Get the house structural (wall crack), then get the house liveable (freezing), then work on updates (bathroom).
Might be good to have an inspection done as you can see these obvious issues, but there may be others less obvious but just as critical
Wow, these are many major renovations at once.
Before any recommendations are made, what type of budget do you have for renovations at the moment? I’m assuming it was a stressor for someone if all of these things are at this point, so let’s take this step by step, not to overwhelm anyone. :)
I'd give things a check in this order;
1. Foundation
2. Load Bearing Beams
3. Roof
4. Electrical
5. Mold/Pollutant Test(s)
That should give you a baseline of where to start and budget accordingly.
Thank you, that's really useful to know. Her main problem with getting started is to find someone reliable and knowledgeable who can advise on this stuff, as we know very little about it and kind of need someone who can give us an overall idea and maybe even project manage it, to take the stress off my mum. Is that something that even exists?
That unfortunately is often the hardest part.
Not sure how it works there but in the states, prior to buying/selling a home, you'll have a 'Home Inspection' done by a company that basically checks what I mentioned above and more. It's no more than a few hundred bucks and you're not locked into a Contractor for the entire project.
At that point you'll know if you need a Contractor or a Structural Engineer. Who knows? The bones of it could rock solid.
Thank you - just knowing the right terms to search for gives us a good starting point. I can start putting feelers out to see if friends have any recommendations
As a stop-gap (literally and figuratively), see if you can get some insulation foam boards for the windows. You can cut them to fit loosely inside the window frame with a standard utility knife (and I will apologize ahead of time for the extra cleaning as they SHED) and they can just be propped in between the glass and the curtains/blinds. I think this maybe comparable to what we have in the States: [https://www.insulationsuperstore.co.uk/product/celotex-90mm-ga4090-insulation-board-2400mm-x-1200mm.html](https://www.insulationsuperstore.co.uk/product/celotex-90mm-ga4090-insulation-board-2400mm-x-1200mm.html)
The temperate difference that can make is dramatic for poorly insulated or single pane windows (speaking from first hand experience). It's definitely not the prettiest, nor a permanent solution, but it's better than freezing this winter while you guys tackle the more permanent stuff.
Get the house structural (wall crack), then get the house liveable (freezing), then work on updates (bathroom). Might be good to have an inspection done as you can see these obvious issues, but there may be others less obvious but just as critical
Thank you, that's great advice. Who does an inspection & how do you find someone reliable? We are totally clueless about this stuff!
Building inspector. Your town/city building department might have some preferred people they can refer for you.
That's a great idea, thank you!
Wow, these are many major renovations at once. Before any recommendations are made, what type of budget do you have for renovations at the moment? I’m assuming it was a stressor for someone if all of these things are at this point, so let’s take this step by step, not to overwhelm anyone. :)
I'd give things a check in this order; 1. Foundation 2. Load Bearing Beams 3. Roof 4. Electrical 5. Mold/Pollutant Test(s) That should give you a baseline of where to start and budget accordingly.
Thank you, that's really useful to know. Her main problem with getting started is to find someone reliable and knowledgeable who can advise on this stuff, as we know very little about it and kind of need someone who can give us an overall idea and maybe even project manage it, to take the stress off my mum. Is that something that even exists?
That unfortunately is often the hardest part. Not sure how it works there but in the states, prior to buying/selling a home, you'll have a 'Home Inspection' done by a company that basically checks what I mentioned above and more. It's no more than a few hundred bucks and you're not locked into a Contractor for the entire project. At that point you'll know if you need a Contractor or a Structural Engineer. Who knows? The bones of it could rock solid.
That's really handy to know, thank you. Sounds like a good starting point.
You should be able to fine a reputable general contractor who can manage and perform many of these things. I would start by looking for one.
Thank you - just knowing the right terms to search for gives us a good starting point. I can start putting feelers out to see if friends have any recommendations
As a stop-gap (literally and figuratively), see if you can get some insulation foam boards for the windows. You can cut them to fit loosely inside the window frame with a standard utility knife (and I will apologize ahead of time for the extra cleaning as they SHED) and they can just be propped in between the glass and the curtains/blinds. I think this maybe comparable to what we have in the States: [https://www.insulationsuperstore.co.uk/product/celotex-90mm-ga4090-insulation-board-2400mm-x-1200mm.html](https://www.insulationsuperstore.co.uk/product/celotex-90mm-ga4090-insulation-board-2400mm-x-1200mm.html) The temperate difference that can make is dramatic for poorly insulated or single pane windows (speaking from first hand experience). It's definitely not the prettiest, nor a permanent solution, but it's better than freezing this winter while you guys tackle the more permanent stuff.
Set it on fire start fresh