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Cottage Restoration Galway

  • 11-06-2011 3:43pm
    #1
    Fiona4037
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 96 ✭✭


    Hi,

    Myself and my partner have recently been given the opportunity to inherit a cottage (from my dad). It is roughly about 100 years old and was lived in up until 4 years ago. The walls and roof appear sound, there is water and electricity however there is no toilet and therefore needs a septic tank. It is a 3 bedroom Cottage, with living room and kitchen.

    We had initially considered knocking the cottage and doing a new build but after speaking with our local planner their seems to be a lot of restrictions on a new build in our area as it is only 10km from Galway City and also it appears most of the cottages in the area were just renovated and extended and not knocked.

    We are now considering renovating it as it is and making it habitable as a one or two bed cottage and living in it for a few years. Our big problem is we are both in our early 20s with no building experience and no builders in our family and have no idea were to begin. Is it an engineer or a builder we need to contact to help us assess the house and estimate the cost of renovation including the installation of a septic tank?

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated,
    Fiona


Comments

  • #2
    rayjdav
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,097 ✭✭✭rayjdav


    Get an engineer asap to have a good look over it. You say it appears sound, but without being condesending, are you qualified to say that? Many threads here have discussed similar situations and the general conclusion is that, if possible, knock the original house. Cost you less hardship, and probably €€ in the long run. Would probably need everything from floors repoured/insulated to remeidail works to overall structure:eek:

    If not, just get an engineer to do a survey and if all is good, a local Arch/AT would be your next step. Re the toilet, you are aware that you need permission to put in a septic tank/treatment system? A builder will only tell you what you want to hear tbh;)


  • #3
    cottageology
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭cottageology


    Lucky you guys for inheriting your cottage, it is very hard for people looking to buy cottages these days as banks have generally stopped giving out mortgages for anything needing renovation. I agree with rayjdav that renovation can be a costly business but on the other hand what you now have is a piece of history. No amount of money can buy the heart and charachter of a cottage (My dad's a builder and we've had this fight many times ;-)!).

    Your first step is an engineer to arrange a structural survey. They will make sure the walls, roof and general structure are sound. Depending on the depth of the survey they will also recommend what improvements you will need to make the cottage habitable. Hold your breath - that is the hard part but once you know the state of repair then you can start making solid plans.

    <SNIP>

    Best of luck with your project - any questions - I'd be happy to help!


    Mod edit: Please read the forum charter before posting again


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