Victorian Homes Stand The Test Of Time

Victorian properties will never go out of fashion. With their sash and bay windows, the intricate cornicing in the high ceilings, beautiful fireplaces in every room, patterned tiles and stained glass, it’s not that surprising.

There is also the draw of our love affair with the period. We only have to see the viewing figures for our favourite period dramas, and who wouldn’t want to live in a house that feels like a part of the glamour of TV drama?

The high demand for these properties, both for more common terraces as well as fabulous detached homes, ensures that Victorian properties command a premium over relatively more modern homes.

The Victorians were a particularly house proud society, and the advances in building technology at the time meant the middle classes could afford to build relatively grand houses packed with beautiful features.

They built their homes to last, which is why there’s still so much stock available today. The Victorians built many of the transport links and infrastructures we still use today, meaning that you will usually find housing of that era in many areas close to shops and stations.

The generous proportions of Victorian homes are particularly popular with families and buyers who are attracted to the ease with which they can be extended and modernised.

The architects of the time were put through their paces at the time, to keep up with a growing population. As the population increased, builders responded to demand by the middle classes looking to move to larger houses away from cramped, back-to-back terraces.

Victorian properties fell out of favour during the 1960s and 1970s, and many of their much-loved features were removed. Hardboard concealed panelled doors, features were stripped of paint, and ceiling roses and cornicing torn down. Fireplaces were thrown out and tiles ripped off the walls. Thankfully, many have been restored sympathetically.

Not only do these properties provide appealing homes, but they are also a good investment. The resale value for Victorian houses is strong.

If you’re restoring your Victorian home, and need coving specialists in London, get in touch.

What Features Make A Property A Period Home?

What Features Make A Property A Period Home?

On the whole, the architecture of England is a mix of different styles, ranging from the stucco-fronted Georgian homes to the ultra modern developments and complexes present in every city. But what are the features that denote your home as being a period property? Victorian coving throughout your home could be a clue, so here’s a guide to other features

With UK house price growth undergoing a 14-month high, it could be beneficial to know how to best market your home, should you be considering selling.

The Georgian period spans from 1714 until 1830, with Late Georgian styles from 1830 to 1837. Properties built in this period were built to be spacious and comfortable, with grand proportions that emphasised a heightened sense of space and light.

It was typical during this era for the first two storeys to be occupied by the owner and their family, while the staff and servants lived on the upper two floors. This is why the rooms in the top storeys are usually smaller, having smaller windows and lower ceilings, in contrast to the elegance of the family home below.

Georgian properties typically had a noticeable feature, the appearance of a bricked up window, which was due to the window tax between 1696 and 1851. The window tax was the equivalent of income tax - the more windows a property had, the greater wealth of the owner.

The window was bricked up as a tax avoidance strategy, reducing the rate of tax that needed to be paid. After the end of the window tax, rather than reinstate the window, many owners decided to leave them as they were.

The style was very much based around symmetry, with the houses appearing rather plain, with simple facades. They were built with brick and stone, later with stucco, and sash windows were a constant feature.

The homes were typically three or four storeys, render painted cream or white on the ground floor during earlier period properties. They had a symmetrical flat appearance, with a balanced layout in the interior, and were often build around garden squares, as most did not have a garden of their own.

Cities such as Glasgow and Manchester have architecture with much stronger links to the Victorian period, to reflect the industrial boom during the reign of Queen Victoria. The gothic revival between 1837 and 1901 meant that homes built around then had a more asymmetric design, with pointed arches and elaborate patterns.

The majority of homes built before the Victorian period were owned by the gentry, or at least wealthy landowners, whereas wealth in the Victorian era was spread across society in the wake of the Industrial Revolution and houses became less grand and more accessible.

This meant that it was necessary to build more homes, which is why the Victorian period is characterised by rows of terraced housing on narrow streets.

Homes from both these eras were constructed for during quality and charm, and the enduring appeal of them is testament to this.

If you’re looking for Victorian coving and plastering specialists in London, get in touch today.

A Guide To Plaster In Old Homes

A GUIDE TO PLASTER IN OLD HOMES

Understanding and maintaining the plaster in an old home is an essential aspect of owning a period property. Discovering what type of plaster you have, and how to go about repairing it will help when it comes to renovations. Victorian coving specialists in London can guide you!

There are plenty of reasons why you might be looking at renovations in 2020, whether you just want to breathe a new lease of life in to your home, or are thinking of selling, and improve your valuations and impress potential buyers.

Original plaster adds unbeatable charm and quality to a period home, the traditional lime and clay formulas have a soft appearance, full of character. It’s important for the breathability of the plaster to allow the old brick and stone walls to have the moisture within them evaporate. This helps avoid damp and condensation.

To help identify what kind of plaster you have:

•   Lime plaster is traditional in houses that pre-date 1919, but has been used up until the 1950s, until plasterboard and gypsum took over.

•   A pinkish colour would indicate a plaster bound with gypsum.

•   Off-white plaster is typical of a lime plaster.

•   A more earthy colour suggests an earth binder.

Look closely at the walls, as the plaster may have, or be hiding intriguing evidence of the house’s history. There could be decorative details and scheme, and wall paintings were typical of pre-Georgian houses.

If you’re finding that the plaster, especially in the ceiling, is cracked, loose, crumbling and flaking, or has completely missing areas, then don’t despair. Repair is often available rather than having to completely replace it.

If you’re in need of specialists to come advise you, or repair plaster coving and ceiling decoration, get in touch today to speak with one of our knowledgable specialists.