Mid-century homes became popular in the mid-‘30s to mid-‘40s.
The housing style was popular because it added tons of character and charm to family homes. Unlike the cookie cutter homes that had soared in the ‘20s, mid-century modern homes focused on clean lines and organic curves. One of the most exciting features of a mid-century home is exposed rafters and structural wood.
If you’re renovating a mid-century home, it may seem like a daunting task, but if you plan your renovation well and research your options before making any decision, your restoration will go smoothly. Research and detailed planning are also essential to help your home keep its value and make it structurally sound to live in. Below are five tips when renovating a mid-century house that everyone should read.
Pick the Right Exterior for Your Mid-Century Renovation
If you’ve been watching a lot of television renovation shows, you’re probably tempted to overhaul the entire exterior of your modern home. While this is an exciting idea, it’s also a massive project and expensive. The good thing is, you don’t have to change the look of your home to add a bit of flair. Instead, you can up the curb appeal and take the house exterior from old school to modern contemporary by adding stylish siding to the exterior.
When researching cost and materials for this project, you should consider applying this project to the front-facing corner of your home. Various siding options you should consider include; wood and steel. Wood siding options can be complimenting or contrasting wood stains. Steel siding options also offer a variety of stylish options.
Choose the Most Accurate Window Replacements for Mid-Century Homes
Mid-century homes were built with fixed pane glass. The glass usually had no millions. For energy efficiency, you may want to replace existing windows with the most accurate replacements. When choosing window replacements, you’ll want to think about how much light will be let in or lost, and whether the new windows will fit in existing areas.
It’s also important to consider the materials used around the windows. Prefabricated options seem like a great option, but they can be challenging to install in mid-century homes because of window size. Instead, you should consider your climate. If you live in a warm environment, you should consider windows with aluminum frames. If the house is being renovated in cold climate windows with wood frames will be a better choice.
Choose Appropriate Flooring
Most mid-century homes were created with natural stone floors such as slate, terrazzo, bluestone, and travertine. This look can be recreated with porcelain tiles that look just like slate or limestone. Keeping with the original theme of the home is essential, so it doesn’t lose its aesthetic appeal. Porcelain floor tiles are an excellent choice because they’re easy to clean and install.
Wood flooring is also an option if the right stain and choice are available. When choosing a wood floor, choose options that are timeless and not trendy. For instance, walnut would be a better choice than bamboo and will also look nicer for longer. When you move to the exterior of your home, you can choose any outdoor wood flooring you’d like. The key to select exterior wood flooring is to make sure the stain matches the exterior and charm of the home.
Research Roofing Options for Mid-Century Homes
If you’ve recently acquired a mid-century home, you need to pay particular attention to the roof. Afterall, the house will be a shelter, which means it will need to protect its occupants and items from the elements. Many homes built during this era have a flat roof, which created issues with ponding and leakage. It is possible to replace or repair a flat roof. However, you may want to have the roof sloped to prevent potential issues in the future.
Every mid-century roofing job is unique. For this reason, it’s vital to choose a roofing contractor experienced with this type of work. With the right contractor, you can rest assured that your roof will be in good working order.
Choose the Right Insulation to Prevent High Mid-Century Home Utility Bills
The main reason mid-century homes became unpopular was that of the surge in energy costs in the 1970s. By design, mid-century dwellings had poor thermal performance. The exposed rafters and structural wood let air escape or enter the home. Homeowners were forced to pay the exorbitant utility bills or bundle up.
Advances in innovative insulation have changed the game. Today, homeowners don’t have to give up the structural interior design to add traditional insulation. Instead, they can invest in a house wrap together with a good exterior wall sheathing to create an air barrier that will keep cold and warm air exactly where it should be.
If you follow the tips provided regarding a mid-century home renovation, you’ll be able to handle the task with ease.
