Barclay Macfarlane
- Location. Firstly, check that it fits in with the surroundings.
- Original features. Strutt & Parker’s Housing Futures report found that the top interior design style home buyers look for is ‘traditional’.
- Roofing and ceilings.
- Damp.
- Subsidence.
- Upgrades.
- Rooms and layout.
Are Victorian houses worth it?
It’s because of their design and the quality materials used that have made them a popular feature of many cities in the UK and the demand means that the resale value for a Victorian house is strong.
Is damp common in Victorian houses?
The problem of damp in old houses is not a new one. Designed and built using different methods to those we use now, old properties have a tendency to experience issues with damp and condensation. With over 4 million properties in the UK from the Victorian and Edwardian period alone, it is also a fairly common problem.
What features do Victorian houses have?
Defining features of a Victorian home
- Steep, gabled roofs.
- Round angles.
- Towers, turrets and dormers.
- Shapeley windows, especially bay windows.
- Stained glass.
- Decorative woodwork.
- Bright colors.
Are Victorian houses worth more?
Victorian houses often have bigger room sizes and gardens than new builds, which partly explains the higher prices.
What are 3 characteristics of Victorian design?
Interior design in the Victorian period was layered, cluttered, ornate, and eccentric.
What typical defects would you expect to find in a Victorian building?
Structural defects
It is fair to say, any domestic property could be subject to subsidence, given the right conditions, but Victorian properties in particular are more likely to suffer with lack of lateral restraint, roof spread, lintel failure and differential movement (particularly in bay windows).
Do Victorian houses have cavity walls?
Builders and architects started to experiment with cavity or ‘hollow walls’ from early in the Victorian period. By the first decade of the 20th century, most pattern books for houses included examples of outer walls with two separate leaves of brickwork.
What are signs of moisture in house?
Symptoms include:
- Condensation on windows during the winter.
- Excessive mildew in the bathroom.
- Mold growing on interior surfaces (corner of a closet, kitchen or bathroom).
- Peeling, cracking or blistering paint on exterior or interior finishes.
- Excessive dust mite populations (a cause of dust allergies).
Does a seller have to declare damp?
Damp and mould are not an issue that you can hide with paint and it is a legal requirement for sellers to disclose any such issues with the property to any potential buyers. Failing to disclose this to potential buyers can have serious legal ramifications.
How many colors should a Victorian house have?
three colors
Speaking of color, the quintessential Victorian home’s exterior is comprised of at least three colors; some have as many as nine different hues and shades. Darker colors are meant to enhance unique architectural details, and outlining windows lends character to the home.
Why do Victorian houses have two front doors?
One Door Was Formal, the Other Was Not
While one door may have led to a formal area, the other could have been used for day-to-day business. This thinking applied to other visitors as well—homeowners likely wanted to greet guests at a formal entrance.
What rooms would be in a Victorian house?
The top floor would typically house the servants quarters and the children’s rooms with a nursery. The second floor would include the master bedroom and the second bathroom. On the first floor you’d find the drawing room or parlour, which acted as a receiving room for guests and visitors.
How to add value to a Victorian house?
The 9 Best Ways To Add Value To A Terraced House
- Exterior repairs.
- Interior repairs and restoration.
- Improving energy efficiency.
- Kitchen upgrade.
- Bathroom upgrade.
- Side-return or rear extension.
- Loft conversion.
- Interior refresh.
Can you insulate the walls of a Victorian house?
Yes, if the property has solid walls. You may need to apply for planning permission depending on where you live. If your home was built before the 1920s EWI is likely to be the most suitable wall insulation system, whereas newer homes tend to have cavities that are suited to cavity wall insulation.
Are Victorian houses better than new builds?
Victorian houses often offered more floor space than new builds as they were built at a time when cities were not so densely populated. Because of this, they tend to be bigger than new builds in the first place, as well as having ample opportunity to extend (for example, with a loft conversion or kitchen extension).
What were 5 Victorian ideals?
If we ask academics to enumerate archetypically Victorian values, they might say: prudishness, thrift, individualism, responsibility, self-reliance, an entrepreneurial spirit, the idea of the self-made man, the civilising mission, evangelism to name a few.
What does a typical Victorian house look like?
Queen Anne homes are the quintessential Victorian home: They are asymmetrical, two or three (or more) stories tall, have steeply pitched roofs, and feature large wrap-around porches.
What are Victorian standards?
Generally speaking, Victorian moral codes emphasized faith, charity, and respect. That all sounds swell. However, it generally meant faith in Christianity, charity towards people who that you systemically put down, and respect toward people that were more successful than you.
Do Victorian houses have concrete floors?
Most houses at the end of the Victorian period (1900) were built with suspended ground floors. There were exceptions to this. Many houses had ground floors constructed with stone or clay flags; basements too were covered with flags. These were laid on a bed of ashes or directly onto compacted earth.
How deep are Victorian foundations?
Typical existing foundations
Properties from the Victorian /Edwardian periods frequently only went to depths of just 450-500mm. In fact, the Victorians, famous for their solid brick walls, used to step the brickwork out by a quarter -to- half of the brick’s width over several courses.