Retro renovations – backdating your home to another era
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Home renovations are usually all about modernising older style homes – most often villas and bungalows. This usually means opening them up, adding on ‘out the back', ‘popping the top', adding ensuites and modern conveniences such as central heating, insulation and garages with internal access – all the while trying to keep the home in character for it's era and neighbourhood. Often this means that while the character of the home is retained from the street front, there can be an architectural shift in style of 100 years from the front to the back of the building. Another less common style of renovation is the retro-reno, that is, one that takes a more recent building back in time to the style of another era. Why would anyone want to do that? There are two very good reasons. The first, is simply a matter of taste or preference for an older style. To see a great example of this, visit the Boyte Family Home which has been substantially re-built and re-clad in Linea® Weatherboards. The second reason is to add resale value – particularly to a home of dubious architectural merit that has somehow found itself in a well- established neighbourhood of older style homes. Property Valuer, Christopher Boyd says that recladding a home such as this in a product like Linea Weatherboard as part of a refurbishment or redevelopment will add value to the property as long as it compliments the theme of the upgrade. To see another great example of the level of authentic detailing that can be achieved with today's low-maintenance materials, such as Linea Weatherboards and HardieGroove™ Lining, take a look at the Gillespie Home. Although this authentically detailed bungalow was built from scratch, these products can bring the same degree of authenticity to a retro renovation.
Before embarking on a retro-reno it would certainly pay to research the property market in your area very carefully to determine what style of homes are most popular and what commands a premium price. Gentrified inner city suburbs have the highest concentration of preserved and renovated villas and bungalows and probably offer the most scope for a retro-reno of more recently built homes. Remember that while potential buyers value a degree of authenticity, they are also looking for twenty first century comforts. Almost any home built before 1978 is unlikely to be fully insulated, so a total make-over presents the opportunity to insulate walls, ceilings, under floors and to also add under-floor heating, central heating and double –glazing. Other features that today's buyers look for include:
Read more about creating a traditional look...
Read our article on 'Renovating smarts: Six questions to consider before you renovate'. |
