Enlarge and fully renovate a single-family house or demolish and rebuild?

First of all, I want to say that I don't know anyone who has renovated and converted an old house who would do it again. Without exception, everyone would demolish and rebuild from a later perspective.

I also renovated and extended a house built in 1956. I wouldn't do it again either. Demolition and new construction. It would be faster and cheaper.

I had almost the same conditions. The main house is 7 x 7m. Attached to it is an extension with a flat roof like the red border in your case. However, 3.80 m wide. The extension is about 20 lower than the old house. On top, I now have 3 gables, a bedroom and a large bathroom in the extension, as well as a large children's room of about 38 sqm with a dressing room and hallway in the old house. Everything was redone. Electrical, heating, water, sewage, windows, walls, etc. Apart from minor details, nothing of the old house can be seen anymore.

On the other hand, you save quite a bit of material today with the old house. And you can implement a lot yourself. But you can do that just as well with a new building.

First of all, I want to say that I don't know anyone who has renovated and converted an old house who would do it again. Without exception, everyone would demolish and rebuild from a later perspective.

I did it, I would do it again. It was also cheaper than a new build and I am very satisfied with the house! That only works, of course, if you are basically satisfied with the type of house, the size, and the layout.

On the other hand, one must also say that there are hardly any who have built new who, if they were to build again, would not do quite a few things differently. So the builder who is one hundred percent satisfied is also extremely rare.

It can be the door opening or the light switches. The stair rise and other things. So even in new construction, there is always potential for improvement. However, with an existing house, the possibilities are far more limited. For example, the arrangement of doors and windows, ceiling heights, stairs, chimneys, etc.

It always depends on the individual case.

From today's perspective, I would rather tear down and build a bungalow than renovate the old house. In terms of costs, it would probably come out about the same.

Bought twice and renovated. Would do it again. However, an extension was not necessary. When there was a lack of space in the first house, bought the other house, renovated it, and sold the first one. It was great.

I also believe you are still way too much at the beginning and have far too little knowledge to be able to judge that. You need a professional by your side anyway.

We renovated and did not regret it. I also know some who renovated and think the same way. But this is a forum for home builders and therefore most are in favor of new construction.

I think in the end it is also a matter of preference. You have to be willing to do things yourself. You also have to be able to live with the old and perhaps compromised floor plan. But you can do a lot if you have budget, courage, and ideas.

Before the renovation:


Relatively at the end: