EMBRACE INTEGRATED GARAGES
A flat roof can be the ideal way to add extra space, inside and out. You could reinforce the roof and turn it into a balcony, or extend upwards. says Simon Graham. “Avoid splitting the house into small cellular rooms.”
That said, separate dining rooms were still a popular feature of 1970s house layouts and kitchens were rarely the size we want today. Although serving hatches between these two rooms seemed to be a firm favourite during this era, these days, knocking down internal walls that separate these spaces will really open up and modernise the interior.
House designers of the 1970s loved to include large integral garages and these offer huge potential to renovators. Extending over a garage can add space to your home without increasing its overall footprint, plus it’s a really cost-effective way to add rooms given that, in many cases, foundations can be left alone and the lower walls will already be in place.
You will need to call in a structural engineer to check the walls and foundations are up to the job of providing adequate support for a structure above and, if you plan on using the garage itself as extra living space, you will need to take into account everything from insulation and fire regulations to damp-proofing. Garage conversions can add as much as 15% to the value of a house and, in many cases, planning permission won’t be required as most will fall under Permitted Development.
STRENGTHEN FLIMSY WALLS
Despite their sturdy appearance, the walls of 1970s houses might require a little attention in order to provide the comfort levels required by modern-day homeowners. “1970s houses are usually of a fairly simple, lightweight construction, with masonry party walls and lightweight timber infill at the front and rear,” says Simon Graham. “Often they are lacking in any insulation, so can be very cold and it is worth introducing insulation wherever possible into the walls, roof and windows.”
It is not just external walls that may need updating — the interior walls may well need your attention, too. “Internally you may find that the walls and doors are of very thin construction and it was not uncommon for walls to be built of a type of cardboard waffle, so they are not always very good acoustically or capable of taking much weight,” says Simon. “Many of the mechanical systems typical of the era may need reconsidering for more efficient modern technologies, too, such as electric warm air heating, which was commonly used as the main source of heating.”
UPDATE THE CLADDING
There were several different types of house cladding materials used for the exterior of 1970s houses, with some of the most popular being UPVC cladding, concrete tile hanging and just plain old boring bricks. It really will pay to update the cladding, but aim to honour the 1970s aesthetics of the building and mix and match the claddings you use — for example, timber cladding on the upper storey with render or stone beneath.
UPWARDS AND OUTWARDS As well as updating the brickwork with render, the owners of this 1970s property have increased the footprint and extended the existing garage to add extra living space.