House Renovation

WaveyDave_2

apologies if this is considered the wrong forum

I've just had an offer accepted on a 1920s semi. It has many original features such as the doors/fireplaces etc. I intend to modernise it to some degree, but I don't know what features I should keep and what I should rip out. I don't think I'd ever sell the house, as it's a nice area that my wife and I have tried to buy in before, however you never know what the future holds.

In the front, it has the original bay windows, obviously these would be drafty/cold compared to double glazing. The estate agent selling currently says a lot of people have kept them because they're original. Should we keep them or change them for wood/pvc double glazing?

The hall has original woodgrain lincrusta wallpaper. This is in keeping with the colour of the wood on the stairs etc, but isn't really to our taste. Should we remove this or try to retain it as original?

We intend keeping the fireplaces, even though they'll be drafty :eek:

Most of the walls/ceilings have been wallpapered, but we'd like to get rid of this and just paint the walls - hopefully we won't damage the plaster and need to re-plaster the lot, as it's lathe and plaster :rolleyes:

Thanks for any advice.

Norma_Desmond

What material are the original windows? I wouldn't ever go for UPVC replacements on a period house; apart from being environmentally nasty, they look awful on older properties, so wood might be an option.
We've got a 200 year old house with wooden sash windows, and yes, they are a bit draughty but we just live with it!
I think you should carefully remove the wallpaper; after all it isn't a structural feature and at least you'll be able to see the condition of the plaster and get expert help if needed.
Old houses really are a labour of love - good luck, and I hope someone else can help you more!

WaveyDave_2

Thanks for the reply. The present windows are wood. The only reason I considered pvc is because the rear windows have been changed to pvc.

I'm hoping there won't be too much labour, just plenty of love

weeg

You should also be aware that sometimes wooden bay windows are structural in older properties, or rather the frames are.

Doozergirl

I think the window issue depends on where you are and what the neighbours do. In London, it's quite frowned upon to replace wooden sashes with uPVC but with the style of house I think you're talking about, most people seem to have replace with uPVC. Overall, if you fit in with the neighbours you won't devalue the house by replacing tham with double glazing.

As this isn't an investment as such, it doesn't really matter though but you will get a huge shock when you compare the cost of uPVC to 'like for like'

If it's the original plaster on the walls, you're almost guaranteed to need to replaster a lot of the walls . We've never got away with it on a house that age.

benood

If the house doesn't have cavity walls take care any new windows are properly vented to make sure you don't end up with condensation. Perhaps check if any of the neighbours have had trouble.