Historic Home Renovation Indianapolis | Restoration
Historic Home Renovation in Brownsburg, Avon, & Plainfield, Indiana
For over two decades, our Dream Team has been helping homeowners breathe a new life into their historic home. We perform meticulous restoration and alteration projects that enhance your home’s beauty and historical importance.
If your old home needs renovated, our team can integrate plumbing and electrical upgrades while maintaining the property’s period look. Enjoy modern comforts in your Victorian home without compromising its notable design aspects.
Your Local Plainfield Historic Renovation Specialists
Historical renovation requires proper planning, well-defined processes, and experience. Our historic restoration contractors are here to make restoring your old home a stress-free experience. We will work closely with you to accommodate your budget and we strive to develop clear expectations and provide well-defined steps so everyone is on the same page. We have a passion for period architecture, so with your dream and our experience, we can recover and restore your home’s heritage value.
Example historic renovation projects:
- Copper and other period metal work
- Historical carpentry techniques
- Coffered ceilings
- Decorative plaster
- Old-style plaster work
- Tuck-pointing
- Wood refinishing
- Specialty window and glass refinishing
- And more
Why Consider Historic Home Renovations?
Historic home renovations are a meaningful way to preserve the architectural legacy of your property while ensuring it supports modern living. Whether you choose restoration, which returns your home to the precise look and character of its original era, or rehabilitation, which updates function while maintaining important historical details, each approach brings its own benefits and considerations. Homeowners must also navigate the restrictions that come with historic districts, insurance requirements, and local building codes, all of which can impact the scope of the project. These homes often feature exceptional craftsmanship—from ornate trim to intricate woodwork—that requires experienced historic renovation contractors to preserve properly. They also rely on rare or costly raw materials, making salvaging, repairing, and refinishing existing elements an essential part of maintaining authenticity. Finally, when it comes to adding or removing space, quality additions that complement rather than mimic the original architecture can enhance value, while poorly executed ones may need to be removed. With thoughtful planning, historic home renovations honor the past while shaping a functional, beautiful future for your property.
Examples Of Our Work
Testimonials
FAQ's For Historic Home Renovations
What kinds of historic homes has BGW worked on?
BGW has renovated Victorian homes, farmhouses dating to the 1800s, early-1900s residences, and other period properties across central Indiana, including in and around Zionsville and Danville. Examples are documented in its portfolio.
Can BGW modernize a historic home without destroying its character?
Yes. BGW balances preservation with modern function, integrating plumbing and electrical upgrades while maintaining a property’s period look and important architectural details.
What's the difference between restoration and rehabilitation?
Restoration returns a home to its original era’s precise look and character. Rehabilitation updates function while maintaining important historical details. Each has different implications for scope, materials, and cost.
Does BGW work with historic-district regulations or preservation restrictions?
Yes. BGW navigates historic-district rules, insurance requirements, and local building codes as part of the planning process.
What specialty craftsmanship does BGW offer for historic projects?
BGW offers copper and other period metal work, historical carpentry techniques, coffered ceilings, decorative and old-style plaster work, tuck-pointing, wood refinishing, and specialty window and glass refinishing.
Are historic homes more expensive to renovate than standard homes?
Generally yes. Historic homes often require rare or costly materials, specialized labor, and more careful planning. Salvaging, repairing, and refinishing existing elements rather than replacing them protects authenticity but takes more time.
Can BGW add square footage to a historic home without compromising it architecturally?
Yes, carefully. Quality additions can enhance a historic home’s value, while poorly executed ones detract from it. BGW’s approach favors complementary additions over ones that clash with the original architecture.
How does BGW handle rare or hard-to-source materials for historic renovations?
BGW sources and works with period-appropriate materials, and where originals can’t be found, applies traditional craftsmanship techniques to achieve an authentic result.
My old home needs plumbing and electrical updates. Can that be done without gutting everything?
In many cases, yes. BGW has experience integrating modern systems into historic structures while minimizing disruption to period finishes and architectural details.
How do I know if my home qualifies as historic for this service?
You don’t need to be on a formal historic register to work with BGW on a period property. If your home has original architectural character you want to preserve, BGW’s team can evaluate it and advise on the best approach.
What should I budget for a historic renovation?
Historic work is priced by scope and condition, and it generally costs more than a comparable standard renovation because of specialty materials and craftsmanship. BGW develops a realistic budget during design, before committing to construction. BGW gives a firm number after a free consultation.
Do you work in Old Town Zionsville's historic district?
Yes. BGW renovates period homes in and around Zionsville, including the Old Town area, and we navigate historic-district rules and local approvals as part of planning. We balance preserving a home’s character with the modern function you want.
Can BGW match original trim, millwork, and windows?
Yes. BGW uses historical carpentry techniques and period-appropriate materials to match original trim, millwork, and window details. Where an original element can’t be sourced, our craftsmen replicate it so the repair disappears into the original.
Is restoring an old home worth it?
For the right homeowner, absolutely. A well-restored historic home holds character new construction cannot replicate, and quality work protects and often increases its value. The real return is living in a piece of history made to function for today, which is Return on Enjoyment.
Are there tax credits for historic renovation in Indiana?
Possibly, though the rules are strict. Indiana offers a state Residential Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit worth 20% of qualified costs, capped at $10,000, for a home that is individually listed on the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures or is a contributing part of a listed district, is at least 50 years old, is your primary residence, and where the work meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. Funding is limited by a statewide annual cap, so it is not guaranteed, and the federal historic tax credit applies only to income-producing buildings, not owner-occupied homes. BGW builds to those preservation standards, but confirm your eligibility with the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology and your tax professional.
Our Featured Historic Property Renovation Projects
Meet the Team Behind BGW Construction
Your Local Hendricks County Home Remodeling Experts
At BGW Construction, we bring expert craftsmanship and innovative design to every remodeling and renovation project. Serving the greater Hendricks County area, we specialize in home remodeling, kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, and outdoor living transformations.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your kitchen, transform your bathroom into a spa-like retreat, or complete a full home renovation, our team is dedicated to making your vision a reality. We take pride in delivering high-quality renovations that enhance functionality, beauty, and value.
Beyond interiors, we also specialize in outdoor living spaces through custom hardscapes, patios, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and retaining walls. We believe your home should be a place you love, inside and out.
When you choose BGW Construction, you’re not just getting a contractor—you’re getting a trusted partner in creating a space that feels like home. Let’s bring your dream home to life, inside and out.