Get the right advice when renovating a heritage listed home

Jul 26, 2013

Few can resist the charm of an old home, soaked in history and wonder. However, if your dream home is heritage listed, renovating or restoring it to its former glory may not be as easy as first perceived.

If you want to renovate a heritage listed home, there are certain rules governing what you can and can’t do. Thankfully at Containaway, we’ve put together a few handy hints to help you negotiate the rules of renovating a heritage listed home:

Find out the home’s status

Your home might be old but don’t assume it is heritage listed. Heritage listed homes are registered as having historical significance to the area they are situated in. This does not mean they are old; they may be listed because they are associated with important phases in the history of an area or with persons or events of great importance or perhaps they have been constructed with unusual materials. It’s always a good idea to check.

All levels of government in Australia have heritage registers that can tell you if your home falls into this category.

Research

You might want to just get in and start knocking down walls but take the time to research your home before making any rash decisions. Learn as much as you can about the period, the style of your property and the neighbourhood. Your local library is a good place to start.

Get the right people

If you’re undertaking a major renovation, it’s a good idea to seek advice from a reputable architect, designer or builder who has experience in heritage projects.

Seek council approval

Once you know what you want to do, get approval to do it. Depending on where you live, you will need to lodge an application with your local council or state heritage council. While you’re there check with the council to see if there are any restrictions on what materials or paint colours can be used.

 Check the house for contaminants

Do not allow anyone to start work on your renovation until you have established whether there are any contaminants in the existing building. If the house was constructed during the period of 1919 to the early 1980s, you should check for asbestos and lead paint.

For information, speak to your local council, architect or a registered builder.

 Ask for help

Did you know that some Councils provide financial assistance by way of grants to local residents restoring historical homes? It’s worth looking into. In any case, most Councils will provide you with expert advice on how to best tackle your renovation.

Once you have everything in place, give Containaway a call. We can store your belongings in one our safe and clean storage facilities for the duration of your renovation.