We are in the process of buying a 1961 house. It was the prototype for the whole estate, each house being individually designed for the original purchaser.
Because it was the prototype, it was built from some sort of very expensive brick - which the builder later realised wasn't cost effective. The original purchaser paid for all sorts of "extras" on the house and the quality really shows, even though it looks dated.
Our plan is to update and extend the house. We've been to look at it with an architect and builder. The builder said it needed rewiring, which I can accept, but he also suggested it requires a new central heating system, which I would query.
The heating works from a Potterton Kingfisher boiler which has been serviced every 6 months (I've seen the service log). I've extended a property before, so I realise that this will need to be relaced and resituated at it currently sits in a chimney stack in the kitchen.
However, the radiators are very substantial and the pipework looks to be in excellent condition. The house is very warm so they're doing the job one wy or another.
My question is - can we not keep the existing central heating system and radiators, simply adding to the system for the extension? This would save us £6k on a project where the figures are already very close to the wire. Also - could we find reclaimed 1960's radiators to install in the new part of the house?? They are quite unusual - never seen anything like them before and been lookign on the internet for some today with no success.
Thanks in advance.
Because it was the prototype, it was built from some sort of very expensive brick - which the builder later realised wasn't cost effective. The original purchaser paid for all sorts of "extras" on the house and the quality really shows, even though it looks dated.
Our plan is to update and extend the house. We've been to look at it with an architect and builder. The builder said it needed rewiring, which I can accept, but he also suggested it requires a new central heating system, which I would query.
The heating works from a Potterton Kingfisher boiler which has been serviced every 6 months (I've seen the service log). I've extended a property before, so I realise that this will need to be relaced and resituated at it currently sits in a chimney stack in the kitchen.
However, the radiators are very substantial and the pipework looks to be in excellent condition. The house is very warm so they're doing the job one wy or another.
My question is - can we not keep the existing central heating system and radiators, simply adding to the system for the extension? This would save us £6k on a project where the figures are already very close to the wire. Also - could we find reclaimed 1960's radiators to install in the new part of the house?? They are quite unusual - never seen anything like them before and been lookign on the internet for some today with no success.
Thanks in advance.
