House renovation - where to start

Hi, first post on here looking for advice.

Just purchasing an older semi detached house and only had new builds before. We already know that the house we are buying needs modernising. This includes;

Remove gas fire and back boiler. Replace with new boiler and full central heating system, pipes / rads etc.

Do we go with combi boiler or traditional boiler with vented cylinder or similar ?

Full re-wire of house is required.

Now the difficult part - where to start ??

The house currently has a connected garage on one side. We were thinking of making this into a wraparound extension to then continue along the back of the house. This would include changing the garage flat roof to a pitched roof all the way round. We would like to include Velux roof windows to allow more light into the extension.

What order should the works be done. Do we make the existing house more habitable first by completing the heating and rewire. Could we then allow for future upgrades to plumbing/wiring for when we build the extension and just 'tap in' to the services OR do we complete the building works first, then do the heating and wiring all in one go in the now larger house ?

Also do any other forum members recommend suitable trades people out there who could be used a One Stop Shop ?

Hi, we specialise in this sort of work.

id advise you to get plans drawn up first, get the architect out then at least you know what your allowed to do etc.

if not most builders will be guessing!

If possible its easier to do the work quicker and cheaper if the property can be ripped out and renovated at the same time as the extension build as trades only need to come once when shell is built. It gets more difficult if the customers is keen to move in!

Average turn round of theses type jobs is 3months!

id be happy to have a chat with you but would defo recommend extension plans as a first step!

cheers James

What is your budget??

You're looking at over 5 grand, probably more towards 10 grand for the electrics and the heating alone.

Do you need to replace kitchen or bathroom, carpets, plaster, doors or anything??

Hi, first post on here looking for advice.

 

Just purchasing an older semi detached house and only had new builds before. We already know that the house we are buying needs modernising. This includes;

 

Remove gas fire and back boiler. Replace with new boiler and full central heating system, pipes / rads etc.

Do we go with combi boiler or traditional boiler with vented cylinder or similar ?

 

Full re-wire of house is required.

 

Now the difficult part - where to start ??

 

The house currently has a connected garage on one side. We were thinking of making this into a wraparound extension to then continue along the back of the house. This would include changing the garage flat roof to a pitched roof all the way round. We would like to include Velux roof windows to allow more light into the extension.

 

What order should the works be done. Do we make the existing house more habitable first by completing the heating and rewire. Could we then allow for future upgrades to plumbing/wiring for when we build the extension and just 'tap in' to the services OR do we complete the building works first, then do the heating and wiring all in one go in the now larger house ?

 

Also do any other forum members recommend suitable trades people out there who could be used a One Stop Shop ?

Says who? Have you had an EICR done?

Says who? Have you had an EICR done?

House is 50 years old with same owner and has all original wiring. We were thinking of doing extension so made sense to rewire house and extension job lot. Feel free to save me money

Start at the top and work down. Make sure it's dry and secure first - roof, walls, doors and windows. Then do the cosmetic stuff.

I'd maybe get a second opinion on the wiring (an independent condition report, not an electrician). 80% of house re-wirings that are done don't need doing. Some people see the red and black wires and insist it all needs changing. But wiring is fine for a good 30 years and the new colouring only came in in 2004-6. It's more the style of the fuse box that should be your guide.

Also changing the garage roof is unnecessary. The new material flat roofs last 25+ years, not 10 like the old ones.

Start at the top and work down. Make sure it's dry and secure first - roof, walls, doors and windows. Then do the cosmetic stuff.

 

I'd maybe get a second opinion on the wiring (an independent condition report, not an electrician). 80% of house re-wirings that are done don't need doing. Some people see the red and black wires and insist it all needs changing. But wiring is fine for a good 30 years and the new colouring only came in in 2004-6. It's more the style of the fuse box that should be your guide.

 

Also changing the garage roof is unnecessary. The new material flat roofs last 25+ years, not 10 like the old ones.

Thanks Dan. Regarding the roof we want to extend at the back and form a wraparound extension to include the garage. Pitched roof would look much nicer.

House is 50 years old with same owner and has all original wiring. We were thinking of doing extension so made sense to rewire house and extension job lot. Feel free to save me money

Have an EICR (Elec Installation Condition Report) carried out. You will no doubt be advised to replace the existing fuse board for a modern consumer unit, definitely worth doing. When you do that, have in mind, and discuss with the electrician, how many circuits you will want when the house is finished.

If the existing wiring is PVC, then it may be OK to keep, but I imagine there are nowhere near enough sockets etc, so a rewire may be the most cost effective option.

If the existing wiring is PVC, then it may be OK to keep, but I imagine there are nowhere near enough sockets etc, so a rewire may be the most cost effective option.

We had this issue in our last place, most rooms had one single plug in a corner. The number of extension leads you'd have to run would be quite dangerous.

hi i would be happy to quote or help you with advice . i'm currently in the middle of 2 full refurbs . i do this work all the time . call me if you need any advice or quotes kind regards jeff

Im doing some renovations and am thinking of removing a couple of walls...does anyone know/can recommend someone to do an assessment (structural engineer maybe?) and a builder who could do that sort of thing?

Im doing some renovations and am thinking of removing a couple of walls...does anyone know/can recommend someone to do an assessment (structural engineer maybe?) and a builder who could do that sort of thing?

I cannot recommend Jeff Smith (jsmith2009) highly enough.

He renovated/refurbished our current house. All trades used are top notch.

We used Martin Evans structural engineers as we wanted to remove a wall.

0114 321 7180 /0114 267 6520

hope this helps