ᐅ Partial Renovation of an End-Terrace House Built in 2002 – Experiences?
Created on: 3 Nov 2024 20:28
G
galois77
Dear building experts,
We own an end-of-terrace house built in 2002 (about 130 m² (1,400 sq ft); basement + 3 floors; still using the original gas heating system; no photovoltaic panels, which according to the local energy advisor is due to the limited roof space because of the dormer). We have two small children, which is why we have not renovated the kitchen so far, but this will soon become necessary. This is also prompting us to consider further (partial) renovations. I will list the thoughts we have had so far in this context:
1) When the kitchen is removed, this would be THE opportunity to replace the no longer (so) attractive tiles (my wife likes them more, but I definitely don’t). The same tiles are in the hallway, so those would be replaced at the same time. Or am I mistaken, and it would be perfectly fine to replace the tiles a few years later, after the new kitchen is already installed?
2) If we decide to replace the tiles, another decision arises: Considering the age of our gas heating system, it is reasonable to assume that it has already passed its midlife. The future option will naturally be a heat pump (whether combined with some or no photovoltaic panels would have to be determined, but as far as I can judge today, alternative heating solutions other than a heat pump do not make much sense for us. So far, we have had a relatively low to medium gas demand). Therefore, the question is: Does it make sense to consider upgrading to underfloor heating at the same time as the potential tile replacement (if this proves sensible from a thermal perspective — I obviously don’t expect expert advice on this from afar!)? What I mean is: If you install underfloor heating, wouldn’t it make sense to do it while the kitchen floor is already open, or am I wrong here as well? Also, I would never consider replacing a (well-) functioning and maintained gas heating system without a good reason right now. So the question is also whether an early installation of underfloor heating (now, while the floor is open anyway) is even sensible.
3) If the answer to 1) and 2) is yes, then this would apply to the whole house, meaning underfloor heating would also be installed in other rooms, and the floors would be replaced at the same time (taking out laminate, probably installing hardwood flooring).
4) In addition, we would like to have a non-load-bearing wall between the kitchen and living room removed to create an open-plan living-dining area. I would appreciate any opinions, advice, or warnings related to this, if you have any immediate thoughts.
Professionally, I am as far from craftsmanship as the North Pole is from the South Pole, so I welcome encouragement or warnings from you experts. But please don’t overly criticize my possibly naive ideas with your technical knowledge. We are still at the very beginning of our considerations and currently trying to figure out the best sequence of works and, above all, whether we are completely off track with our initial thoughts or heading in the right direction.
Many thanks for your feedback!
We own an end-of-terrace house built in 2002 (about 130 m² (1,400 sq ft); basement + 3 floors; still using the original gas heating system; no photovoltaic panels, which according to the local energy advisor is due to the limited roof space because of the dormer). We have two small children, which is why we have not renovated the kitchen so far, but this will soon become necessary. This is also prompting us to consider further (partial) renovations. I will list the thoughts we have had so far in this context:
1) When the kitchen is removed, this would be THE opportunity to replace the no longer (so) attractive tiles (my wife likes them more, but I definitely don’t). The same tiles are in the hallway, so those would be replaced at the same time. Or am I mistaken, and it would be perfectly fine to replace the tiles a few years later, after the new kitchen is already installed?
2) If we decide to replace the tiles, another decision arises: Considering the age of our gas heating system, it is reasonable to assume that it has already passed its midlife. The future option will naturally be a heat pump (whether combined with some or no photovoltaic panels would have to be determined, but as far as I can judge today, alternative heating solutions other than a heat pump do not make much sense for us. So far, we have had a relatively low to medium gas demand). Therefore, the question is: Does it make sense to consider upgrading to underfloor heating at the same time as the potential tile replacement (if this proves sensible from a thermal perspective — I obviously don’t expect expert advice on this from afar!)? What I mean is: If you install underfloor heating, wouldn’t it make sense to do it while the kitchen floor is already open, or am I wrong here as well? Also, I would never consider replacing a (well-) functioning and maintained gas heating system without a good reason right now. So the question is also whether an early installation of underfloor heating (now, while the floor is open anyway) is even sensible.
3) If the answer to 1) and 2) is yes, then this would apply to the whole house, meaning underfloor heating would also be installed in other rooms, and the floors would be replaced at the same time (taking out laminate, probably installing hardwood flooring).
4) In addition, we would like to have a non-load-bearing wall between the kitchen and living room removed to create an open-plan living-dining area. I would appreciate any opinions, advice, or warnings related to this, if you have any immediate thoughts.
Professionally, I am as far from craftsmanship as the North Pole is from the South Pole, so I welcome encouragement or warnings from you experts. But please don’t overly criticize my possibly naive ideas with your technical knowledge. We are still at the very beginning of our considerations and currently trying to figure out the best sequence of works and, above all, whether we are completely off track with our initial thoughts or heading in the right direction.
Many thanks for your feedback!
galois77 schrieb:
So what would be the reason for you to say: come on, let’s switch houses for real?Changing needs. For example, we currently have 200 sqm (2,150 sq ft) in an older house, which we need with a home office and four children. I love our house but don’t want to grow old here because it’s too large for retirement and spread over two floors. Our plan is to move into a significantly smaller bungalow once all the children have left home (which will take another 15–20 years, so for now we’re renovating)...
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Buchsbaum0664 Nov 2024 07:39SoL schrieb:
Our idea is to move into a significantly smaller bungalow You can plan whatever you want. In my experience, it’s very difficult to predict your needs 20 years down the line, especially if you’ve lived in a house where the children grew up. You don’t just move an old tree. So it’s possible that your plan for the future might eventually be abandoned. Nobody knows what the future will bring.
To get back to the topic:
How much effort is required to install underfloor heating? The house isn’t that old. If you have an anhydrite screed with a reasonable build-up height, it’s no problem to remove it and install underfloor heating. For other types of screed, it depends on how extensive the work is.
I recently visited a friend who bought a townhouse in Erlangen. Terrible. The steep and narrow stairs alone. Plus four floors including a basement living area that even got flooded. Paid 400k for such a cramped place. You can’t even drive up to it with a car. Impossible. You can imagine not wanting to live there forever.
Once you start working on the tiles, and maybe even the screed, it becomes a big, dusty job. Then add in a small wall and this and that during the renovation, some changes to the electrical system or similar, and you might as well gut the entire house and renovate it exactly as you want. But I assume you don’t want that, partly for cost reasons, so you might want to consider changing the property at some point.
I would keep the heating as it is and discuss with your partner (see @11ant) whether and where you want a different floor; perhaps you can find a good compromise.
Depending on the situation, you might be able to lay something directly on top of the tiles or tile over them, or you could just adjust one room, although that might cause issues with doors and other elements.
Underfloor heating is not a "cure" for a problem but simply an alternative heating method that needs to fit the overall situation; almost anything can be done.
Depending on your needs, you could also partially remove the wall and leave a base or half wall in place to achieve the desired openness without breaking up the floor.
I would keep the heating as it is and discuss with your partner (see @11ant) whether and where you want a different floor; perhaps you can find a good compromise.
Depending on the situation, you might be able to lay something directly on top of the tiles or tile over them, or you could just adjust one room, although that might cause issues with doors and other elements.
Underfloor heating is not a "cure" for a problem but simply an alternative heating method that needs to fit the overall situation; almost anything can be done.
Depending on your needs, you could also partially remove the wall and leave a base or half wall in place to achieve the desired openness without breaking up the floor.
galois77 schrieb:
May I ask why you would plan with a long-term perspective to change houses?Because it’s part of life that children grow up and parents get older. Houses are fixed and not adaptable; they don’t evolve with you, and changing houses is often more economical than renovating. A terraced house of this size is generally a very marketable property type, and families with children as potential buyers will still be available even if your family moves into a new phase.galois77 schrieb:
So what motivation would you have to say: come on, let’s switch to a new house specifically?When the kids shift from being residents to just visitors, why keep the station wagon and give up the convertible? YOLO, "at 66 years, life begins ...". Besides, it’s also a way to help prevent dementia, by relocating several times during life. A house is a convertible asset; it shouldn’t just serve as an immobilized investment. As a building consultant, I increasingly work with people like @Nordlys or @Nida35a, who are open to more dynamic options than simply listening to the ticking of a clock on the wall and who do not see installing a stairlift as the only architectural solution.This applies, just like with tiles: don’t live your life ignoring your partner!
See also “Do you really build only once?”, “Misguided paths in forward-looking house planning,” and “When is it time to consider ‘aging in place’?” (search including quotation marks). In the same context, you’ll find “The In-Between House: a Springboard,” which describes the role your current house plays on the market, and in “Developer offers: Caution with special requests” (as well as in my forum posts about the “usual suspects” / Weisenburger, Wengerter, Werner & Co.) the challenges of modifying mid-market houses are explained.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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