part of history. There are many well-designed homes with perfect structural integrity that have been demolished due to overzealous renovations. 

Instead of getting the hammers and jackhammers right away, figure out how you can improve the existing structure. By giving the building a facelift and freshening it up, you can preserve its history and structural design while also breathing new life into it. Not only would this help maintain the heritage, but it would also be better for the environment. Plus, it won’t cost nearly as much to minimize damage and major renovations. 

Do your research

You need to have a clear picture of the heritage building to figure out what needs to be renovated and rejuvenated. Some parts of the house could require special methods for repairs, especially if you’re aiming to keep the heritage-protected aspects authentic. Most contractors don’t specialize in these methods, so you’ll need to do your research and find ones that do. 

This is especially important for areas like the roof. While roofs tend to be durable, they take the brunt of the damage during storms and rainy seasons. Repairing the roof will require expertise and knowledge of heritage buildings. The good news is that there are professional heritage roofing contractors that can repair and renovate the roof while maintaining its heritage status. With their help, you can keep the roof in good condition and not have to sacrifice a piece of history. 

Determine the cost

Renovations are hardly a small expense, no matter what type of home you live in. However, things can get extra complicated when it’s a heritage building. What if the renovations turn out to be incredibly expensive and you decide to opt-out? It would be best to determine this before you start negotiating with a local council regarding which home renovations are allowed and which aren’t. 

In most situations, you’ll just let an architect give you a rough estimate for the cost of changes to the heritage building. If you want to get a more precise answer, it’s recommended that you contact a quantity surveyor. They specialise in this task and can give you a much more accurate estimate. After you get a number, you can decide whether or not it’s worth the trouble. 

Keep in mind that heritage building renovations may end up being costlier than you expect. This goes double if you intend to preserve specific materials that the house is made of. While there are plenty of timber facilities that produce materials that are suitable for heritage buildings, this could drive the price up. 

Conclusion

Heritage buildings are a bit more difficult to renovate than your average home. If your goal is to modernise your house and breathe some new life into it, you need to consider this fact before you decide to make major changes. Because of the special status of heritage buildings, you’ll need to prepare quite a bit in advance. Consider some of the points we’ve made regarding heritage building renovations. You shouldn’t have trouble modernizing your heritage house without compromising its status.