victorian homes

[eatshitndie]

i have always wanted a victorian home... as part of my real estate collection... and finally will be a proud owner soon.

over 100 years old, ornate trims, colorful exterior, amazing architecture, exquisite carpentry, etc., dying breed... they are called vintage homes, harking back to the days of queen anne and queen victoria, old times when they were first built. many still stand today in the santa clara valley, even after the devastating 1906 earthquake. all they need are good owners and a little tender loving care.

below are some fine examples:

 

[eatshitndie]

mine is similar to a princess anne home as shown below:

 

[neddy]

mine is similar to a princess anne home as shown below:

Congrats!

I was talking to my American friend about his parents house.
These vic houses require more TLC (tender loving care)
Remember, many are over 100 yo.

Eg.
Need to check the nails used in the slate roof to stop rust. slates are known to break when rusty nails expand. A hazard if falling over the gutters.

Corrosion inside the iron fixing in the cavity walls cause cracks and dampness to surface. If you find uneven wall surfaces, better do a moisture check.

Same dampness problem in chimmey and ground. In those days, damp proofing is non-existence. Once the plaster is affected by salt, it can be a costly repair.

If the previous owner had not replace the underground lead pipes, you better do. You do not want lead-laced drinking water.

Check the decorative features (including floor tiles). If not repaired, it will cost more to repair later on. Some mouldings are expensive to replace too.

 

[eatshitndie]

there's much work to be done, and it's great for the hobbyist. fortunately, previous owners had it maintained well. the attic was upgraded to include new insulation and ducts for central heating/air-con. shingle roof was redone. basement were reinforced. pipes were changed to copper tubes. no dry rot, no wet rot. no termites. no water logging in rainy days. some glass on windows were changed to double-pane. much of the exterior retained its old charm and character. newer bathrooms, but original kitchen. will be busy and will update.

 

[axe168]

there's much work to be done, and it's great for the hobbyist. fortunately, previous owners had it maintained well. the attic was upgraded to include new insulation and ducts for central heating/air-con. shingle roof was redone. basement were reinforced. pipes were changed to copper tubes. no dry rot, no wet rot. no termites. no water logging in rainy days. some glass on windows were changed to double-pane. much of the exterior retained its old charm and character. newer bathrooms, but original kitchen. will be busy and will update.

Hey eatshitndie, congrats !
I'm glad I have another mate here having the same hobby with me I've been busy for the last 6mths, finally I have completed 30%, heehee..

It's my hobby and pride I guess you will feel the same..

 

[redbull313]

i have always wanted a victorian home... as part of my real estate collection... and finally will be a proud owner soon.


[IMG[/IMG]

I bought and flipped two of these during the 2004-2006 boom. Both of them had the old knob and tube wiring so we had to rewire the whole house. A couple rolls from the home depot and five days of labor. That was a real pain.Hopefully the plumbing has been upgraded from cast iron/galvanized to PVC too but this must have been done by now. many code enforcement locales are letting existing wiring slide in these older houses.

They look totally awesome when in good condition, especially with hardwood floors and the fireplace(s). I love to restore those old floors!. A word about insulation. These houses leak! But those old gorgeous frame windows ADD value to these old houses and if you are thinking about replacing any with new metal ones try to find the frames at your local rebulding yard. I found several with the correct "lights" and size and buyers are looking to remain original here.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[redbull313]

Congrats!

I was talking to my American friend about his parents house.
These vic houses require more TLC (tender loving care)
Remember, many are over 100 yo.

Eg.
Need to check the nails used in the slate roof to stop rust. slates are known to break when rusty nails expand. A hazard if falling over the gutters.

Corrosion inside the iron fixing in the cavity walls cause cracks and dampness to surface. If you find uneven wall surfaces, better do a moisture check.

Check the decorative features (including floor tiles). If not repaired, it will cost more to repair later on. Some mouldings are expensive to replace too.

Joshie I dont know where you are but most roofs here are shingle, metal or tile. Those pics have shingle roofs on them and they typically last 15 years but you can add up to two layers on top before the whole roof needs to be stripped. I think you are also referring to lead paint? here in the US before 1978 some older dwellings had lead based paint.

this sure aint Australia, baby!

 

[kensington]

Potential bottomless money pit with all those old plumbings and re-wirings and those-that-you-don't-see-but-tend-to-crop-up-later-problems...abestos, cancer causing carcinogens-breathing materials, for instance.

It will be easier and cheaper to opt for a replica-built with the old ways and old looks but build with modern material throughout and also cheaper maintenance in the long run.

It is okay though if you are a builder or a handyman yourself and really know what you are actually getting into but it is a no-no for vanity reason to wanting to own a house that is a century or more older than you are.


Happy house-huntings, anyway...

 

[earmosim]

In auckland, those houses are called villa. i like villa houses in Davonports, some of them fetch million of dollars.

For those villa lovers, look up northcote point, birkenhead points, davonports, for your next visit to auckland. stepping into those places are like stepping into history.

 

[eatshitndie]

thank you guys. it's not for the faint of heart. once committed, the restorer has to fulfil the vision of a completed project. i start with the basement. the foundation must have integrity and free from cracks. the soil condition must be dense and stable enough. most often, ground and surface water in the soil can cause a lot of problems, especially in wet seasons. vapor effervescence seeping thru' the concrete foundation is another thing to watch out for. luckily, none of these problems are identifiable. next, the wood beams supporting the 1st floor. if there's no rotting and termite damage, great. these beams can last for ages. you seldom see such fine wood in new homes anymore. a reason why these homes are over 100 years old is because these are great homes built on great wood. of course, if there's prolonged termite, water or fire damage to the wood, the integrity of the house is at stake. the most i'm wary of is termite. with a termite inspection done and house termite-treated, if needed, the rest of the stuff is a matter of paying attention to detail, and getting the right craftsman, carpenter or contractor. let's use this thread to share info about vintage home restoration. thanks all.

 

[axe168]

Let me add a few words ..

i start with the basement.the foundation must have integrity and free from cracks.

You must be referring to the column stumps (normally above the ground level). It could be timber stumps, concrete or bricks. A timber stump must be probably terminated by a steel capping when joining to upper timber joists or beams ~ to prevent termites from penetrating thru the timber.

the soil condition must be dense and stable enough. most often, ground and surface water in the soil can cause a lot of problems, especially in wet seasons. vapor effervescence seeping thru' the concrete foundation is another thing to watch out for. luckily, none of these problems are identifiable.

The earth/soil underneath the house must be higher than the external ground.. this is to prevent water ponding and mosquitoes breeding issue.

next, the wood beams supporting the 1st floor. if there's no rotting and termite damage, great. these beams can last for ages. you seldom see such fine wood in new homes anymore. a reason why these homes are over 100 years old is because these are great homes built on great wood.

These members are built by solid woods, when "treated" it should last for many years.. timbers could be easily replaced or repaired..

of course, if there's prolonged termite, water or fire damage to the wood, the integrity of the house is at stake.

Make sure the timbers are treated.

the most i'm wary of is termite. with a termite inspection done and house termite-treated, if needed,

Beware, human eyes are unlikely to detect the termites - only seek specialist with infra/thermo camera.. it can look thru timbers, studs, walls etc.. dampness, termites and large insects can be detected.. ask for a scan report.

the rest of the stuff is a matter of paying attention to detail, and getting the right craftsman, carpenter or contractor

Restoration works can be costly, Ouch !@

 

[neddy]

Joshie I dont know where you are but most roofs here are shingle, metal or tile. Those pics have shingle roofs on them and they typically last 15 years but you can add up to two layers on top before the whole roof needs to be stripped. I think you are also referring to lead paint? here in the US before 1978 some older dwellings had lead based paint.

this sure aint Australia, baby!

Ok OK lah. Let you win this argument.

Shingle was made of slate, but in modern time, it can be other materials. And modern ones use plastic support, not nails.

As for lead, I am referring to the underground water pipes. Unlike the UK where wooden pipes are used in victorian houses, in the USA, there is great possiblity that lead pipes may be used. It really depends on where you are .. New England or .....

You enjoy your ObamaCare, I enjoy my Kangaroo super high tax. To each his own.

 

[neddy]

Potential bottomless money pit with all those old plumbings and re-wirings and those-that-you-don't-see-but-tend-to-crop-up-later-problems...abestos, cancer causing carcinogens-breathing materials, for instance.

It will be easier and cheaper to opt for a replica-built with the old ways and old looks but build with modern material throughout and also cheaper maintenance in the long run.

It is okay though if you are a builder or a handyman yourself and really know what you are actually getting into but it is a no-no for vanity reason to wanting to own a house that is a century or more older than you are.


Happy house-huntings, anyway...

There is nothing more satisfying like an authentic vintage house.
It will be nice to restore them to their original glory.

My dream is to buy a restored house in morocco

And turn it into a guesthouse
http://www.dar-iman.com/

 

[eatshitndie]

http://www.sanjosevictorian.com/

http://www.victorianwalk.com/

 

[eatshitndie]

http://www.oldhousephotogallery.com/

http://www.victorianstation.com/vicarch.html

 

[eatshitndie]

errata... should be "efflorescence" and not "effervescence".

 

[kansas]

Places like Italy have nice houses too