Purchasing an older home and refurbishing it can be an exciting experience. It can provide the buyers with an opportunity to save on their budget, but italso can give them projects they will enjoy in the years ahead. Combining a passion for restoration with preservation can be a lifestyle choice. For those interested in the history of a particular home, purchasing a house that needs a great deal of work can present them with life in layers.
Modern homes do have their own pluses when it comes to buying, but they lack the history and charm of a structure decades or centuries old. Older structures that have never had a modern upgrade have generally been remodelled a few times, but layers are added instead of ripped out. This can provide those doing a modern upgrade with a fascinating look at the history of former residents and owners. There may be several layers before the original house is uncovered, and tracing the changes through the history of materials alone can be a new hobby.
Covering up windows, chimneys, and even the floors was often how remodelling was done in the past. While taking carpeting out of rooms, there might be the discovery of historic linoleum that has long been off the market. Removing it carefully could see yet another layer or two of flooring before the original boards are uncovered. This alone can become an interesting look at the different flooring fashions throughout the years. It may even show the level of economic living for previous residents.
Flooring is just one area where layers can be peeled back to reveal the tastes and choices of former owners. Walls may have been added to the original structure as different heating methods became available. For those houses old enough to need fireplaces for warmth originally, coal and gas heaters in the basement may have meant covering up old hearths as the modern fixtures became more important.
