Help! Buying 150 year old Victorian house that needs rennovating

spannerzone

Well I was going to say work out the cost and time and treble it but it's most certainly going to be at least double the cost and time you plan for!

It can be very rewarding renovating a house but it's usually very hard work so you'd better be the sort that loves renovating, building, organising etc

phoebe1989seb

Allison_Haskins wrote: »

If you haven't exchanges missives, I'd walk away.

The cost and aggro in Victorian properties is horrendous. Trying to do anything with lath and plaster walls, dust and filth from clinker infill beteen floors, 'blown' ceilings, rotten sandstone, cold stone with no cavity isulation, nail sickness, lead piping, drafty casement windows, awkward room layouts, expense of cleaning plaster architrave, etc.

Unless you're in the building trade, the time and cost is not sensible.

But much more preferable than living in a modern box

Whilst the days of making huge amounts from property (unless in hotspots such as London) are long gone, we did alright - buying for less than £120k and selling ten years later for £600k with restoration costs of around £75k..........

We've always done the lion's share of the work involved in our properties ourselves - except electrics, plumbing and roofing - and have had great fun in the process. Our DS (now 23) spent his formative years living on a *building site* and assisting us with the labouring at our former large Victorian house. We thought it would put him off old houses for life, but he's now renovating his own place, building his own kitchen cabinets and whilst he currently has a graduate job in a law firm, his dream is to do something career-wise related to the preservation of historic buildings/furniture restoration.

I do agree that property restoration/renovation is not for everyone - and I'm not a fan of those that claim to have done the work themselves, by which they mean a team of builders did it - but if you are up for a challenge, can afford it and are in it for the long-haul, I wouldn't be put off

mistermo_2

Again thank you all for your input. I do like a bit of DIY as my parents have done 2 major extensions in both houses we lived in when I was growing up the whichh I have fond memories of. Only hassle was getting the builder to do the work lol. My wife is probably the more gifted diyer of us as she can tile, plaster, paint, create furniture so im hoping that we can do at least some of the work ourselves but when it comes to ripping out floorboards etc i'd need a professional for. I think I will make a point of visiting the local council though!

new_owner

Allison_Haskins wrote: »

If you haven't exchanges missives, I'd walk away.

The cost and aggro in Victorian properties is horrendous. Trying to do anything with lath and plaster walls, dust and filth from clinker infill beteen floors, 'blown' ceilings, rotten sandstone, cold stone with no cavity isulation, nail sickness, lead piping, drafty casement windows, awkward room layouts, expense of cleaning plaster architrave, etc.

Unless you're in the building trade, the time and cost is not sensible.

I would disagree. I am currently doing mine.

Its work, but fun putting your mark on a house, but trying to keep as much of the history as you can. Its up to you to find the balance between keeping the old and needing the new.

I have learnt how to plaster, plumb, best type of insulation and it only cost as much as I have. I am not borrowing money just doing little bits at a time (might explain why its taking so long )

The house is lovely and full of character and charm and not drafty any more.

hcb42

I bought a victorian three storey property seven years ago, again had not been touched since the early 1950s.

as far as I know there would not be grants available, it's just a matter of factoring the costs into the overall equation, but it was very rewarding to bring it back to the standard which we achieved (but took a lot of hard work, cash and time!)

AlexMac

Quote...
'...when it comes to ripping out floorboards etc i'd need a professional...'

really? Don't understimate what you can do! I was a DIY virgin when I bought my 1st Victorian house - or should I say, wreck, in 1975, but while I had no technical skills (I was then a librarian!), I was young and fit. really I found it easy to rip up and re-lay the entire suspended timber floor, so that we had sound and gap-free timbers to sand - (very 70's). We only had to replace 30% of the floorboards. If you wish to replace rotten joists that's a bit more challenging and if you want a damp/timber guarantee for future re-sale purposes then you may prefer to engage a professional, but if you plan top live there for 20 years- have a go. I've learned so much about Victorian buildings in the sucessive 30 years, as I'm sure you will - given the right attitude- which you clearly have. Good luck

mistermo_2

AlexMac wrote: »

Quote...
'...when it comes to ripping out floorboards etc i'd need a professional...'

really? Don't understimate what you can do! I was a DIY virgin when I bought my 1st Victorian house - or should I say, wreck, in 1975, but while I had no technical skills (I was then a librarian!), I was young and fit. really I found it easy to rip up and re-lay the entire suspended timber floor, so that we had sound and gap-free timbers to sand - (very 70's). We only had to replace 30% of the floorboards. If you wish to replace rotten joists that's a bit more challenging and if you want a damp/timber guarantee for future re-sale purposes then you may prefer to engage a professional, but if you plan top live there for 20 years- have a go. I've learned so much about Victorian buildings in the sucessive 30 years, as I'm sure you will - given the right attitude- which you clearly have. Good luck

Do you fancy a job? lol

harryhound

Allison_Haskins wrote: »

If you haven't exchanges missives, I'd walk away.

The cost and aggro in Victorian properties is horrendous. Trying to do anything with lath and plaster walls, dust and filth from clinker infill beteen floors, 'blown' ceilings, rotten sandstone, cold stone with no cavity isulation, nail sickness, lead piping, drafty casement windows, awkward room layouts, expense of cleaning plaster architrave, etc.

Unless you're in the building trade, the time and cost is not sensible.

Beware of the costs of the future carbon footprint of the Victorian building, especially if it is detached and still has suspended flooring at ground level.

There is tremendous pressure within government to improve the "envelope" of such homes up to modern levels of insulation.
External insulation ruins the appearance, while internal looses the thermal mass, obliterates any mouldings and cuts down the size of the rooms.
Double glazing "charming" draughty wooden sash windows is difficult and expensive.
You can buy blow-up-balloons to block unused chimneys, but beware of deliquescent salts in the soot soaking through to the inside of the chimney breast, when you do.
I don't know about Scotland but in England, Local Authorities are likely to get beefed up powers to force this sort of work to be done before any other improvements/extensions are authorised.