Are You Making An Escape To The Country?
The landscape has changed beyond recognition for many over the past year, thanks to the pandemic. And quite literally for those who have realised that remote working frees them from being tied to living within reach of the bright lights and bustle of the city to do their jobs. The result of this is that more and more people are escaping urban life, re-thinking where they live and exchanging vistas of cityscapes for views of rolling hills.
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:
Get the relevant permission
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.
Approach restoration with sensitivity
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.
Expert restoration can give old features a modern lease of life
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.