The foundations of restoring

Renovations are certainly popular these days and it’s not hard to see why. Renovations can help boost a sales price, target and attract certain buyers, or give life to a home desperately in need of a little TLC.

If you’re thinking about carrying out a major renovation or restoration, here are some things you need to know.

Heritage-listed homes

Heritage-listed homes have a complex attachment of covenants and conditions to ensure that any restoration work is done in the spirit of the era in which the home was built.

More often than not, these kinds of restorations are best left to experienced renovators and professionals. The cost of rectifying works due to council approval requirements may outweigh the benefit if you try and simply do it yourself.

If you’re thinking of renovating a historic home, do your research, understand your restrictions and limits, and engage the right help if and when it’s needed.

Structural restorations

Structural restorations can also be costly, but sometimes fixing a foundational error, for example, may be cheaper than a knockdown–rebuild.

Getting a structural engineer for this kind of work is essential. A structural engineer will work with architects, builders and mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers to ensure that all parts of the home are safe and capable of fulfilling their intended function.

From retaining walls, home foundations, support structures and roofing, a structural engineer can assist with your home restoration.

Aesthetic restorations

Some older homes have been renovated within an inch of their lives, leaving nothing original to the character of the home – a hodgepodge of someone else’s styles, tastes and DIY disasters.

If you know exactly what you want, have a clear budget, are savvy with material and labour costs and can turn your hand to creative DIY with ease, then carrying out an aesthetic renovation is something you can certainly try yourself.

However, sometimes a little professional advice can give you a whole new perspective – like how a renovation will help achieve a higher sales price, how to appeal to a target market, or how to make rooms appear larger and have more storage.

In these cases, it’s best to engage an interior designer for a consultation and quote. An interior designer can assist with project management, custom furniture, kitchen design and manufacturing as well as colour consultation.

When you restore your property, always consider the purpose – is it for you to live in and enjoy, or to increase your selling price? This will help to keep your budget – and your restoration strategy – in check.