Sometimes, you may realize that your building could have looked a lot better if there was just a little change in the building plan. Renovating a building may come as a result of several reasons, but whatever it may be, there are important things you need to know before you start. Let’s see some of them.
Your schedule should be planned
Turning an old rickety house into a modern castle can be quite interesting. In fact, most people are so excited to get started that they do not draw out a plan to follow. Having a schedule means that you will be able to keep track of your work. Know where you want to start and where you want to finish. Also include which contractor you intend to hire for each project, as well as how much it is likely to cost you.
Starting a renovation project without planning may result in you getting overwhelmed with too much on your plate, and the whole process eventually becomes difficult in the long run. However, know that everything may not go exactly the way you have planned it, and that is perfectly fine. If that is the case, you can easily augment and find a better way to get things done.
It is very important to monitor the process, even if you will be hiring a project manager you still have to keep track of costs, preferably daily, and timelines. This way you stay abreast of the renovation process. If you can, have a diary or note for putting down the activities for each day, as well as the backlogs, Go through the invoices and receipts, to be sure all is going as it should.
The walls and foundation may no longer be as strong
For houses that have been for too long, you find that the walls may have become weak over time. For houses like this, you may need to reconsider your decision to renovate. Because the walls are weak, it could be very dangerous to continue with the renovation since the house will be inhabited for a longer time. So before you start working on the house, ensure that you have done a proper check on the wall.
Look out for cracks and any form of damage on the wall. While checking the wall, also look out for the house foundation. Foundation cracks tend to occur as a building gets older. This can be caused by several factors such as groundwater, drainage problems, and tree roots, to mention a few. The level of damage on the foundation may vary depending on the type of material it is made from; concrete foundations tend to last longer than ones made from bricks.
Also, old homes are prone to moisture problems that may have been caused by leaks or flooding. This long-term exposure to water can cause the foundations and walls to become weak over time.
It should be worth the effort
Renovating an old house is no small work and could involve a lot of stress and most importantly, funding. So before you start this project, make sure that it is actually worth the effort. Evaluate the demands both financially and physically. The best way to start is to find out how much the project will cost you, then compare the cost to the available funding you are willing to invest in the project.
If it fits your budget then you can contact your contractors. However, if it goes way beyond what you can invest, then you may need to reconsider the process. You can also research better finance options to make sure that renovation is as cost-effective as it can be.
Likewise, you need to determine the purpose for the renovation, this will affect a lot of decisions you make during the process. If you are renovating for the long term, like to improve your personal living space, you may need to consider a future increase in family size which will demand a larger living space, more bedrooms, and bathrooms. Also, it may require that you use premium materials since you may be staying there for a longer time. However, if you are planning a quick sale of your property, you may choose other cost-effective options, except, of course, you intend to put in more to increase the market value of the property.
You need the right person for the job
For every part of the renovation process, you need to employ capable hands. Ensure that every contractor has a reliable work record. Since renovation can be slightly different from starting a building from scratch you need someone with the experience. So contractors who have had previous renovation projects would be more ideal. As earlier mentioned, you are putting in a lot of work on the project so you need to get value for it. Ensure you do proper research before employing any contractor. Check past records and jobs. Referrals can also come in handy.
That’s not all, as much as you need the right person, you also need the right materials. It is important to use materials that are of good quality, it may not always be premium but something that will last for a while should suffice. Good-quality materials will extend the life span of the building and could also save you money for future repairs in the long run.
A lot may be out-of-date
Since the building has existed for a long time a lot may not meet up with modern requirements. The parts of a building that are mostly affected by this are the roof, wiring, and plumbing. Asides from not being up to date, they might be weak, hence the need to install new ones. Old roofs can be removed and replaced with modern ones. Roof restoration in Belgrave may take up a large chunk of your budget, but it will be worth it in the long run. It is preferable to replace old pipes during the early stages of renovation, as the process can be somewhat messy.
Renovating a house can be a tedious process but when properly done, is also quite rewarding. Note that, if you are planning an extensive home renovation project, you may need to obtain permission from the appropriate bodies. This will help avoid any form of delay or disturbance when you start renovating.
