Restoring a heritage building can be a daunting task, but it’s important to do it right in order to preserve the history and character of the structure. And since heritage buildings serve as a vital link to the history of our country, renovating a building with a fascinating past can be incredibly rewarding.
The Do’s of Restoring a Heritage Building
1. Do Check with Your Local Authorities or Heritage Councils
Talking to your local council or heritage authority should be your first step. Checking with your local council can help you understand the constraints involved in the restoration process. This also enables you to understand what you can or cannot do with your heritage building.
When it comes to the limitations, some councils are stricter than others. These can include restrictions on the exterior paint job, interior renovations, tree trimming, the presence or absence of fences and outbuildings, and limitations on how the heritage building may be used.
Remember that a building that is “individually listed” and a building that is part of a heritage overlay are two very different things. A heritage overlay hardly ever involves internal renovations and often solely regulates changes to the building’s exterior. Before beginning construction on your building, you must additionally get planning permission if the property is under a heritage overlay.
2. Do the Research and The Planning
It’s critical to have a thorough understanding of your property. If the issues aren’t discovered right away, they can result in unforeseen expenditures, delays, and deviations from the building plan.
Prior to the design stage of your project, hiring a building contractor in Sydney or remediation contractors can help you uncover any structural or aesthetic problems like termite damage, weak foundations, plumbing problems, or risky or unsafe areas of the property.
The most important thing to remember when restoring a heritage building is to take your time and do it right. With proper planning and execution with the help of a professional, you can bring new life to an old building while preserving its historical integrity.
3. Do Keep the Details in Mind
The preservation of your building’s character is the whole objective of its heritage listing, so it wouldn’t make sense to change or remove some of its best characteristics. The façade of your property, entry embellishments like arches, ceiling roses, and fireplaces are all elements worth preserving because they frequently show off your heritage building’s rich history and provide insight into its previous occupants.
However, it doesn’t follow that you can’t integrate the old and the new, so don’t be scared to make the necessary changes or the ones that you wish to include or restore, such as the remediation of existing roofing and membraned roof areas.
The Don’ts of Restoring a Heritage Building
When it comes to restoring a heritage building, there are a few things you definitely don’t want to do. Here are some of the worst restoration mistakes you can make:
1. Don’t Neglect the Foundation
The foundation of a heritage building is often its most important structural element, and if it’s not in good condition, the whole building is at risk. Make sure to have a professional assess the condition of the foundation before beginning any restoration work.
2. Don’t Forget About Thermal Buildings
One of the drawbacks of heritage buildings is poor thermal performance. They tend to be permeable when it comes to airflow and generally uninsulated because they were constructed without consideration for thermal efficiency.
Hence you can consider upgrading your windows to double glazing and installing insulation in the old windows to enhance the thermal performance of your building.
3. Don’t Skimp on Professional Help
Restoring a heritage building is a complex task, and it’s not something that should be attempted without professional help. Be sure to engage with the services of building and construction companies in Sydney.
Heritage buildings are an important part of our history and culture, and it’s important that we do what we can to restore them. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind if you’re thinking about restoring a heritage building.
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