There is nothing like seeing a beautiful historic brownstone home become a work of art as it is remodeled and restored. Restoring these historic homes can be full of surprises that come with unexpected expenses. In fact, you should factor in 25% more into your budget to make up for these unexpected expenses. M. Rahman Construction is here to talk about some of the biggest expenses that we often see when renovating historic brownstone homes.
Demolition During Brownstone Renovation
Many people don’t think about demolition as being a large expense. How much can it honestly cost to come in an destroy something, right? Demolition is a lot of work and disposing of all the debris in NYC is no small task. If you are doing a full brownstone renovation, you need to plan for a big demo budget. Think in the ballpark of tens of thousands to remove it all and dispose of it.
Urban Plaster Renovation
The plaster work that is found in any given brownstone is unbelievably beautiful. In fact, the plaster work is usually what attracts people to the home in the first place. There is art in plaster work. As the molding and walls are repaired and restored, you will see a true transformation take place, but you need to be ready to pay for it. There aren’t many people that can do the job and do it well. When you do find someone that you trust to restore this art, it is a time-consuming job when it is done right. If you walk through your brownstone and see that there are many cracks or even complete pieces that are missing, you need to be ready to pay for them to get fixed. You will probably want to skim-coat all the walls in the house too which will be a good portion of your overall budget. Once all this plaster work is done, you will rest easy knowing that the integrity and strength of the structure has been fully restored.
Brownstone Parlor Floor Leveling
If you noticed that the floors weren’t level when you initially walked through your brownstone and you want it fixed, get ready to pay for it. There is a lot involved when floor leveling is concerned. It’s not just fixing the floor and replacing the subfloor. You also have to adjust all the molding, windows, door casings, stairs, doors and more. This can be a large-scale issue that will take time and money.
Structural Changes to Historic Home
You may find that you want to make some structural changes to the home to make it your own. It is much more involved than just removing walls and rebuilding walls throughout the house. Brownstone homes were built using sturdy materials and removing and rebuilding is no small task.
General Contractor Construction Services in Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island & Brooklyn, New York
An old brownstone home is always worth the money it takes to restore the place. If you are looking for a company that specializes in brownstone renovations, turn to M. Rahman Construction. We will help you restore its original beauty. Call us today!
