6 Clever Ways to Reclaim the Beauty and Elevate the Function of an Old Home

6 Clever Ways to Reclaim the Beauty and Elevate the Function of an Old Home

The restoration, remodeling, or reuse of old homes and buildings is inherently green. This is what property owners nowadays should carefully think about first. Instead of launching into tearing down structures and starting from scratch, environmentally-conscious home designers and builders advise remodeling an existing property wherever possible.

A lot of homeowners, however, complain that the restoration or remodeling of an old home is much more taxing than a re-build. Reclaiming the natural beauty of weather-beaten materials is quite time-consuming. Likewise, bringing in more modern elements to the building and marrying them with the beautiful old components demands thorough research.

It is for such reasons that reclaiming the beauty and improving the function of an old home requires the services of experienced restoration and remodeling contractors. They have the most effective techniques. They also have access to a myriad of other helpful services to ensure the best accomplishment of the project. They make the demanding project absolutely worth it in the end.

Are you looking to breathe new life to an old home? Heed the advice and turn to the pros. Also, consider these six clever ways guaranteed to help with restoration and remodeling projects.

1. Pay attention to natural light sources and improve them.

Some old houses have much smaller but lovely windows and doors. These limit the amount of natural illumination inside the house, which you may want to do something about. For this, it is best to retain the original windows and doors (but re-polish them) and strategically add a few new replicas.

Doing so will not only create a brighter interior but a more energy-efficient home as well. On warm days, opening the windows and doors can improve indoor ventilation and lower the need to use the house’s electrically-powered HVAC system.

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And to further improve the function of these natural light sources, reglaze the old windows and repair any damage to prevent air leakage.

2. Aim for uniformity.

This is a must for old homes that will be remodeled for better utility (with room additions and replacements) because their special character is their “antiqued” appearance. Find hardware and other materials that are similar to the original ones used. This way, the building will look like a properly preserved old structure.

It may prove to be difficult to find the right hardware, so conduct extensive research online. Special fixtures and hardware products can often be found in yard sales, flea markets, and other home remodeling projects.

3. Focus on the “hidden” components for improved interior quality.

Reinforce the frame of the building. If the framing and joists are still in good condition, just add support to them to increase strength and functional longevity.

Likewise, improve insulation. For old buildings, insulation experts recommend spray-in rigid polyurethane foam. This type of insulation is considerably easier to work into the structure, boosts structural integrity, and it is pest-resistant.

4. Restore most of the original fixtures (especially if they are rare) and invest in similar-looking new ones that actually “operate” better.

For example, old toilet tanks are musts for old pull-cord toilets. But, to make them more visually appealing and reliably functional, refinish them and replace the old plumbing with a newer system. Improving plumbing has many benefits, including reduced water bills.

You can take the same approach with storage fixtures. Have old storage benches, refinished and outfitted with new stain-resistant cushions. They will not only look better, but they will be more comfortable to use as well.

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5. Have custom cabinets installed.

Custom cabinets are the best options for much-needed storage for old homes. Also, with custom cabinets, you can address space constraint issues by choosing the best locations for them, as well as, size and shape. Custom cabinets also maintain the symmetry of the interior design and you can design them for optimum utility and beauty.

6. Invest in beautiful flooring.

If the building originally had high-quality hardwood floors but now has a few damaged panels, repolish them and perform the best repair possible. Such floors deserve a “rebirth” because of their look and the nice acoustics they provide the house with.

If the original floors are not salvageable, allocate enough budget for new floors that can enhance the look of the rest of the work done for the house. Consider decorative floorings, which can achieve the look of the original floors or completely give your stepping surfaces a fresh new vibe.

The restoration or remodeling of an old home should be an appreciation of the charming and old, then combining it with the efficiency of new implements to create a timeless, classic look. So, plan extensively for your restoration project and employ the help of the very best remodeling professionals.

AUTHOR BIO

Bill Fannin started Post & Beam 27 years ago as a small construction company and, in 2004, decided to specialize in design/build. Since then, he has grown the company into a very reputable Design/Build Firm. You can find Bill in the office helping with estimates, consulting clients, and even on the job helping the carpenters. Bill is a Certified Graduate Remodeler and Certified Green Professional.

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