Kevin McCloud's Tips: How To Restore An Old Property | 4Homes

12. Rural Isolation Suits Some Much Better Than Others

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isolated Cottage. How To Restore An Old Property

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12. Rural Isolation Suits Some Much Better Than Others (Image 12 of 19)

Here's Kevin McCloud's quick tips for restoring an historic building -

'The reason we buy, like and own old buildings is because they have charm, they have character. And that charm and character is not some kind of weird, mysterious soul, it's not a ghost in the building. It is the accrual of thousands and thousands of tiny details that make up the historical narrative of that place. And so there is a balance to be struck between conservation, care and repair, the reverential treatment of old buildings and modern needs, modern comforts, modern requirements.'

View the 14th Century Castle Grand Design in Yorkshire >>

'There are all kinds of complications from ancient monument consent to listed buildings issues to planning permission, but with an existing building the constraints can often be really damaging. Churches, for example, do not convert easily.'

Take a look at the Birmingham Church Conversion Grand Design >>

Kevin's golden rules -

'Make sure that you are able to illustrate the story of the building; that you are not wiping the slate clean and starting again.

'When you are planning on doing things to buildings that are contentious in some way, such as knocking through a wall, make sure that whatever you do you explain it in ways that suggest that it's reversible, that you could put it back.

'You need to have very deep pockets and the terrible, terrible thing is that unlike new buildings it doesn't stop when you finished. Every year you live there and own it you need to spend more and more money.

'Old buildings are a bit like old relatives, they need a lot of upkeep, they need a lot of love, they can occasionally reward you and they can be quite smelly. The only difference really is that you can't put anything in their tea!'

Kevin McCloud is architecture guru, eco housing expert and presenter of Channel 4 self build programme Grand Designs.

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Comments

hello mr mccloud ...i love your programme ... a particular house project i found interesting was the old conversion on the west coast of ireland ...im english but moved to malta ...we bought a 4oo year old character houde in a village called lija ...the conversion took five long years but still some touches to be made, i therefore say keep up the good work ...and if you are ever in malta drop bty....catrina louise attard

Posted by catrina on 26/11/2009 10:38:26

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Love your show and find it always inspiring, though none of the buildings in my neck of the woods are anywhere near as old as those you feature here. I did have a friend who moved from Boston back to his families ancestral home in Ireland, buying a small farm house (like the quaint one you show here) for renovation. All's well did not end well however as the locals were of no help whatsoever, viewing my friend as an interloper despite the fact his grandmother had been raised nearby. Sad to say he was not a skilled contractor himself so after 6 months of struggle he had to give up his dream and return to America. I suppose the morale of the story is you need passion AND professionals!

Posted by Chris Builder on 27/10/2009 04:17:45

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Hello Mr. Macloud, We want you to know that we just love your program "Grand Desaings" and thats why i'm contact you, my husband and I we 'r lookin for one of those very old properties to restore and I so in your program real bargains w/ land and just love it,we want to buy one or may be 2 of those if are real bargains and restordem could you be so kind and give us some ideas of were we can find this kind of porperties?. In the other hand we knew about some one that recive a house from the govermment in ruins for free but the conditions to keep it was to be restored exactly like it was is this posible? I just get in the UK 3 months ago coming from Spain were i come from and my husband is in the States coming very soon to UK he ask me to look for this bargains!! which I told him about your excelent program can you please give us some ideas or places were we can look for this kind of properties i like the county of kent i belive has a good wether compering w/ other areas we are sure you can have some ideas and w'll be graetfull to heard from you, thank you for your time Regards Mrs.Mayte Fernandez C.

Posted by mayte fernandez on 14/10/2009 21:06:32

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What kind of stone is that being used in the featured picture at the top of the article? Is it sandstone? or something different? Thanks.

Posted by Tracy on 14/10/2009 19:18:23

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Having always lived in modern properties, we are now thinking of buying an old stone property. The owners have said the floor is a poured concrete base, the original earth floor having been dug out in the 1940s. They also mentioned that a survey is likely to show high moisture levels but we shouldn't be put off by this as stone can breathe. Is this standard for old properties and what problems are there likely to be? The decor all seems fine

Posted by martyn on 22/09/2009 13:23:32

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You may want to consider using NBS Domestic Specification for smaller domestic projects, to help control costs, save time and ensure technical accuracy.

Posted by Gary Shaw on 16/09/2009 14:10:31

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To those people asking questions - there are no answers here : }

Posted by get the message! on 31/08/2009 23:14:36

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We have bought a grade 2 listed property and the council are being very difficult in some initial dicussions on our plans to renovate the property.Who can we enlist as a specialist to guide us properly and help us to win our approval?Is it a legal specialist we should employ?we do have an architect on board.With thanks.

Posted by helen on 30/07/2009 12:25:53

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Please, can anyone tell me the cheapest way to construct a 3 story dwelling. Windows only on the front. footprint area 12ft. wide x 32ft.deep. Thanks

Posted by Zazenartist1 on 11/05/2009 19:49:27

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Please can you tell me the Name of the company who supplied the windows for the listed house/castle .... i think it was a german company- the windows were three glaze thick for insulation but with a tradition look/design ... i think it was on the programe with the Yorkshire castle but I'm not sure of this. Many thanks..

Posted by Allissia De Lucy Spofforth on 17/04/2009 12:14:54

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I have found a (1854 buit) farm house that is in great need of a full restoration. I would love to take it on and rebuild it once agian. All though im not sure who i should talk. the house and land are in big need of time and money i cant get hold of the post code yet but i have the old name of the farm house and road it lay`s on. I dont think anyone has lived there for 10 years. can you help by pointing me in the right direction to buy it. many thanks Jason Alexander

Posted by Jay on 09/04/2009 00:23:18

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my daughter who is about to take a 15 year lease on a closed listed public house in southend ..where should she start to find out about what she can and can not touch in the building we have tryed the local council but they don,t a lot.

Posted by janet hills on 08/04/2009 22:51:12

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How do I get in touch with the 14th century castle B&B since watching the program on 18 March 2009 I feel the need to go and experience what has been achieved there and while doing so stay the night

Posted by Matthew Mills on 19/03/2009 09:17:48

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How do I get in touch with the 14th century castle B&B since watching the program on 18 March 2009 I feel the need to go and experience what has been achieved there and while doing so stay the night

Posted by W Humphries on 18/03/2009 22:19:10

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I would really like to restore and change drastically a property left to me by my mother, who died 3 years ago. Its in Ireland and the original was a 200 year old cottage. therefore not listed at all. mum added onto the front and made what I consider to be a very ugly 4 bed, 1 bath house with way too many corridors. Id really like to meet an architect with vision who would help me re design the interior completely and part of the front of the house. So much needs to be done to it and I should sell it but I cant give it away in the present economic climate, so I think it would be nice to add value and possibly rent it out or something like that. Ive got no money at present but the economy isnt going to change for at least 5 years and anything could happen. Also I need to something with the 2 acres of land it sits on. Quite pretty location. Hope you can help. Thanks Niki Power

Posted by Nicola Power on 15/03/2009 16:27:43

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Where can I find out who supplied the double glazed windows of a listed building approved by the national trust/ENglish Heritage?

Posted by LouiseHD on 04/03/2009 10:04:21

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Where is a good place to search for buildings in need of development or restoration?

Posted by Natalie Howell on 19/02/2009 13:03:03

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Property Development How To Restore An Old Property

12. Rural Isolation Suits Some Much Better Than Others

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