Victorian Houses vs. New Builds: Which are Easier to Maintain
By: Dart
Tags: Housing, Victorian House, New Build, Home

You may dream of a Victorian terrace house, the floorboards creaking under each step, the decadent designs and of course the heaps of character. On the other hand, you might think that Victorian houses are overrated and you’d rather a fresh new home. Ask most people whether they would prefer to live in a Victorian Terrace or a new build and they’ll have a strong opinion. As a piling contractor, I am oftentimes asked which is better from a professional’s point of view. I always answer the same, the truth is, it completely depends on what you need from your property. Every type of home comes with benefits and, on the flip side, disadvantages. In this article I’ll take you through the pros and cons of Victorian and new build houses.

Victorian Houses

When you are talking about Victorian houses the home is likely to have been built between the 1830s to the early 1900s. There was a boom in property building when the Industrial Revolution began, as materials were more readily available. Period houses have a certain set of characteristics that make them easy to define and are widely regarded as sought-after family homes. It’s also popular to renovate Victorian terrace properties into separate flats. Their high ceilings and lots of floor make for perfect apartments.

Pros

Sturdy

Victorian houses were built to last. The fact that Victorian and Georgian houses have been standing tall for decades — sometimes even centuries — proves that they are sturdy structures. The way in which they were built allows the houses to spread the load across the ground so the weight is distributed evenly. By today’s standards, Victorian foundations seem very shallow and in some cases, the concrete footings are no more than 200mm deep.

Investment

These homes are incredibly ornate and beautiful, there is no denying that Victorian and Georgian houses are beautiful to look at. Aside from the pleasure of owning an aesthetically pleasing home, it is also this kind of curb side appeal that makes them an amazing investment. Some of the sought-after features that are associated with Victorian properties include:

Bay windows

Stained glass

Unique tiles

Feature fireplaces

High ceilings

All of these accents are more selling points for the Victoria house, they are filled with character and history. Once you’ve decided to move on (if you ever do) you’ll have little trouble selling it when it’s time to move on with these features.

Space

High ceilings give the illusion of a larger space and you’re a lot less likely to find this feature in newly built homes. Furthermore, Victorian houses often offer more floor space than new builds as they were built at a time when cities were not so densely populated. Consequently, Victorian homes are a lot more likely to be spacious. On many occasions you will also have ample opportunity to extend (for example with a loft conversion or kitchen extension).

Cons

Upkeep

Older houses require more attention from their owners to keep them in good condition. Everybody has experienced damp and mould, it may be one of the most aggravating things in an older property. On top of this, when you first move in you may find that you need to replaster the walls, have a new roof or even address any structural problems that might occur. You’ll often find Victorian houses located on suburban leafy streets, therefore pesky tree roots could be crawling under your house. If there are trees outside it’s worth investigating whether your property has any subsidence issues, if you do find subsidence, your property could require underpinning.

Cold

High ceilings and sash windows mean high heating bills, and keeping Victorian homes warm is a notoriously expensive endeavour. Victorian houses were made with sash windows that look great but can be draughty. You may find a Victorian property with double glazing already installed, however this isn’t always the case. You could replace these windows to conserve energy however it can be a pricey process.

It can be tempting to replace the wooden sliding sash windows in a Victorian property with double glazed uPVC. However, it completely changes the look of the house, so if you’re going down that road make sure you explore all your options.

If you’re planning to buy a Victorian property because of their beauty, make sure you first consider the responsibilities to keep that home looking as pretty as it does.

New Builds

A lot of people will hear ‘new build’ and think of a white square block; new properties often lack the curbside appeal of period properties. The reality is that new builds can be rather plain, but not all of them. Recent modern developments such as the Scandi-inspired timber framed models have meant that new builds are becoming more desirable and a lot more aesthetically pleasing.

Pros

Unused

Your own space! There is nothing better than it. A new build property is yours to make, it’s a complete blank canvas. It’s difficult to argue the appeal of buying a brand new property. Untouched carpets, freshly plastered walls and double glazing make new builds ideal for those looking for a low maintenance way of living. New builds are simple to decorate as well, after waiting for the house to settle for 6–12 months you can decorate to your heart’s content.

Even better is the warranty that new builds come with, meaning you’re safe in the knowledge that you won’t be lumped with a bill for a new roof a few months after you’ve moved in. This provides peace of mind to many first time buyers, who don’t want to stress of the upkeep of a Victorian property.

You can also sleep 100% sure that there aren’t any ghosts in your house. What a benefit!

Modern Materials

Building materials are always improving and recently there’s been an emphasis on sustainability. Many modern housing developments are now taking the steps to encourage greener living, whether that be using solar panels and heat pumps or planting bee-friendly plants in their gardens.

With the most modern materials, a new build home should be built to a better standard than Victorian houses.

Safe

Older period properties are a lot less likely to comply with health and safety regulations that are in place for new build houses. For example in a new build home, rooms over a certain size are required by law to have an opening window that is large enough to escape from in the event of a fire. Families find these high safety standards extremely appealing as older properties do not always need to pass these regulations.

Cons

Lack of Character

‘But it’s not as pretty’ is one of the main complaints with modern properties. They simply lack character. New build housing developments can be strange to look at, all the houses being a carbon copy of the one next to it. For some, this is not a problem. Others enjoy the unique aspects of a period property. Curb side appeal isn’t as high with new buildings so if you’re looking to sell your property you may have a tougher time.

Location

Modern properties are often located in the suburbs or a little further out of town, as the Victorians built properties close to central amenities. This means that new housing developments are often pushed to more spacious areas where there is land available.

Location is a really important selling point depending on your wants and needs. New build housing developments are usually within good locations of schools and local amenities rather than the city centre. For families, this can be a huge benefit. For other, it could be a massive con.

Conclusion

We can all appreciate the beauty of a Victorian house, whilst also appreciating the practicality of new builds. There are pros and cons to both and you can be quite surprised by the amount of people who don’t know the responsibility of a Victorian home before buying it. If you have a busy lifestyle and your priority is safety and security, a new build is a great option. If you think that ongoing maintenance is worth the trade-off for a house that is full of character and a little more spacious, start researching Victorian or Georgian properties in your area.

Visit Dart & Co for advice on all your construction and foundation queries.