Renovating a century home in Ancaster or Dundas: what to expect behind the walls

Older houses in Ancaster and Dundas are some of the nicest homes to work on in the region. Thick walls, real wood trim, stairs that were built by someone who cared. They are also the houses most likely to surprise you once the first wall comes open.

We do not mind surprises. We mind surprises that nobody planned for. So with an older home, a lot of our design time goes into finding out what is there before we price anything.

Plaster is not drywall

Most century homes have plaster on wood lath. It is harder, heavier and more uneven than drywall, and it does not like being cut. Taking out one wall can crack the ceiling next to it if the work is rushed.

We decide early which walls are coming down completely and which are staying. Where plaster stays, we cut carefully and patch with materials that bond to it properly. Where it goes, we plan for the dust, because there is a lot of it, and we seal off the rest of the house before the first bar goes in.

Wiring from three different decades

It is common to find original knob and tube wiring, a later layer from the middle of the last century, and a newer panel that someone added without touching anything upstream. Insurance companies often ask about knob and tube, and a new kitchen needs far more power than the original house ever did.

We open up enough during design to see what we are dealing with, then price the electrical work as part of the scope instead of finding it halfway through. In a kitchen renovation, it usually makes sense to replace the circuits in the work area entirely.

Plumbing that has been patched before

Cast iron stacks, galvanized supply lines and a mix of materials where previous owners made repairs. Galvanized pipe narrows on the inside as it ages, which is often why the upstairs shower has weak pressure.

If we are opening walls for a bathroom, that is the time to replace old supply lines back to a sensible point. Doing it later means opening the new tile.

Heritage rules, in general terms

Parts of Ancaster and Dundas include heritage designations, and some individual houses are designated on their own. Interior work usually has more freedom than exterior changes, but windows, additions and anything visible from the street may need review. Requirements vary property by property, so we check with the City of Hamilton during design rather than guessing.

Kitchens and bathrooms that suit the house

The hardest part of an older home is not technical. It is making a new kitchen or bathroom feel like it belongs.

A few things that help:

• Keep the proportions. Tall ceilings deserve tall cabinetry or open shelving that uses the height. Short uppers look lost.
• Match the trim. New casings and baseboards that copy the original profiles make a new room feel like it was always there.
• Choose fixtures with some weight. Unlacquered brass, nickel, a farmhouse or fireclay sink. Ultra-modern pieces can work, but they need a deliberate contrast, not an accidental one.
• Hide the modern parts. Panel-ready appliances, concealed range hoods and integrated lighting let the house stay the main character.

Floors and levels

Old houses settle. A kitchen floor can be an inch out over its length, and that matters when you are setting a long run of cabinets or a stone countertop. We level what needs levelling and scribe what should keep its character. Doing it properly takes an extra day or two, and it is the difference between counters that sit flat and ones that rock.

Budget for the unknown, honestly

Even with careful investigation, older homes hold back a few secrets. We show you which parts of the scope carry the most risk and what the likely costs would be if we find a problem, so a discovery inside a wall is a decision, not a shock.

If you are thinking about a kitchen renovation in an older home, see what we do across Hamilton, Ancaster and Dundas, or read how our process handles investigation before pricing.