Can You Retrofit a Victorian House?

What's the Damage?

• It is highly unlikely that you will come across a Victorian house that has been untouched by remodeling at some point How recently and/or expertly these remodeling jobs are will determine most of the retrofitting that a Victorian-era house will need. As a rule of thumb, most work done in three key areas--electrical, plumbing, and heating/cooling--more than 20 years ago needs to be considered for replacement.

Electrical

• Most Victorian-era houses were built without electricity in mind, as electricity in homes was a new concept for most during that period. While any Victorian home you see today most likely has been retrofitted with electricity, giving the electrical system an upgrade will probably be an important first step in the remodeling process.

  Upgrading the wiring in a Victorian house may be a simple as replacing two-prong electrical outlets with GFCI outlets, or as involved as replacing a fuse box with a circuit breaker. Unless you are an experienced electrician, have a licensed electrician check out the electrical systems in a Victorian home and make recommendations.

Plumbing

• It may be too kind to call the original plumbing systems in most Victorian homes primitive. Indoor plumbing and running water were hardly standard features in homes of that era, and if any plumbing at all was installed, it was typically limited to the kitchen.

  It would be rare to find a Victorian home in the 21st century that has not been retrofitted with indoor plumbing; however, unless installed in the past 20 to 30 years, it's possible that the plumbing needs work, especially if you plan to expand or add a kitchen and/or bathroom.

  Inspecting the plumbing is always a good idea when buying any home, but especially in older homes that may need extensive remodeling. A licensed plumber can make the inspection and help you to decide whether upgrades are needed.

Heating/Cooling

• Most Victorian homes were originally heated with fireplaces and possibly a boiler and radiator system. Cooling was as simple as opening the windows. While this may have been acceptable during the Victorian era, chances are you will want to retrofit a Victorian home with more modern heating and cooling systems.

  Most Victorian homes still standing have had some sort of remodel done to the heating system, whether it be the replacement of a boiler with a furnace, or a total remodel that now includes central heat and air. Unless the system has been installed in the past 15 to 20 years, it would be a good idea to plan to replace it.

  For homes that have had duct work installed, this can be as simple as replacing the HVAC unit. For homes that have not been retrofitted with duct work, the job will be more invasive, as adding duct work to older houses is often challenging.

  When retrofitting a Victorian-era home for heating and cooling purposes, don't forget the insulation and the windows and doors. Poor insulation and original windows and doors can allow much of a home's warm and cool air to escape. Fortunately, retrofit windows and doors are easily available at many home improvement stores, and insulation can easily be added to improve your Victorian home's energy efficiency.