Hi!
I've recently bought a house built in 1960 which we'll have access to this summer. About 90 square meters of space plus an equally large basement and a furnished attic. Now it's time to start thinking a bit more about the planning of our renovation, and overall we've planned to do the following:
Drain again
Insulate the basement externally
Possibly fix up the garden
Replace the oil furnace with probably geothermal heating
Replace windows
Install ventilation
Renovate/Replace the roof
Wallpapering
Replace flooring
New kitchen cabinets and appliances
"The usual interior work"
Pretty extensive work, in other words, and we plan to outsource some of it. However, we want tips on what we should do immediately and what can just as well wait until next year...
What do you think about waiting with drainage, insulation, and the garden?
We'd like to do the windows, wallpaper, flooring, and kitchen before we move in.
The roof now or later?
Should the furnace and ventilation be done "together"?
It's our first house (and hopefully the last), so feel free to share any tips! d^_^b
I've recently bought a house built in 1960 which we'll have access to this summer. About 90 square meters of space plus an equally large basement and a furnished attic. Now it's time to start thinking a bit more about the planning of our renovation, and overall we've planned to do the following:
Drain again
Insulate the basement externally
Possibly fix up the garden
Replace the oil furnace with probably geothermal heating
Replace windows
Install ventilation
Renovate/Replace the roof
Wallpapering
Replace flooring
New kitchen cabinets and appliances
"The usual interior work"
Pretty extensive work, in other words, and we plan to outsource some of it. However, we want tips on what we should do immediately and what can just as well wait until next year...
What do you think about waiting with drainage, insulation, and the garden?
We'd like to do the windows, wallpaper, flooring, and kitchen before we move in.
The roof now or later?
Should the furnace and ventilation be done "together"?
It's our first house (and hopefully the last), so feel free to share any tips! d^_^b
Think about what is truly important for the house to continue to thrive... A ROOF is the first thing you want to have sorted. A chimney cap is also good. Then you want a dry foundation so that everything inside is also dry. After that, it might be time to drill for geothermal heating and place the boiler in a good location. Electrical wiring, water, and heating pipes. Absolutely last, you prioritize the garden. In my opinion.
Drain and insulate the basement (while doing so, replace stormwater pipes and possibly water/sewage as well) should be done before renovating and living in the basement, so you can decide yourself when it fits into the planning.
I would start with the roof, as it's the most important part of the house, and when it leaks, you realize you've planned poorly.
The ventilation doesn't have a direct connection to the boiler, except that a passive ventilation system is impaired when you remove the fireplace. Are you thinking of some kind of HRV system?
It's nice to have the kitchen ready when you move in; we lived "without" a kitchen during the renovation, and it wasn't fun.
I would start with the roof, as it's the most important part of the house, and when it leaks, you realize you've planned poorly.
The ventilation doesn't have a direct connection to the boiler, except that a passive ventilation system is impaired when you remove the fireplace. Are you thinking of some kind of HRV system?
It's nice to have the kitchen ready when you move in; we lived "without" a kitchen during the renovation, and it wasn't fun.
Needs analysis
What will you outsource vs do yourselves?
Family situation?
Planned move-in date?
Existing condition? (can you live in it?)
What will you outsource vs do yourselves?
Family situation?
Planned move-in date?
Existing condition? (can you live in it?)
Try to "settle in" for a year before you start a complete renovation. Start with things you know won't change, like the roof, drainage, etc.
Hmm, I thought that way at first too, it makes sense.barajag said:Considering the cost of oil, I would start with geothermal heating. Then things will probably sort themselves out over time, and suddenly you've ended up working on something that couldn't wait.
But I have a preference for renovating the roof early in the process ever since we discovered water leaking from the ceiling light :O in our newly renovated kitchen
We were really lucky that time, but I won't rely on luck again.
Roof first! But an old oil boiler is definitely high on the priority list AND there's an advantage to living in a house for a while before renovating, so from that perspective, the roof and heat source are good starting projects; if you do most of it yourself, you'll have lived there for a few years before it's done
Exactly!Jan-Å said:Mm, I thought a little like that at first, it's quite logical.
But I have a fondness for renovating the roof early in the process after we discovered that water was running from the ceiling light :O in our newly renovated kitchen
We were damn lucky that time, but I won't trust it again.
Roof first! but an old oljepanna comes high on the priority list absolutely AND there's merit in living in a house for a while before renovating, so based on that, roof and heat source are good starting projects, if you do most of it yourself you'll have lived a couple of years before it's done
We moved into an old house (1900) before Christmas, intending to settle in a bit before starting. But during the first thaw, it rained on my car inside the warm garage, so I didn't really need to plan. I've torn everything out now and two roof trusses had rotted away.
getting materials on Thursday. So without a good roof and heating, it's not so fun to live for long.Agree with everyone else before, and if the roof isn't leaking, I would start with the heat source before the first winter comes. Geothermal heating is a major expense that likely also requires replacing radiators or installing underfloor heating, so flooring replacement and wallpapering might happen naturally. Geothermal heating delivers cooler water than an oil furnace and requires large radiators or floor loops to work optimally and save you money. Familiarize yourself with heat pump issues to get a properly sized heating system and enough hot water. Get several quotes before deciding on anything.
The garden will benefit from waiting for the chainsaw for a year - be satisfied with just regular mowing and weeding.
Windows should come last unless they're rotting through. Expensive and provide minimal energy savings. Replace weatherstripping before the winter to avoid drafts.
A couple of cans of paint aren't expensive and quickly freshen things up.
Don't take down the chimney even if it disrupts the open plan! Always good to have a stove as a backup heat source
gaia
The garden will benefit from waiting for the chainsaw for a year - be satisfied with just regular mowing and weeding.
Windows should come last unless they're rotting through. Expensive and provide minimal energy savings. Replace weatherstripping before the winter to avoid drafts.
A couple of cans of paint aren't expensive and quickly freshen things up
. Don't take down the chimney even if it disrupts the open plan! Always good to have a stove as a backup heat source
gaia
Lovely, thanks for the great tips and thoughts!
The roof had leaked at some point and was repaired there. So it's not unlikely that it will happen again. So it will be a priority upon acquisition.
And geothermal heating + review of heating in the basement as well.
We'll have our "everyday entrance" including cloakroom for outerwear in the basement (souterrain). Also, stroller parking and laundry room down there. So we'll probably invest in drainage and insulation pretty quickly there too.
All these three jobs we'll outsource.
I'll take care of the indoor work like replacing floors (anyone want to buy a pink carpet?) and wallpapering, painting the ceiling, fixing the kitchen on the main living floor, so it's ready and fresh already when we move in. Basement and attic will have to wait and be tackled over time.
As part of the heating system upgrade, we'll also probably check the ventilation to make it more comfortable in the basement and improve the attic. We’re missing out on some "waste heat" from the oil burner in the basement once we remove it, and it would be nice to have a little air circulation there too.
And the chimney will stay, as we have an open fireplace in the living room! It's just simpler that way.
The roof had leaked at some point and was repaired there. So it's not unlikely that it will happen again. So it will be a priority upon acquisition.
And geothermal heating + review of heating in the basement as well.
We'll have our "everyday entrance" including cloakroom for outerwear in the basement (souterrain). Also, stroller parking and laundry room down there. So we'll probably invest in drainage and insulation pretty quickly there too.
All these three jobs we'll outsource.
I'll take care of the indoor work like replacing floors (anyone want to buy a pink carpet?) and wallpapering, painting the ceiling, fixing the kitchen on the main living floor, so it's ready and fresh already when we move in. Basement and attic will have to wait and be tackled over time.
As part of the heating system upgrade, we'll also probably check the ventilation to make it more comfortable in the basement and improve the attic. We’re missing out on some "waste heat" from the oil burner in the basement once we remove it, and it would be nice to have a little air circulation there too.
And the chimney will stay, as we have an open fireplace in the living room! It's just simpler that way.
Yes, and the windows are old, but okay. So they'll probably have to wait until later.
Also the garden. We had thoughts about taking the opportunity when the machines are there for the drainage work, which I assume will probably tear up parts of the garden as well? But we actually have no idea how we want it. Most of the plot slopes gently, but there are plenty of other areas around. We need to settle into the garden first.
Also the garden. We had thoughts about taking the opportunity when the machines are there for the drainage work, which I assume will probably tear up parts of the garden as well? But we actually have no idea how we want it. Most of the plot slopes gently, but there are plenty of other areas around. We need to settle into the garden first.
Not necessarily. When installing geothermal heating, the intervention during implementation is not that significant. Since the pipes from the borehole contain some form of alcohol, you don't need to go particularly deep. But if you can afford to do both at the same time, then...