Renovating a Victorian or an Edwardian property (London) 2021

London is littered with an array of Victorian and Edwardian period properties. What makes them so unique is that they hold lots of character, have great history and host lots of beautiful features. However, renovating these period properties can have their difficulties such as:

• Maintaining and celebrating period features
• Combining old designs with modern living
• Making older houses more sustainable

Our team of London Architects and Designers have lots of experience with dealing with these period properties, and we want to help you.

So, what makes my Victorian or Edwardian home so unique? 

Victorian Period: 1837 to 1901.  

Built under the rule of Queen Victoria I, to deal with a growing population and the boom of the middle class.     These properties typically have: 

• Coloured brickwork 
• High Pitched Roof 
• Narrow Hall 
• Large Bay Windows 
• Fire Places in every room 
• Elaborate Designs (Wealth) – Geometric tilled halls, Stained Windows 

Edwardian Period: 1901 to 1914. 

King Edwards VII reign was far shorter than his mother’s. However, the Architectural period continued even after his death in 1910, lasting until 1914 and was stopped due to the start of WW1.   These properties typically have: 

• Red Bricks 
• Mock Tudor Timber Cladding 
• Wide Hallways 
• Parquet wood flooring 
• Wider Brighter Rooms 
• Taller Ceilings 

Upgrading the insulation in your home

Insulation may not be the most glamorous of subjects, but it is a great starting place to save you your hard-earned money, literally seeping out of your house. Older properties don’t hold their heat compared to modern builds, as there have been vast improvements in technology and build quality. The heating in your home could be leaking through your roof, your walls and your floors, costing you money and increasing your homes ecological footprint. These costs will build, so we recommend improving the insulation of your home in the areas where it is leaking.  But how good is my current insulation?   If you are unsure of its performance and want to get an expert’s advice, experts can use thermal imagery to show its performance and areas which need improving.

Upgrading acoustics to limit noise between you and your neighbours

Many of the Victorian and Edwardian properties in London are terrace houses, and due to their design, they are ideal to be renovated into flats or maisonettes.   You may find in your home that noise between you and your neighbours is an issue. This could either be:  

• Airborne Noise – A person voice carrying through walls 
• Impact Noise – A child upstairs jumping up and down

A sound test is not necessary unless you are building a new home, although it could be helpful if the issue is severe. There are ways of limiting these issues by using suitable materials or making other tweaks in home renovation plans.  To find out more, read our blog on acoustic testing and how to resolve any noise issues.

• TOP TIP – To get inspiration about interior designs and other great household ideas check out Pinterest

Interior design which restores and celebrates traditional features

As mentioned previously, we think that it is vital that a home’s original features should be celebrated because these are the things that gave it the character that made you fall in love with it in the first place. It is what makes your house unique and gives it character.  These are the features which you might find in your home. 

• Bay and Sash Windows 
• Cornicing 
• Fireplaces 
• Architraves 
• Original flooring
• Decorative wall features 
• High Ceilings

We know how difficult it can be to battle modern tastes with restoring classical heritage. Our team of skilled Interior Architects and Designers would love to help you design your home to meet all of your preferences and create for you a home to be proud of.

Upgrading the windows and keeping their character

Unfortunately, the beautiful sash and bay windows that you often find in period Victorian or Edwardian homes usually have thin, fragile glass – often 2mm to 4mm. This means your heat costs are exiting and busy London noise pollution is entering.

But what if I don’t want to lose the character of my period windows? 

Luckily, there are window specialists in abundance in London that will look to restore your existing windows or build for you bespoke period double glazed windows that will tick all the boxes.   We recommend that you spend time on this, do your research and find the right supplier. This is one of the areas which is difficult when keeping your homes charisma and improving sustainability/functionality.  Here at Aura Architecture, we can help you find suitable suppliers who can tackle these issues because we have experience in working alongside different suppliers and contractors. 

Important: It’s vital to get expert advice when removing internal walls to ensure they are not structural.  We can help you find a structural engineer.

Creating communal living spaces

A common issue in period homes is combining it with modern living. Living spaces have evolved since Edwardian times; they have become open and expansive by combining the kitchen with other living spaces.  Combining the living and kitchen area in older properties will mean that internal walls will need to be removed. It will improve the flow of the house, increases the lighting and provides communal space. Doing this can have its difficulties as there are many factors to consider.   We have lots of experience in working London period properties, and our team of Architects and Designers would love to help you renovate your period property.

So, if you have any plans for renovation or think that we could help you, why not download your FREE Online 10-Step Design Guide.

Waterproofing your Cellar or Basement

In London, Victorian and Edwardian properties often have a cellar or basement, which can be a great use of additional space or even just storage. If you’re already using this space or not, it’s essential to make sure that it is fully waterproof and damp free. Below level floors usually have damp issues because of: 

• Poor Ventilation 
• Cold Surfaces 
• Faulty Gutters and Drains 
• Ground Water 

In the industry, we often see these homes getting rising dampness and other moisture issues. Correcting the problem sooner rather than later lowers the risk of future, unexpected costs.  We always recommend doing your research and get an expert to give you the best advice. 

Converting your  Loft

Converting a loft into an extra room is a fantastic way to add another bedroom to your home, improving your lifestyle and is a great way to boost your properties value.    There are several different types of loft extensions, enabling you to maximise the space you already have. Choosing the correct style depends on various factors: 

• What are the different types?
• Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
• How much will a loft extension cost?

We already have all of this covered. Read our Blog on Loft conversions in London to answer your questions! Whenever getting an extension, it’s essential to make the most of your budget. You want to get the highest quality, limit any issues and increase the value of your home. We have experience in all of those things, and we want to help you.

Upgrading the Central Heating System to get more room space

Still, the most common type of hot water system in the UK is the Vented Cylinder; this will be a copper tank – which is usually located in the loft, as it uses gravity to drive the hot water around the house.  The newer Unvented Cylinder System was made legal in 1987. It differs as it is connected directly to the cold-water mains and uses the pressure from the mains to pump the water around the house.

A significant benefit of this is that it frees up space in your loft for an extra room, as it can be located anywhere in the home, depending on the plumbing system. The extra pressure will also provide more effective flow rates giving you better quality showers, baths and more reliable heating. If you are thinking of adding a spare bedroom into your loft, this will be great to increase the available living space up there, all while improving the quality of your hot water system.

Examining and replacing old drainage systems

Popular with Victorian and Edwardian plumbers was the use of clay underground piping. Since then, plumbers have moved on with the times and are using more durable PVC plastic piping because clay piping is fragile and will crack over time, leading to roots growing through and blockages being formed.   Blockages can become expensive to fix and could flood your home; this is why it is always great to get on top of it before it happens!

An excellent way to examine the type and condition of your drainage system is to get a CCTV drainage survey undertaken.

These surveyors use high tech CCTV cameras that are pushed along the pipeline, examining the pipe condition and highlighting areas where it needs repairing by providing a report.