Turn a house into a shell?

[BellaLani]

I’m not sure exactly how to phrase this question, but I’ll try;

Can you tear down everything in a large house so that the house is like a shell and then renovate it?

My husband and I are looking at houses and we fell in love with an old house that is enormous. But since it is a house from the 1900s, each room is small and it only has one bathroom on 400 sqm and just a small stairway that resembles more of a ladder to the second floor.

So I would really like to redo everything inside and make it our home, but mainly change the layout.
And the reason why we want to renovate and not build a completely new house that has everything we want is that this house comes with land and other buildings around it that we want, and after 2 years of searching, this is the only house we've become attached to.

Is it just my imagination, or is it possible to strip down a large house/mansion to a shell and “start over”?

Grateful for all the answers!

 

[Tokslut]

just don't take down load-bearing walls, otherwise just demolish.

 

[JLyck]

Do not touch any bearing parts/switch off and it will be fine.

 

[dennis.sa]

I think that such an old house should be respected and renovated with regard for past solutions but with modern adaptations like the shortcomings you mention. However, gutting everything and turning it into a "shell" sounds excessively reckless and risks creating a soulless interior. But the interior of the house might be beyond all saving at a reasonable cost compared to functionality..

 

[Daniel 109]

Now, the 1900s is a long time and many construction techniques were used. What is it built like? Likely, you have load-bearing interior walls that should not be tampered with without reinforcements.

 

[BellaLani]

Now, the 1900s is a long period and many building techniques were used. What is it built like? You likely have load-bearing interior walls that should not be tampered with without reinforcements.

It was originally built in the 1700s but had a comprehensive renovation in 1920 where absolutely everything was replaced. It was built as a manor for a family and subsequently became a hotel. For the past 5 years, it has been a B&B.

 

[BirgitS]

18th century, it could then be a timber frame where even some internal walls are important for making the house stable, not just load-bearing but to keep the outer walls in place. 18th-century houses should be renovated with care, where one should rather attempt to restore what has been previously destroyed as they are important to our cultural heritage. However, rooms in manor houses and similar structures from the 18th century were usually large, so internal walls that were added later can indeed be removed, and it is perfectly possible to create more bathrooms and improve the staircase. Get help from an architect or building conservator who knows old houses to help with the layout.

Also, welcome to the forum!

 

[kulle]

One became very curious about how it looks, can't you upload some pictures?

 

[KnockOnWood]

One becomes very curious about how it looks, can't you post some pictures?

Yes, it would be interesting to see what kind of house it is and where it's located.
BellaLani might dare to post a link to hemnet or the realtor's listing here?
We, at least I, promise not to snatch it from you!

But an advantage of the idea of clearing out "everything," so only the shell remains, is that one can then address insulation and heating issues, which surely aren't trivial in such an old house.
By the way, what about the exterior? "had an extensive renovation in 1920" sounds like it might not just be the inside that needs a caring hand.

And welcome to the Bygga Hus forum, BellaLani!
We look forward to an interesting and entertaining continuation

 

[richardtenggren]

Now it sounds like an even older house, but my friend has a thread on his renovation here on the forum. He tore down most of it, I would say, today I believe it is more or less finished and he is building a garage right now. Unfortunately, he has been bad at updating here lately!
But maybe some inspiration;

https://www.byggahus.se/forum/threads/foersta-huset-koept-totalrenovering.242018/

 

[deklerkk]

18th century, then it may be a timber frame where even some interior walls are important to stabilize the house, not just load-bearing but to keep the outer walls in place. 18th-century houses should be renovated with care where one should rather try to restore what has been previously destroyed since they are important for our cultural heritage. But rooms in manor houses and the like in the 18th century were normally large, so interior walls that have been added later can be removed, and it's quite feasible to create more bathrooms and a better staircase. Consult an architect or a building conservator who knows old houses to help with the layout.

Welcome to the forum as well!

Is it really as important as many say to preserve and maintain?
Then the state can partly or fully finance it.
Why should Löfven's slaves keep the industry busy unnecessarily!

 

[BirgitS]

Is it really as important as many say to preserve and maintain?

Of course, everyone is free to do what they want, and I have the right to my opinion, and you have yours. If you want to engage in value destruction instead of investing so that you can get more out of a sale (which will come sooner or later), you are, of course, free to do so.

I don't understand the last sentence at all.

 

[useless]

I'm tearing everything out of my Q-marked house from the 1800s so that only the shell remains... I will reuse a lot of materials and restore some of the aesthetics from the turn of the last century (since white hardboard is ugly), but I'm definitely not a building conservation enthusiast. I use the methods and materials that are suitable for the purpose.

What TS should pay attention to is where the load-bearing walls and chimneys are located. Other things that have been added later can mostly be removed.

 

[En apelsin]

Is it really as important as many say to preserve and maintain?
Then the state can partially or fully finance it.
Why should Löfven's slaves keep the industry occupied unnecessarily!

This comment is probably one of the strangest I've seen on Bygghus. Löfven? Slaves? WTF?

Moreover, I also think it's better to build new, or find a more suitable house if you're looking for space and an open floor plan. Maybe there's someone else who wants to preserve the soul of the house and not gut everything in a 1700s house? Building conservation is important. Of course, all houses should be made functional and livable for modern people, but why buy old if a modern house is actually what you're after?

 

[Daniel 109]

I perceived it as having been heavily renovated previously. I can agree that 18th-century buildings should be preserved. But if only later renovations are visible, then they are not particularly valuable.