How to Fix Up an Old House

Our 1881 Victorian house

Three different old-house 'philosophies' in bringing life back to a historic home include restoration, renovation and remodeling: which is best for you?

Things You'll Need

• old house
• patience
• time
• money

Instructions

1. Buy the book! One of the best books on the market if you are fixing up a historic home is Renovating Old Houses (Nash, George, Taunton Press, 1998). Many books on the market will teach you many ways to rehabilitate old houses, but this one is a favorite among hands-on, do-it-yourself historic house enthusiasts. In addition to providing a terrific hands-on book with invaluable advice for each aspect of renovation, Nash describes the three basic philosophies when it comes to working with old houses.

2. Inspect. Hire an inspector who specializes in historic homes to inspect the major systems of the homes: structural, electrical, plumbing, heating, etc. You will need to know up front what major system repairs or replacement are going to cost.

3. Choose your method. Knowing which of the following three methods of fixing up an old-house are for you will help in all your old house decisions:

   RESTORATION
   This approach is the strictest form of conserving a historic property and falls mainly in line with the Secretary of Interior Standards used for National Register of Historic Places listed buildings. Restoration in essence means "the processes by which a structure is stripped of all later additions and returned to its original condition." (Nash). For example, if an original kitchen floor has had layers and layers of new flooring added over time, a true preservationist would remove later additions and restore the old floor to its original state.

   RENOVATION
   The second tier in fixing up and old building is renovation, an approach which means that although the property owner acknowledges and appreciates the history of the building, some of the old will be adapted for the sake of the new. Opening up a wall to a former service wing hallway, or exposing a brick wall not originally visible are some examples of renovation. Air conditioning is also nice!

   REMODELING
   Often referred to in extremely poor cases as 'remuddling', remodeling can be a slippery slope for homeowners who choose to completely gut the interior (and/or exterior) or a historic building. If it means the difference between tearing down an old house and making it a modern, livable home, certainly remodeling is better than demolition.

Tips & Warnings

• New version of Nash book available: The George Nash book was revised and updated in 2003. The new edition is called Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (Nash, George, Taunton 2003).

• You will spend more money than you budget.