If you’re considering leaving the city behind for a rural idyll, you may find yourself looking at period properties in picturesque villages, packed with original features. While on paper, these can seem like the perfect antidote to urban living, homes with history come with obligations for owners. So if you’re escaping to the country and taking on a period home, we’ve put together a few things to think about:
If your new property has listed status, you’ll need building consent before you do anything to it. Homes in Conservation Areas and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty are also protected, and planning permission will be essential. There is plenty of information available online with details of who you might need to contact – a valuable resource such as this is a great place to start.
If you’re moving to a home which is in a state of disrepair, it can be tempting to rip out damaged features and source reclaimed or new versions. Original features that are in keeping with the era of the home, however, are intrinsic to a property’s architectural heritage and value. Even if you were planning to scour local salvage yards for replacements, check first if your original features can be repaired. Careful restoration of beams, encaustic tiles, fireplaces and timber windows, for example, can leave you with far better quality features than if you replace them, too.
An old country pad, with original sash windows or casement windows, will give you the look you’re after – however this might not be conducive with the comfort of modern living. Fear not – expert restoration can discreetly build in draught-proofing, as well as secondary or double glazing, so your home retains its country charm without subjecting you to cold draughts and rattles.
Booking an initial telephone consultation with a company like Ventrolla is a good starting point. Plus they can help guide you through any planning applications that you need to do as part of your wider project – using their experience to provide you with the technical specs and drawings that a planning department will want to see.
If you’d like to ask us a question about your timber window project, or book a survey, please make an enquiry today.