Renovating or refurbishing an older home? Even if the house is not particularly old and whilst perhaps you’ve undertaken other projects, you will find that in recent years things have changed significantly – with regard to both legislative requirements and the range of building and home improvement products available.
We’ve all known someone who has suddenly decided it’s time to change the house and in a burst of enthusiasm they’ve removed cabinetry, fittings, floor coverings, and even walls (sometimes walls which are there for structural purposes!). Then they step back and wonder…. what next? Suffice to say that developing a masterplan for your project is the best place to begin! Most homeowners planning to embark on a renovation or refurbishment will need to adhere to some form of budget and therefore may well need to schedule the various works in stages.
It’s almost always better to prioritise home improvement investment into areas most frequently used and which best “showcase” the home – kitchens being the best example. Again, so many people have charged forth and painted walls, and changed flooring for instance only to then find that in freshening up those aspects they’ve managed to show up how tatty and old-fashioned the kitchen cabinetry has become! It’s normally better to hold off until funds permit and then make the significant outlay for a new kitchen with associated cosmetic touches to follow.
Most of us who’ve spent hour after hour stripping old wallpaper using all manner of ‘recommended methods’ (spraying walls with warm water from the garden sprayer, scoring the paper with various gadgets, etc.) vow ‘never again’! The end result of such a tedious task is frequently a wall riddled with gouges and a generally uneven surface which requires considerable attention of a gib-stopper to create a smooth paintable surface. One such experience tends to cure most of us from the temptation to repeat the exercise. As part of a refurbishment project it is far more prudent to remove the gib board on most exterior walls and replace it – the following benefits will accrue:
- That new surface will deliver a far more pleasing result once painted.
- Whilst the walls are exposed without gib the perfect opportunity exists to replace and update electrical cabling (a wise move from a safety perspective), add/reposition new facilities such as data cabling, TV jacks, and additional power points.
The access to the internal part of a wall allows the installation of fresh insulation – a major plus as many older homes were built prior to the advent of insulation. Even for those that do have it you’ll find it has ‘slumped” and deteriorated via moisture, vermin, and seasonal temperature fluctuations. New insulation in walls, ceilings, and underfloor makes a noticeable difference to heat retention (and the power bill!)
So if you’re planning a renovation or refurbishment project, remember to develop a masterplan then work it through in a logical sequence. And don’t forget to get the professionals like The Wardrobe Company involved in your planning early and so avoid the pitfalls.