5 Tips for Renovating a Historic Home and How to Get Started
Historic Preservation in America took off in the 1960s when the federal government created the National Register of Historic Places. By the 70s everyone was eager to register their old Victorian Homes and Log Cabins. There was also a rise in historical societies and history museums at that time.
Historic neighborhoods are charming and add culture to a community. Historic homes are meant to be updated for modern living while maintaining the home’s aesthetic and architectural integrity for the period they were created in.
So you’ve purchased a historic home and don’t know where to begin or you’re considering purchasing a historic home and want to know what you’re getting yourself into.
Here are 5 tips for renovating a historic home.
Find a Balance Between Old and New
Don’t expect to be able to keep every aspect of your historic home intact. You have a duty to maintain the structure of the home but you don’t have to hang onto every rusty nail or drafty window. This is your chapter of living in the house and you can make changes and improvements to the home as long as you maintain its character. Make your mark while being mindful of the home’s origins and try to make choices that will compliment your home’s existing aesthetic.
Repairing a Historic Home
Historic homes often feature durable and high-quality materials that are harder to find these days, such as cypress and oak. If you can repair these materials instead of replacing them it may improve the longevity of your home and will act as an interesting talking point when you are giving a tour of the space to guests.
If You Can’t Repair, Replicate
Replication is a great option. Distressing materials to match originals or commissioning custom woodwork or molding to match previously existing structures and elements is an excellent way to maintain the character of the home and honor the era of its construction. We can connect you with builders who are experienced in historically used techniques and can help you recreate aspects of your home.
Leave Clues Behind
When knocking down walls to make the space functional for modern use, leave behind clues to let future residents know that there was once a wall there. You can leave behind doorways, keystones, or other tokens to insinuate that there was once a structure in that space, but it’s been removed. This way, these structures can be recreated in the future and restored to their former layout.
Look for Tax Incentives and Credits
Check your state and local tax commission websites or do a quick Google search for tax breaks and incentives in your area. In many states, commercial and residential tax incentives are available for homeowners and business owners who are willing to put in some elbow grease to keep a home’s history intact.
Ready to Begin Renovation on your Historic Home?
Contact the experts at Creative Home Designs and ask them how they can help you renovate your historic building into a functioning commercial or gorgeous residential space. We will join you on-site to take measurements of the existing structure and discuss your vision for the future of your historic building.