Where do I start with renovation a 1960s 3 bed semi

[mrswimpeydimple]

Oh wise Mners, please help. I am in the process of purchasing my parents house. DF passed away some years ago and DM moving to a retirement flat. This is my family home and where I spent all my childhood so I know the place inside out as it were.

The problem is it hasn't had any major work done on it since the 1980s and is somewhat stuck there. But, its is actually in absolute pristine condition, even if very very dated. A small list of major jobs are:

Central heating system. Boiler is at least 15 years old and a floor standing monster in the utility end of garage. The controls are an ancient dial. Radiators are the original ones put in in circa 1962. IMO the whole lot needs updating with a condensing boiler and new rads. Not planning loft conversion so happy with water tank in loft (has been replaced from original).

Electrics. Was rewired in mid-80s but fuse box is v.old and needs updating to a new consumer box. Possibly need new sockets and wiring checked??

The bathroom needs replacing. Currently pink but with no shower over bath and I can't cope without a shower.

The third and smallest bedroom has had wooden fitted wardrobes built into it on both sides, so they all need to be ripped out to make this back into a bedroom.

All the walls in the house have anaglypta that has been painted over. There is also a LOT of pine cladding - lounge chimney breast, wall at end of lounge, same wall in dining room, up the stairs etc. All got to come off and out! Would this amount of work, and the ripping out of the wardrobes, be something a decorator would be able to do?

I would also like to extend the kitchen/dining/utility/cloakroom out into the back garden. Plenty of space and several neighbours have done this. I can't afford to do this until DS starts school in 2yrs time and I've stopped paying full time nursery fees.

So, the big question is, do I press ahead with the boiler/elecs/bathroom and decorating bedrooms before I start anything to do with the downstairs extensions, or do I get an architect in first and get these done in a couple of years as part of the extension project.

Any advice would be HUGELY appreciated.

Why not get an architect in so you have a rough idea of what you'd like to do, then upgrade the boiler and wiring allowing for the later extension. So you'd spec a larger boiler than you currently need, and have spare capacity in your new consumer unit so you can add new circuits when you need them. If you can site the boiler and the consumer unit somewhere near the back of the house then it will be easier to install new pipe runs/wiring out to the extension.

I'd go ahead with the bathrooms and the worst of the decorating now as well.

What fresh said.
We were in our house for 8 years before we got round to the kitchen/utility/cloakroom extension (which upstairs added two bedrooms and a bathroom). By the time we started the extension the original part of the house was renovated and decorated to our taste. We had put the new boiler in not long after moving in (with spare capacity for the proposed additional space).
This timescale meant we were able to save towards the costs of the extension rather than raising additional mortgage. But it also meant it was time to re-decorate all originally done rooms once the extension was complete!
HTH

I agree with getting the architect in first as then you will have a grand plan to work within/towards. It will save having to do things twice/move stuff that doesnt work with your long term plans.

If rewired in the 80s it is probably due again as you will not want to do it a few years after you finish decorating and extending.

As you can start from scratch really think hard about your electrics eg numbers of sockets, having lamps on sockets that switch from the wall by the door etc.

Also go mega on energy saving stuff and insulation. Fuel costs are only going to go up so you have the chance to protect yourself against that. Look at insulation, double glazing, draughtproofing, solar water heating etc. It's not sexy but it makes a big difference to spare cash and quality of life!

Think you might need a labourer to do your strip out stuff before getting a decorator in. Also test the wallpaper stripping. You may need to get a plaster skim coat.

Good luck.

You could save cash by removing the wardrobes and pine cladding yourself, all it takes is good screwdriver, perhaps a crowbar and hammer and energy!!

sixtiespalace.blogspot.com

Have a look at that - blow by blow account of renovating a 1961 house

Thank you everyone for your responses. Architect it is first then. In the meantime that blog is fab reading