The Complete Guide To Renovating Older Homes

Old homes come with a character unmatched by recently built houses on the market The craftsmanship is often more distinct, the architectural elements more refined, the wood floors and trims more detailed, and the structure more solid and settled. A certain amount of renovation must be done to the older homes, and remodelling your home can make it come alive, fix its flaws, enhance its interior, and even make it more eco-friendly. However, renovating can be time consuming, expensive, and nerve-racking, leaving the homeowner in a dust whirl-wind with everything that needs to be done. This guide helps you to overcome these challenges bringing you home-owner bliss. To begin, you will learn how to estimate and stick to your renovation budget, as well as some key cost-cutting techniques to help you come in under budget. You will learn what building codes to follow before your begin your project, as well as the projects you can do on your own and what you might need professional assistance on. This book takes you through the complete remodelling process from the bottom up, beginning with the foundation. The book also presents ideas for renovating your family room, bedrooms, attic, basement, kitchen, and bathroom, as well as a variety of floor plans to follow if you need some help getting started. You will learn how to select and install cabinets and counter tops, as well as how to fully update sinks, taps, appliances, baths, showers and toilets. You will also learn how to overcome the challenges associated with water, electricity, asbestos, tanks and wells, and cesspools. There are step-by-step instructions for some of the most common projects, including installing drywall, upgrading windows and doors, and installing flooring. There is a section on exterior renovations, which contains information on skylights, garage doors, sunrooms, decks, and pools. Whether you are attempting your first project or are a seasoned professional, this is an indispensable companion for any homeowner with a project or two in mind.

Homeowners can learn how to identify and economically add improvements to older homes without getting bogged down in never-ending repairs. This comprehensive guide teaches readers how to fix roofs, doors, windows, structural problems, plumbing and bathrooms for the least amount of money and the greatest reward.

Many homeowners express a preference for older homes rather than new ones because of the quality of the craftsmanship, the architectural elements, the character of the home, and the solidness of the structure.

Clearly written manual tells how to appraise an older home, develop plans for remodeling the kitchen, add a bath, replace floors, roof, windows, doors, interior walls, kitchen cabinets, more.

Although there are other books about renovating old houses, this is the first that prioritizes the identification and preservation of the historic, character-defining features of a house as a starting point in the process. That is the purpose of this book: to describe and illustrate a best-practices approach for updating historic homes for modern life in ways that do not attempt to turn an old house into a new one. The book also suggests many ways to save money in the process, without settling for cheap or inappropriate solutions. Scott Hanson is a historic-building preservation professional and has 40 years' experience rehabilitating historic houses. He has illustrated this authoritative book with hundreds of step-by-step photos, illustrations, charts, and decision-making guides. Interspersed throughout are photo essays of 13 restored historic houses representing a range of periods and architectural styles: Italianate, Victorian, Queen Anne, Federal, Colonial, Colonial Revival, Greek Revival, Ranch, Adobe, Craftsman, Shingle, and Rustic. With interior and exterior photography by David Clough, these multi-page features show what can be achieved when a historic home is renovated with a desire to preserve or restore as much historic character as possible.

An essential guide for owners of period homes provides illustrated instructions and inspiring ideas for interior and exterior restoration of homes built between 1750 and 1930. 30,000 first printing.

Prime vacation property throughout Canada has doubled in value within the past five years. For the potential buyer of a vacation property, the cost of entry can be stiff. There is a high demand for many to own a vacation home or idyllic retreat for pleasure and lifestyle enjoyment, future retirement, rental revenue, or investment profit. But buying a recreational property can be a potential minefield for many reasons, as there can be complex tax, legal, estate planning, and investment issues to consider. When investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a recreational property you will need to do your due diligence and seek solid advice. The Complete Guide to Buying and Owning Recreational Property in Canada, written by Canada's leading authority on matters related to real estate, offers valuable insights and tips, and will prove a trustworthy resource for many years to come. Topic areas include: Buying the right property, for the right reasons, in the right location How to set a purchase and financing strategy and how to negotiate your best deal How to exercise caution when buying with family or friends-and how to keep peace in the family when sharing use or ownership Getting the help of professionals, such as a tax accountant, lawyer, home inspector, mortgage broker, insurance broker, and realtor. Obtaining tax and estate planning strategic advice to save tax on transfer, sale or bequeathing of the property, or inheriting a property What you need to know if you are buying recreational property as an investment. Money saving tips when renting your property yourself or using professional rental management Special cautions if buying a vacation home or cottage outside of Canada Creative ways of using your vacation home or cottage for exchange or barter Key strategies to follow and classic pitfalls to avoid And much, much more! Plus Sources of Further Information, Key Websites, Checklists, Glossary, and Index.