Renovating your home can be a costly, stressful experience that can range from redoing a room, to adding an extension to a house.
The last thing anyone wants is to be disappointed with the final product, creating even more hassle down the road. This is why careful planning is required to ensure we are left with a beautiful renovation that we can happily have as part of our home.
We give you an insight into some of the biggest mistakes people make when renovating their homes.
1. The alteration or addition doesn’t match the house it is part of
The alteration or addition should look like it never happened. We want our renovations to be a part of our home. Clashing styles make for an uncomfortable living experience; having the renovated area stick out like this draws attention in the wrong ways. It may be tempting to renovate with a completely new and exciting style in mind, but consider how this will fit in with the current style. Have a look at styles that will match the existing building and consider the advice from a professional architect or designer to help create a cohesive design.
2. Legalities of the renovation aren’t considered
It is very important to make sure that renovations comply with laws in the area, and are approved by the local authorities. This will spare many legal issues in future, especially when it comes to potentially selling the house in the future. Not having the proper permissions can also stall out the renovation process wasting precious time and money. It also ensures that work is done to the correct safety standards.
To get the proper approval for a renovation, the following is required:
– A copy of the title deed.
– A certified architect to draw up the plans.
– An application for town planning approval with all the necessary fees and forms.
– A building inspector to check on the progress, either from the start or when the renovation is complete.
3. The indoor and outdoor relationships don’t work
Remember that the home does not stop at its walls. The property around a house also forms part of the home. Consider the relationship between indoor and outdoor areas of the house. How does the house look from the outside? How will the outside and the inside of the home be integrated?
Carefully consider the areas around the house and use the renovation to make the home an enhanced and expanded space.
4. Seasonal changes and orientation aren’t considered.
As the seasons change, so do the functions of the various rooms in a house. Understanding this will make a home comfortable in summer and winter. That warm, sunny breakfast nook might turn into a terribly chilly, dark corner as the sun moves throughout the day. Beautiful ornamentation may not cope with stronger wind. That outdoor braai area may become impossible to use once the cold winter months come around.
Think of how a home will weather the elements all year round and plan accordingly. The house design must work with the changing seasons, not against them.
5. Not understanding the proper scale and proportions of a renovation
The size of the space or room dictates the scale, make sure it’s right! We want our space to be the right size in order to comfortably fit our lives in them. Carefully consider the scale of the space being renovated. A good understanding of the exact measurements of the space ensures that the finished result matches expectations.
6. Structural opportunities are lost
Renovation is often done with the design and look of the space in mind but it is just as important to consider structural improvements that can be made during this process. All homes have a structural logic and in order to drastically improve the home, this needs to be understood. It is likely that we weren’t involved in the initial design and build of our house and there may be opportunities to possibly change the structure according to our needs.
Opening up or closing off areas in a home can drastically affect the convenience of the space. An experienced architect can help to see the structural opportunities that may have been missed, and can help include these in the renovation plans.
Depending on the type of renovation being done it is likely that floor, wall ,ceiling or roof finishes will be affected. Different materials or designs require certain finishes, so it’s important to keep that in mind when designing and planning. Consider this before starting renovations so that we are not caught out by undesirable options further down the line.
There are many other things to consider when doing home renovations. As such, it is easy to miss certain factors that can lead to problems in the future. Having an experienced architect will help you ensure that your home or building renovations are sustainable and well integrated within the community. Book your consultation with us today.
