Ideas for Remodeling Older Homes

Wood Floors

• Wood floors are in style but finishing the existing floors in an older home may not be an option. If wood is left unattended over long periods of time, warping and rotting can occur. If the wood floors have been covered with carpet and padding, they have been protected and could be in good enough condition to refinish. Another factor to consider is insulation. If there is nothing protecting the wood floor from the crawl space or basement, drafts will be prominent in the winter. It may be easier and more cost effective to cover those wood floors with a sub-floor and finish with stylish wood planks of oak, mahogany, pine, or other selections.

Great Kitchens

• Remodeling a kitchen is great for increasing your home's worth but can be difficult to manipulate in an older home. Unless you have existing cabinets that you want to keep, everything should come out. You will be able to see if there are any open cracks or holes that will then need to be repaired to better insulate the home. Older homes did not allow for state of the art appliances of today and rewiring will be a priority. Draw up a plan to know how everything needs to be positioned. This will take some creativity and hiring a designer is well worth the money. White and stainless steel are timeless for updating a kitchen and keeping the style current in upcoming years.

Open Porches and More

• If your older home is two-story in a saltbox style, an open wraparound porch can give it style by adding depth to your home's exterior. Choose stylish posts that set off the time period of the house and a four-foot matching rail wrapped around. A one-story house can be updated with a pergola that can add an updated look to one section or the entire front of your home. Cedar is a good choice in outdoor wood structures. Canvas awnings make a colorful touch to a house if a porch is not feasible. Available in square, balloon, and custom shapes, awnings will also help cut back on cooling costs in the summer months.