2006-06-27 15:19:12 · 5 answers · asked by environmentlover911 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If your house has some sort of historical signifigance, or is in a designated historical district, you should probably lean toward restoration. Otherwise, the choice is yours. Restoration is usually more expensive than remodeling using modern methods and materials. Of course, eventual resale value should play into your decision.
Good luck with your project.
2006-07-03 10:29:51 · answer #1 · answered by exbuilder 7 · 9⤊ 0⤋
I've got a home built in 1911, so I know what you mean. Generally, what you'll do is a combination of the two. When you "restore", you'll also be doing some general remodeling. For example, you'll probably want to rewire the house and re-plumb the house. This will likely require you to tear out some walls, which is fine.
The old walls will be lathe and plaster, so when you tear those out, you'll rebuild with sheetrock. That's fine, as long as you maintain the general look and feel of the house. In other words, keep what you like, and get rid of what you don't like, without destroying the house's character and charm.
Also, when you remodel the kitchen, you'll want to add new appliances and new cabinets. This doesn't mean that you can't get custom cabinets that match the original style.
I live in a city where there are a lot of older homes. Thus, there are several stores that sell used fixtures, doors, windows, and just about everything else you'd need for an older home. I can usually get what I need at a significant discount, AND it matches the style of the home because it was taken from a similar home!
Shop around, and ask others in your area what they've done. You'll be surprised at how helpful people are.
Sid
http://www.basichomeremodeling.com
2006-07-02 13:42:24 · answer #2 · answered by ssplayer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's your home, you'll want to do things that will maximize the resale value. Generally a remodel of a 1901 home will decrease the value, while a restoration will increase the value. This may not have been the case years ago, but today, a restored Victorian or Craftsman home, for example, will bring a better price than an updated one. In California, there are entire neighborhoods of restored craftsman homes. If you want to know how attractive they can be, here's a source:
2006-06-27 18:58:11 · answer #3 · answered by adonnaleota 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on where you are at, a Historical Society would probably want to give you advice about proper restoration.
2006-06-27 15:22:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on what you would like. I personally would upgrade the essentials but keep the old world feel
2006-06-27 15:23:46 · answer #5 · answered by Jessica M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋