I have found a beautiful old home built in 1900 that needs some serious work. Before I jump in over my head I was hoping to find some very very general estimates (time and cost) for old home renovation. If you know from experience or have any ideas on the following please share them. (I realize contractor and material estimates vary widely and your response will not be taken as an exact estimate). The two story home is in West Virginia and the stone basement was flooded in 1980. The wood frame was not in the waters (barely) but some of the wooden support beams that run to the floor were. No water damage was visible, however there may be a mold issue on the Chestnut beams. The insulation from the floor was removed from water damage and will need to be replaced. The wiring is mostly ungrounded (meaning only 2 prong outlets) so will need to be updated for modern conviences. A professional contractor will likely do this work. There is a small leak in the slate roof. How do you maintain a slate roof? The walls are wood slats and are in need of insulation. The double hung windows are in pretty good shape but some need the weights reattached. The kitchen was added on and is more like a closet than a kitchen. I would like to add on a new room (plenty of space) adjacent to the old kitchen for a new kitchen. Again, a professional contractor would be used for the addition. Grey water plumbing needs to be redirected to sewer lines. I know this is a lot but it is a beautiful home and deserves to be brought back to life. Thanks for any insight you may be able to offer.
Sounds wonderful! I've always wanted to restore a vintage home but unfortunately don't have the skills or the money My husband and I are in the process of adding on to our home and I want to decorate the bathroom with subway tiles and hexagonal tiles on the floor. What I'm finding is everything is way more expensive than I ever thought!!! He is doing the work but the cost of materials is depressing. Deanna :-D
Do it yourself otherwise it would cost you high.. If your budget is low then you should do it by yourself. You can get good DIY house remodeling ideas from some popular & free home improvement sites.
I have lots of experience restoring old house and can tell you that it's well worth the effort IFit's structurally sound and you can do some of the work yourself. Look for tradesmen/women who will spend a day teaching you certain things. Even if you're paying for their time it's well worth it to learn the "right" way to do things. I'm a good painter and plaster repair person because of good training! Don't be afraid to ask questions. Do the safety items first -- the electrical. Always have one room fixed up (at least with new paint) -- it can be your haven when the rest gets too overwhelming. Good luck!
