March 19, 2025

Addressing Older Homes

Charleston is no stranger to older homes; some have been standing for almost as long as the city! With recent real estate trends showing a severe lack of new inventory in the Charleston area, it’s not uncommon for buyers to settle on an older home in an established neighborhood. 

While it may feel like you’ve had to settle for something that doesn’t necessarily fit the “home of your dreams” you envisioned at first, the good news is that there are plenty of ways to take this well-loved space and transform it into a unique home that fits you. 

At Classic Remodeling, our team is the go-to when it comes to breathing new life into older homes. From the initial consultation with designers to the construction process to the big reveal, we’re well-versed in the best ways to repurpose existing space, even if it requires an out-of-the-box solution. 

We’ve shared some of our best tips for renovating an older home and creating a refreshed and revitalized abode. 

Common Remodels

There are several tried and true methods for renovating older homes. They are often the easiest, most cost-effective, or most straightforward ways to update an outdated space. These methods include:

• Updating flooring
• Adding more storage
• Enclosing or updating the porch

Your home’s floors take a beating, and sometimes, a worn-down floor can make the space look older. Sanding down and refinishing existing flooring can make it look like new and, if you have a historic home, will restore the original flooring to its former glory and integrity. Other times, the color or material may not align with your personal tastes, so replacing the flooring entirely is needed to achieve the look you want. 

Older homes often don’t have enough storage space in the kitchen. Most of our kitchen remodels include creating more storage and functionality and opening up the space to make it feel larger. Suddenly, your small, outdated kitchen will feel like an airy, modern abode, and you’ll have all the storage you need!

So, while enclosing a porch sounds counterintuitive to creating space in an older home, we’ve seen clients enclose a back porch and create an extended living space that can be used year-round, no matter the weather. We also redesign porches frequently. Not only will your new porch be free of rotten wood that can be an eyesore, but it will also be safer. 

Common Problems

Before you start your remodeling project, there are a few issues we look for that are common in older homes. 

Many older homes may still have lead-based products like paint in them. We will help ensure that your home is free of it and create a safe and healthy environment. We also check plumbing and wiring throughout the house to ensure there are no issues. Sometimes, older pipes leak, leading to water damage and mold, and outdated wiring that needs new insulation can cause fires or not work correctly. Our team will address these issues and help remedy them during construction. 

In Charleston, it’s not uncommon for a house to be classified as a historic home, particularly in Downtown or older neighborhoods like Old Village. This means strict codes have to be followed, which can limit changes the homeowner may want to make. Our team can help you navigate these codes and find creative solutions to blend what you need in your space with the historic features. 

Of course, the number one problem that can arise in any remodeling project is unforeseen problems delaying progress, which can create a less-than-desirable living situation. 

Advice From the Experts

Before we even step into your older home, we try to do as much research as possible, especially if it’s a historic house, and you should, too! When you purchase your home, make sure your inspector makes note of anything that could be a potential problem during remodeling, and check your local codes and zoning regulations. It’s also important to keep in mind that the budget might change should any surprise obstacles arise, so being flexible will be key to a smooth process. 

If you’re renovating a historic home, you often have to get a little creative with modernizing it. 

“It is important to work within the architecture of an older home to uphold its integrity,” explains Gianna Sweet, one of our design consultants. “There are still many ways to modernize your home without ruining the historical impact of what you already have in the home.”

Some creative and easy ways to update a historic space without sacrificing its integrity include:

• Changing the light fixtures
• Adding new paint
• Upgrading the appliances
• Changing the hardware
• Adding cabinetry
• Adding more windows

Regardless of your choice, staying within zoning laws and coding permits and creating a natural flow between the original home and your updates is essential. You don’t want a beautifully vintage exterior interrupted by a jarringly modern interior. A designer can help guide you to find a comfortable compromise. 

The Beauty of Age

While remodeling can sometimes be a little inconvenient or expensive, there are many benefits to remodeling an older home. 

Location is often an important factor in why people want to move here. Charleston is the hub for many well-established neighborhoods with great amenities and close to shopping and dining. By purchasing an older home in a great community and remodeling, rather than trying to buy a new home in the same area, you will often pay less money upfront, and any renovations will help improve the re-sell value should you decide to move. 

There is also something to be said for an older home’s unique character and charm that just can’t be replicated in a new build. Especially in older neighborhoods in the area, you’ll find that no two homes are alike and have exclusive characteristics only found in vintage architecture. 

One of our favorite older home remodels featured an abode built in the 1920s. What started as simply repairing an aging porch and restoring it to its former glory became a long-standing relationship with the homeowner as we helped update the exterior, kitchen, laundry room, and the third floor. We even had the opportunity to replace old fireplaces with era-accurate replicas. Throughout the project, our team ensured that we worked within the original flow and design of the home so that old and new blended seamlessly. 

Remodeling allows you to give an older home new memories and transform an existing structure into the house of your dreams. 

Ready to make your home inspiration a reality with our 30 years of superior performance, craftsmanship, and service? Contact us today!