Your Guide to Converting a Period Property

The majority of owners of period properties wish to retain their charm, character and original features. However, the layout of older homes rarely satisfies our modern desire for large multifunctional spaces and elegant simplicity.

The high cost of buying a new home means that it’s often better value – and less disruptive overall to expand or extend. However, when creating an extension to a period property, it's essential to create a careful balance of old and new, something perhaps easier said than done.

However, as mentioned, renovating these period properties can have their difficulties. For example:

●     Maintaining and emphasizing period features

●     Fusing old designs with modern living

●     Making older houses more sustainable

Several factors such as using the services of a residential architect and designers may have experience in dealing with these period properties and will be able to help you.

With this in mind, we outline some helpful information relating to period property conversion and how you can make the process easier on yourself.

Preparation and planning

This one might seem painfully obvious, however, you’ll never be at a loss for putting in too much planning, particularly with a period build. You need to be realistic and also leave a generous amount of room, we mean this in terms of time as well as money for any unforeseen circumstances.

A successful project starts with a realistic brief and a robust budget to suit the project, which covers not only building works and engineering costs, but also unforeseen problems which can arise on-site with a period property or during the initial planning process, where special consultant reports, imagery and detail drawings may be requested.

You need to be realistic and this is crucial both in terms of costs and also in regards to your time frames. Getting a professionally-prepared plan in place early on in the design development phase can save disappointment and redesign-fees along the line, which is no doubt helpful for you. Refurbishing period properties frequently hide a myriad of problems, so when starting a conversion be sure to have a sensible sum put to one side for contingency.

Understand the history of the house

Crucial to the success of a modern conversion project is an understanding of the significance of the past. Look for a few ways to incorporate the historic elements of your home to keep its character and originality. It's a good idea to put yourself in the minds of the people and processes that made the house to help determine the intervention and choose a good engineer. The existing fabric may be minimal and modest but can often be built upon.

Look to use construction techniques which respect the craft of the original features and find a contractor with the skill and temperament to respect the historic fabric and establish a stylish contemporary home.

Consider the little things

Little details such as thoughtfully-designed cabinets or well-placed features, can have a big impact on the overall look of your property. Do not underestimate the ability of joinery and cabinetry to redefine a room without necessarily removing walls. This is also especially useful in listed homes where some interventions need to be reversible or room layouts need to be preserved.

Be bold

Don’t let being scared stop you from creating the perfect version of your period property. Done with the right care and consideration, an exhaustive or ambitious overhaul might be exactly the kind of project your space needs for 21st-century living purposes.

Think about functionality

Your house needs work around you and your needs and not the other way around. So, with this in mind, look for ways to engage the traditional form of your home to fulfil the functions needed in your day-to-day life.

An extension for a period property has to be self-supporting, so it won’t put any additional structural strain on the house. Lightweight systems, such as timber frames, can help lessen the load. But building an extension from modern materials which may have detrimental knock-on effects on the older properties.  

Visit the reclamation yard

With regard to an older property, why buy a reproduction when you could rescue the real thing? Upcycling and buying second-hand have become incredibly popular in the last few years. Your local reclamation yard can be a treasure trove of fantastic finds so it's certainly worth being resourceful and checking out these kinds of places.

Think about your colours

You need to consider your colour palette and thankfully for most people, this is one of the more pleasurable parts of a renovation process. The reason for this is no doubt you will want to create a period ambience in your home which for most people is very important.

Colours play a big role in not only making your house a home but honing its style and atmosphere. White is timeless, but why not take a look at traditional neutrals options too. For example, subtle grey or green undertones will add a softness to each finish, making it feel as though it’s been there for years.

Specialist surveys

When you are purchasing an older property, your standard survey report will often recommend specialist scrutiny for elements such as timber beams or possibly damp. Unfortunately, the nature of a specialist survey is not well regulated. Lots of supposed experts are in reality agents for the provision of timber treatment or damp-proofing services, with an interest in recommending particular solutions for financial gain.

Avoid commissioning advice from anyone who has this kind of interest in the outcome. The result may result in unnecessary and intrusive work that will probably not address the root of any problems and might, at worst, actually lead to damage to the property.

The bottom line

The benefits of renovating range from discovering original features hidden away and the opportunity to put your mark on a property that feels special to you. The success of renovating a house ultimately comes down to good preparation and being aware of what is going to lie ahead. Going into a house renovation with the expectation that there will be some surprises in store is a good idea. But, with some good support, you will be able to achieve the property you have wished for and hopefully, the home of your dreams.

Integrated Designs & Associates - Quality Residential Architect and Engineers

Are you planning to renovate a period property? Here at Integrated Designs & Associates, we could be of assistance. At Integrated Designs & Associates Ltd, we have over 27 years of experience operating architectural design services in Birmingham, across the West Midlands and the rest of the UK.

As such, we should be your choice for architectural engineering whether your project is commercial or residential. For over two decades we’ve built an excellent reputation for both the quality of our work and the quality of our customer service. We have a highly experienced team of designers who work in absolute compliance with all planning regulations and work closely with regulatory authorities. From start to finish, we can help you manage and complete whatever project you have in mind. To find out more about what we can do for you, please visit our website or contact us today, we’d be delighted to help with any enquiries you may have.