There are always difficulties surrounding the renovation of older homes. But in many cases it is well worth it. The first thing to examine is the structural integrity. Starting with the foundation and working your way up. Electrical and plumbing are next. Then it must be checked for health hazards such as asbestos which was used in cement cladding and spray textured ceilings. Oil based paints containing lead would also be present as would mold depending on the timbers used. Chimneys were not well built then and should be examined. I could go on and on. There may also be some additions and changes made throughout the years - those need to be looked at also to determine whether any structural damage occurred.
Your best bet is to hire a contractor who has worked with older home repair and renovation to ensure all areas of contention are examined.
Hope this helped.

We have worked with some skilled General Contractors on several renovation projects with homes built in the 1930's and 1940's. I agree with Ward Designs that there are many construction and technical issues that need to be addressed with older homes.

Depending on your scope of work, the condition of the existing home and your design aesthetic, the cost to build new home can often be more attractive than a major renovation as your costs are (more ) fixed and you wont' be dealing with any surprises once the walls are opened up as you can with a major renovation .

If you decide to go the renovation route, there are also interior/ exterior design considerations that need to be addressed. Working with existing architectural features and recognizing the fine balance between incorporating modern and traditional design elements is important Our project 'Modern Heritiage' project illustrates how to effectively incorporate a modern design aesthetic while still respecting the traditional elements of an older home. All the best with your project! and please feel free to get in touch if you have any more questions.

Mine is older than that & I would never consider tearing it down.

Restoration is the way to go if it's structurally sound!

Hello Bev.
As you might or might not know - now in the city of Vancouver it's harder for homeowners who own "heritage homes" to tear down and rebuild new.

The laws have changed just recently and that is why it might be best to speak to someone like us to help you through the process - if option 1 of restoring is a route you can explore or 2 if tear down and rebuild is best- as mentioned above maybe the house is structurally sound?

We would need to have a detailed look and see what your wants and needs are for your home.
Glen