Recently, a client approached us, seeking help in fixing up his newly-bought house. The house had been neglected for a long time and was in a rather poor condition, presenting numerous challenges during the renovation process. Here are the summaries of the five main problems we faced and the solutions we took:
- One of the main problems was a hole left by the removed roof chimney, which required a proper repair, and after a search, matching tiles were found and the hole and decorative cornice were carefully fixed.
- Furthermore, there were cracks on the outdoor brick wall, which was partly demolished and risky. We repaired to restore it.
- Meanwhile, the indoor low-sloped roof had poor insulation; thus, a three-step flat drop ceiling was built to increase height, transform appearance, and improve insulation and ventilation.
- Also, we properly finished the new wall opening knocked down between the kitchen and the laundry and finished them differently to match the environment.
- Finally, the walls in the main rooms were in poor condition; therefore, we re-plastered and repainted them.
Repairing the Holes from the Roof Chimney
One of the prominent problems was a hole left after the removal of the roof chimney. Apparently, due to the lack of matching tiles, only a lead roof flash was used to temporarily cover the hole on the roof tiles, which was not a permanent solution.
Additionally, the damage resulting from the hole left by the chimney passing through the roof and the ceiling needed to be repaired. This hole will not merely damage the wooden frame structure of the roof but also exert an influence on the interior ceiling. To find appropriate tiles, we visited a renowned store in Sydney specializing in selling old tiles. However, we failed to find any as the tiles on the roof were overly aged. Thanks to Roof Tiles Recyclers for informing us Recycling Roof Tiles in Doyalson has matching tiles. We drive 100 kilometers to Doyalson and bought 20 tiles back. After that, we carefully repaired the hole and the special decorative cornice, ensuring a smooth and seamless finish.
Suppliers of second-hand roof tiles:
- Roof Tile Recylers Address: 20 Stoddart Rd, Prospect NSW 2148
- Recycling Roof Tiles 100 kilometers away from Sydney. Address: 6 David St, Doyalson NSW 2262
Dealing with the Cracks on the Outdoor Brick Wall
Another issue was the cracks on the outdoor brick wall. Judging from the walls, we supposed that there was once a wall with a door here. However, most of the wall had been demolished, leaving only the wooden frame on one side of the door and the bricks connected to the main wall. This not only looked unsightly but also posed a potential safety hazard. We promptly removed the remaining bricks and wooden posts and meticulously repaired this corner, restoring the integrity of the wall.
Suppliers of the matching bricks:
- The matching bricks were bought from Punchbowl “Outdoor & General” yard
Improving the Indoor Low-Sloped Roof
Inside the house, near the backyard, a section of a low-sloped roof had been added. We observed that the insulation was fixed by a wire mesh, which was highly unsatisfactory. The ceiling height of this house was less than 2.4 meters. To handle this, we built a three-step flat drop ceiling to maximize the ceiling height to the greatest extent possible. This approach not only transformed the appearance but also altered the environment, converting it from a shed-like state into a genuinely habitable one by offering better insulation and ventilation.
Properly finishing the new wall opening knocked down between the kitchen and the laundry
Based on the fact that the wall had been broken through, we also took the initiative to properly finish the new wall opening knocked down between the kitchen and the laundry. To align with the original environment, the kitchen side was finished with gyprock interior, giving it a modern and clean look, while the laundry room side was completed with rendering interior, adding a touch of texture and durability and enabling it to better match the surroundings.
Condition of the Walls in the Main Rooms and Solution
However, the most significant problem we faced was the condition of the walls in the main rooms. They had been entirely smoothed over with soft plaster, such as CSR topping components. This resulted in a situation where the base of the wall under the paint was extremely soft. With just a slight scrape with a shovel, the paint and plaster would come off in large pieces, as could be seen on the floor. There was no other alternative but to re-plaster the entire wall and repaint it. Unfortunately, even after our efforts, there is still a possibility that in the future, when scraping the wall with a shovel, the wall covering could come off in large chunks again. It is a fundamental issue that is essentially impossible to completely fix.
This also clearly reflects the fact that if daily maintenance is not carried out appropriately, it might have a negative impact on subsequent maintenance efforts and outcomes.
Renovating an old house is a challenging task, and this case was no exception. Despite our best efforts to address the various problems, some issues may still persist. Proper maintenance and regular inspections can help prevent such issues from worsening over time and ensure the longevity of the house. We sincerely thank the homeowner for the great assistance and patience throughout the renovation process.