Adding value to your home - The 7 most important jobs

To make your home look like one of the 7 wonders of the world, you don't have to give it a pyramid shape... A few improvements are all you need to make your home more aesthetically appealing and more energy-efficient.
In particular, improving its energy label (class A, B, C...) will give it the opportunity to reduce its carbon footprint. The effect on your wallet will also be felt, as your heating bills will lighten considerably.
Its plastic beauty shouldn't be overlooked either. By adorning itself with the latest fashionable colors and wadded floors, it gives itself the means to evolve with the times. More welcoming on a daily basis, it will be more attractive if it changes hands...
And let's not forget all the "trendy" equipment, such as home automation, verandas and swimming pools, that will make your home a real draw for young and old alike.
Let's take a look at 7 home renovations that are sure to add value to your home!

SAVINGS

Conversion to renewable energies
Observation. Your home's fossil fuel (oil, gas) heating system is beginning to show signs of weakness. To meet the new environmental requirements of the RT 2012, you ideally need to reduce consumption to 50 kWhep/m²an (kilowatt/hour of primary energy per m² per year). Better still, with the next RT 2020, buildings will have to produce as much or even more energy than they consume.
Diagnosis. Now seems like a good time to switch to a heat pump (PAC), or to use auxiliary heating such as a wood-burning stove. These solutions can easily be implemented in older homes.
Depending on the system chosen, the heat pump will be a "ground/ground" system, where the heat drawn from the ground is restored via underfloor heating. In "air/air" mode, the heat is extracted from the outside air and distributed via a fan coil unit.
Advantages. These new energies can reduce your energy bill by around 75%. The average annual budget for heating a 100 m2 home with a heat pump is €700. What's more, the CITE (tax credit for energy transition) and the new "MaPrimeRénov'" scheme offer grants of up to €4,000.

Conclusion => Plan on a budget of €12,000, knowing that it will cost you €6,000 thanks to the 2020 CITE tax credit for the purchase of a heat pump.

PROTECTION

Replacing joinery

Observation. In addition to their aesthetic imperfections, windows turn the house into a thermal sieve. Air leaks in from both sides, and soundproofing becomes a problem.
Diagnosis. It's time to upgrade yourwindows by replacing them with more insulating models in aluminum, wood or PVC.
PVC remains the best compromise for sturdy, insulating French windows at a reasonable cost. As for aluminum windows, their design often breaks thermal bridges. Instead of a single profile, they consist of two half-profiles on a layer of insulation. While wood is attractive for its warm, natural appearance, it requires regular maintenance.
NF-certified windows meet the latest thermal regulation requirements. As a result, heat loss coefficients reach values of :

• Uw < 2.6 W/m².K for sliding windows,

• Uw < 2.3 W/m².K for other windows.

In addition, reinforced thermal insulation (REI) glazing is preferred to reduce heat loss and heat gain.

Benefits. In 2020, you can still benefit from the CITE tax reduction.

Conclusion => Plan on a budget of €15,000, knowing that it will cost €40 less per piece of equipment thanks to the 2020 CITE.

COMFORT

Wall and roof insulation
Observation. With poorly insulated stone walls and a roof devoid of underlayment and glass wool, heating bills are skyrocketing and the air conditioning can be running at full blast in summer!
Diagnosis. Despite its thick walls, an old house isn't watertight enough to cope with temperature variations. Inside, installing insulation on metal framing covered with plasterboard offers the best price-performance ratio.
Choose 15 cm thick panels with a thermal resistance coefficient (m²K/W) of 4 to 5. In unfinished attics, 24 cm semi-rigid glass wool panels fixed between the rafters will make all the difference!
Advantages. Insulating walls and roofs can reduce heat loss by 50%.

Cost-benefit analysis => Plan on a budget of €10,000, knowing that it will cost you €15/m2 less thanks to the 2020 CITE.

WELLNESS

Building a veranda
Observation. The living room is singularly short of space, and the terrace could do with more shade. The answer surely lies in the veranda. Diagnosis. In its bioclimatic version, the veranda takes into account the environment, climate and orientation in order to make the most of the energy available. High-performance glazing prevents cold and features a thermal break, limiting heat loss in winter and coolness in summer. Last but not least, the custom-built design helps create a vast additional room.
Benefits. The configuration of the house can be modified at will, thanks to easy installation.

Cost-benefit analysis => You should budget €15,000 for a 20 m2 veranda, bearing in mind that it will increase the value of your home by around 5%.

ENJOYMENT

New interior design
Observation. The years have gone by and interior design has faded! Whether in terms of colors or materials, the 2020 trends will bring a new dimension to the home. What style should you choose?
Diagnosis. For a change from the classic petrol blue, 2020 is all about hunter green. Dark and intense, it's both retro and modern, and goes perfectly with yellow and blue, the other stars of the decorating palette! When it comes to materials, you'll need a natural feel and a passion for cane. Its fashionable effect is rooted in the trends that dominated 2019, with the return to natural materials such as rattan, bamboo, sea rush...
Furniture is giving in to the whims of scandicraft. It's gradually replacing the Scandinavian style - considered too cold - by draping itself in natural materials and sporting flashy colors to create an ultra-cosy ambience!
The benefits. Your home needs to keep up with the times to be as seductive as on its first day in the eyes of its occupants... and future residents.

The bottom line => Budget €15,000 for a new interior design to keep your home looking its best!

PLEASURE

Building a swimming pool
Conclusion. With the scorching summers, the need for a place to cool off and have fun is growing... A swimming pool is the ideal solution to bring well-being and enhance the value of your home.
Diagnosis. Before taking the plunge, it's time to consider the most appropriate technical solution. A concrete pool, more commonly known as a masonry pool, allows for customization. Cast into a reinforced structure, the concrete can be shaped as required.
As for monocoque pools, their polyester basin allows rapid installation.
Finally, modular panel models are similar to kit pools. Made of steel, polymer, aluminum or pre-stressed concrete, they also offer great flexibility in the shape of the pool.
Advantages. A property with a pool creates a unique living environment!

Bottom line => Budget €25,000 for a masonry pool, bearing in mind that it will add around 10% to the value of your property!

SPACE

Adding a carport
Observation. Practical and attractive, it gives the house an extra dimension. Diagnosis. After submitting a preliminary building declaration (déclaration préalable de travaux - DP) valid for less than 20 m2, a carport can be used to shelter cars. Attached to the house, it can be used as a pergola in summer. A traditional roof structure is preferred. Advantages. The carport's great strength lies in its ease of installation and low cost.

Bottom line => Assume a budget of €7,000 for a wood-frame carport that will enhance your home.

Christophe RAFFAILLAC