Should You Demolish and Replace?

When you’re creating your dream home from an existing site, you have two broad options – renovate the existing building or demolish and rebuild it. Both have their advantages and drawbacks, which are important to consider before taking the plunge.

In this post, we’ll discuss some key factors to consider when it comes to demolition and rebuilding.

Assessing the house

The first thing to consider before you demolish and replace is the house in question. Terraced houses and semi-detached are obviously much more complex, as you need the agreement of multiple property owners – unless you own all the attached properties.

Historic properties

Then there’s the matter of heritage buildings. Naturally, any listed buildings or houses in conservation areas will be practically impossible to demolish and replace. However, even for those without protection, it may not be advisable.

Well-kept period houses are highly sought after, meaning it might be better to renovate and refurbish. There’s also the issue of planning permission, which may be refused if your vision sticks out too much from the surrounding homes.

Energy efficiency

Another big factor is the current building’s energy efficiency. No matter how much work you do on some houses, they can never be as efficient as a new-build, such as a Passivhaus. This will continue to cost you through the years, especially with energy prices higher than ever!

Energy efficiency could also work in your favour when it comes to planning applications. Councils often have targets to hit when it comes to energy efficient homes. By replacing an old, inefficient home with a new, green one, your application could be exactly what they’re looking for.

Costing things up

Profitability is one of the simplest ways to decide whether demolition and replacement is a good option. Put simply, this means calculating whether all the costs will leave you with a profit if you choose to sell the property when it’s finished.

First, estimate the end value using prices of homes nearby which are similar to your vision. From that, deduct your purchase costs and estimated rebuild costs to give you a ballpark figure for profit. If the profit is negative or very little, it’s probably not worthwhile – even if you’re not necessarily planning to sell.

The cost of the project

Finally, weigh up the cost of the rebuild compared to the cost of renovations. Whatever the potential end value, some houses are simply unsuitable for renovation, while others don’t need as much work as you might think. Here are some things to consider:

• Energy efficiency, as above, including insulation and heating.
• The condition of electrics and plumbing. Extensive work to utilities often requires replastering too.
• The size of the house and whether it makes the most of the land available.
• The layout of the house and whether it requires major alterations to suit your lifestyle.

Bespoke advice and architectural assistance

As you can see, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to demolition and replacement versus renovation and refurbishment. If you’re looking for expert advice about the best way to make your dream home a reality, speak to the team at CODA Bespoke.

Operating throughout Sheffield and the surrounding areas, our award-winning architects can advise on the right route for you, whether it’s demolition and a new-build or a house extension and renovation.