What to consider in a renovation of a single-family home

Single-family homes are common on the outskirts of large cities. For years now, many people have been opting for this way of life, which allows for more contact with nature and offers a much desirable degree of privacy.

During the confinement caused by the covid-19 pandemic, the inhabitants of detached houses certainly had a lot more breathing space than those living in flats. They could walk in the garden or take the air on the terrace.

At this point, needs that may not have been previously considered also became apparent. Many people realised that there was a need for a renovation of the spaces.

A renovation project for a single-family house has many points in common with the transformation of other types of property. However, there are issues such as the roof or the cover that require a lot of attention.

At Molins Design we have developed many renovation projects in single-family houses. This experience has allowed us to identify a series of previous issues that should be taken into account before carrying out the transformation. In this article we remind you of them.

The first thing to take into account when renovating a single-family house is to attend to the needs of the inhabitants. It is important to know the tastes of the people who are going to live in the house in order to achieve a decorative style in accordance. This, which seems obvious, will be the basis for a large part of the renovation that will be carried out.

A good approach is to answer questions. For example: how many people will live in the house? Will there be only adults or also children? Is it necessary to open the kitchen to the dining room?

Is it necessary to create a completely new room, will the bathtub be replaced by a larger shower?

These may be some of the questions to ask. Surely, from your own answers you will be able to find out more aspects to specify.

The location of the house will significantly affect the renovation of a detached house. Now is the best time to take advantage of the advantages of the location when considering a renovation.

If the orientation of the house is south or south-east, the property will enjoy many hours of sunshine. For this reason, it is advisable to take advantage of natural light. The renovation of the detached house can involve the installation of glazed structures facing outwards or the enlargement of the windows.

Similarly, if you enjoy the long-lasting incidence of the sun’s rays, you can consider installing solar panels on the roof. This will result in a more sustainable and efficient dwelling and considerable energy savings.

On the other hand, if the single-family house is located in an area with abundant rainfall, the renovation should address this issue. It will be necessary to properly insulate the property from humidity and it is also possible to install a system to take advantage of rainwater for irrigation, for example.

Finally, the choice of materials to be used in the renovation of a detached house can vary considerably depending on the location. If it is a cold area, resistant materials will be necessary, while if it is a warm area, they may be lighter.

Before renovation work on a single-family house, it is necessary, advisable and almost obligatory to check the structure of the building. This step will provide information for carrying out work on certain areas of the house’s structure.

You can start by inspecting the condition of the roof and deck. It may be time to renew the exterior insulation using extruded polystyrene placed under the shingles. Possible water leaks and leaks should also be located. These will need to be repaired and eliminated.

The revision of walls also includes possible problems of dampness or cracks. Likewise, it is highly recommended to check the state of the enclosures, windows or skylights.

In this way, possible water ingress or faulty fittings that facilitate the leakage of air from the interior of the house will be located. The installation of energy-efficient windows is highly recommended.

Finally, it is advisable to check the state of the water, electricity and/or gas installations. Insulating water pipes is a good idea to save energy. At this point, it is worth considering how far the energy efficiency of the house goes and whether it can be improved with the renovation.

The last piece of advice for the renovation of a single-family home is to consider the interior layout. It is necessary to define the spaces so that they are functional and aesthetic. This is where you can propose the construction of a kitchen with an island or the installation of a breakfast bar.

With teleworking becoming the norm, it may be necessary to fit out a room for it. It is always a good idea to provide the room with some acoustic insulation and to place furniture for laptops, printers, notebooks or other work tools.

If the children have already become independent, the renovation of the detached house can create new areas. A library or reading room can be planned in the son’s former bedroom or a sports room in the daughter’s bedroom.

All of this should be planned before the renovation is undertaken so that the electrical installation provides light or power points in areas where they do not exist at present.