**Collaborative post**
Anyone who appreciates history will no doubt accept that there’s something special about older houses that new builds just can’t match – even if it’s just a design language that hasn’t been around for a while.
It might be you love an older property for its high ceilings, original features, and unique character, so its age becomes a real benefit instead of a difficulty in your mind.
That’s great of course. But if we’re honest, older houses can also come with their fair share of headaches, especially if the previous owners haven’t kept up with modern improvements, or even if it hasn’t had an occupant for a little while.
If the building generally passes a check that shows it’s habitable, don’t let that put you off though. Older properties often have fantastic bones (they’ve stuck around this long!), so even simple updates can transform them into comfortable, energy-efficient homes without losing their charm. But it’s worth knowing how to make those improvements. Let’s consider this below:
Check Your Insulation Situation Rectification
Older homes can sometimes become money pits when needing to heat your home, but there’s quite a lot you can do about that. The loft is usually the easiest place to start – you might be surprised to find minimal insulation up there, or some that needs immediate fixing. Getting that sorted can make a massive difference to your comfort and bills, which is a win-win. Cavity wall insulation might be an option too, though some older properties have solid walls that need different approaches depending on when it was built. UPVC windows are a no-brainer because of the insulation they provide. If needed, a stop-gap measure could be to implement draft excluders and thick curtains can help while you plan bigger improvements.
Sort Out Any Damp Issues
Damp is often the enemy of period properties, not only causing your discomfort and ill health but damage to a lovely old home that really doesn’t deserve that kind of strain. Thankfully, it’s usually fixable if you tackle it correctly. Rising damp needs professional treatment, while condensation might just need better ventilation – perhaps adding extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchens for instance.
Use a professional to check out what you need. If you spot any patchy walls or musty smells (you’ll know when you smell it), then look at an immediate expert fix. They might just say it’s as simple as fixing broken guttering or improving ground drainage around the property. Just treat the root and not the symptoms if you can.
Update Essential Systems
Your home’s basic systems need to be safe and efficient – there’s no getting around that one. Old electrical systems might need updating to handle modern appliances and provide enough outlets, sometimes the entire place may need to be rewired, but that gives you the chance to improve safety and set outlets where you want them.
You might also need to think about whether the current heating system is up to the task, or if you’d benefit from zoned heating that lets you control different areas separately – that fits with the cost-saving approach you might need in the long run. Plumbing can be another issue worth dealing with now – those original pipes might have served well for decades but could now be causing low water pressure or making strange noises, and heaven forbid they burst.
Remember that not all your plumbing is inside the house. You might find some underground pipelines that need dealing with, too. Ideally, you will need to make sure that those are safely exposed, say by using a hydro excavation service, before you get your plumbing team in. Plumbing experts are not excavators, so make sure they can get access to what needs fixing safely and easily.
With this advice, we hope you can live in that fantastic older house and continue its story with your own careful effort.
