Renovating an
Photography by Ridgewater Homes,
www.ridgewater.ca
OLDER HOME
AS MUCH AS WE MIGHT SEE IT HAPPENING AROUND US, NOT MANY CAN SAY THEY'RE WELL-VERSED IN
CONSTRUCTION. WE ASKED RENOVATIONS AND BUILDING EXPERT, DARYL BERDEN OF RIDGEWATER HOMES,
YOUR HERITAGE HOME RENOVATIONS QUESTIONS.
CANADIAN HOME TRENDS HOW DO
YOU FEEL ABOUT HERITAGE HOMES
BEING DEMOLISHED?
DARYL BERDEN Unfortunately,
the demolition of heritage structures
happens all-too-frequently. Rather than
eliminating these structures entirely, we
should be preserving what we can for
environmental and cost-related reasons.
Oftentimes, heritage homes are structurally
sound and have good bones, and the
process of preserving them and improving
upon the aesthetic detailing takes a lesser
environmental toll than building from scratch.
Preserving heritage homes also allows us
to blend old and new, to create something
unique, mid-modern, and durable.
CHT IS IT WORTH RENOVATING AN
OLD HOUSE?
DB As with any major construction project,
renovating an older build takes a lot of
research, work, and dedication. Oftentimes,
you can't know what you're getting into, in
terms of internal wear and tear, until you've
started renovating, so you have to anticipate
some surprises, which could cost you time
and money. Ultimately, renovating an older
home tends to be a lot more work than
building new, but in the end, you'll have a
new property that's built to last and that has
history.
CHT WHAT'S THE MOST COMMON
THING PEOPLE ASK FOR IN A KITCHEN
RENOVATION?
CB To eliminate walls and create an open
floor plan, so that you have more space to
entertain guests and convene with family.
When you open up a floor plan, not only do
you create more space but you make better
use of your natural light. - Text by Zakiya Kassam