The house is from 1920. The brickwork is solid, the proportions are beautiful, and the craftsmanship was in a class of its own. But the basement is damp, the windows are draughty, and the heating bill is inexplicably high. The traditional brick villa (murermestervilla) is one of Denmark’s most loved house types — and one that requires the most consideration when renovating.
Here is an overview of what you typically encounter and what it costs.
What defines the brick villa?
Brick villas were built from around 1900 to 1940 and are characterised by:
- Solid masonry. 1½ or 2 brick exterior walls in red or yellow brick — solid construction, but without insulation.
- Full basement. Often used for storage, utility room and boiler room. Rarely converted for habitation, and moisture is common.
- Timber structure. Floor decks and roof structure in timber. Beam floors with clay infill or boarded and plastered ceilings.
- Original windows. Often with single glazing or early sealed units. Beautiful profiles but poor insulating capacity.
- High craftsmanship quality. Cornices, panelling, fielded doors, terrazzo floors in hallway and bathroom.
- Pitched roof with clay tiles. Clay tiles on roof structure of collar rafter trusses — typically with a good remaining lifespan.
What does it cost?
Repointing facade: 60,000–135,000 DKK The mortar joints are typically 80–100 years old. Crumbling joints allow rainwater in. Repointing is the most common renovation on brick villas.
Insulation: 40,000–250,000 DKK Cavity wall insulation (if possible): 20,000–50,000 DKK. Many villas have solid masonry without a cavity — here internal insulation with vapour barrier is an option (40,000–150,000 DKK for the exterior walls). Loft insulation with mineral wool or cellulose: 15,000–40,000 DKK.
New windows or renovation of original windows: 60,000–200,000 DKK Original windows can often be renovated with new weatherstripping, putty repair and secondary glazing — this preserves the character of the house. Full replacement with reproduction windows is more expensive, but necessary for serious rot damage.
Basement renovation: 80,000–300,000 DKK External drainage and membrane is the most effective solution against moisture in the basement (80,000–200,000 DKK). Internal membrane and dehumidification is cheaper (30,000–80,000 DKK), but does not address the cause.
New bathroom: 100,000–250,000 DKK Old bathrooms in the basement or with original installations rarely meet modern standards. Wet room waterproofing, new pipes and new floor are necessary.
New plumbing and electrical: 100,000–250,000 DKK Lead pipes (water supply) and steel drains must be replaced. Electrical installations from before 1960 rarely meet current safety requirements. Consumer unit and new installations cost 50,000–150,000 DKK.
New heating system: 60,000–150,000 DKK Switch from oil or gas boiler to heat pump or district heating. Keep the old radiators — they work fine with modern heat sources.
Preservation vs. modernisation
The brick villa’s character lies in the details: window profiles, brick colour, string courses, original doors. A renovation that removes all of this leaves an anonymous house.
The best approach is to preserve what has quality, and modernise what does not function:
- Preserve original windows — renovate with secondary glazing rather than replacement, when the frames are sound.
- Preserve the facade’s character — insulate from inside or via cavity fill, not externally.
- Preserve cornices, panelling and fielded doors — they cannot be recreated at a reasonable cost.
- Modernise installations — plumbing, electrical and heating belong to the new era.
- Modernise bathroom and kitchen — functional requirements have changed fundamentally.
If the house is listed or conservation-designated (SAVE value 1–4), there may be constraints on what you can change. Contact the municipality early in the process.
Which brick villas are most at risk?
Villas with full basement and high groundwater table. Moisture in the basement is almost unavoidable without an external drainage layer. The problem is worsened by inadequate ventilation.
Villas with fibre cement roof. Some brick villas had a new roof installed in the 1950s–70s with fibre cement panels that may contain asbestos. These must be removed by a certified company.
Villas with outdated electrics. Rubber-insulated cables, porcelain fuse holders and no earthing are fire hazards. Prioritise electrical renovation.
Villas that have stood empty. Lack of heating and ventilation dramatically accelerates moisture damage. Six months’ vacancy can create mould problems that cost 50,000–150,000 DKK to remediate.
Energy and finances
Most unrenovated brick villas have an energy rating of E, F or G. With insulation, new windows and a new heat source, you can typically reach C or D — and save 15,000–30,000 DKK/year on the heating bill.
The payback period for energy renovations in a brick villa is typically 10–20 years, depending on current heat source and the scope of renovation. With rising energy prices, payback periods shorten.
Energy companies provide grants for insulation, new windows and heat pumps. The BoligJob scheme provides a tax deduction for labour costs. Always apply for grants before work starts — see Sparenergi.dk for current rates.
Sequence and timeline
Renovate in the right sequence:
- Moisture and drainage. Solve the basement’s moisture problems before anything else. Moisture spreads upward and can undermine newer renovations.
- Roof and facade. Repointing, repair of roof tiles, new underlay if necessary.
- Installations. Plumbing, electrical, heating system. Remove lead pipes and old electrics.
- Windows. Renovation or replacement, depending on condition and conservation value.
- Interior. Bathroom, kitchen, floors, surfaces — after the building envelope is in order.
A comprehensive renovation takes 6–12 months. Many choose to renovate in phases over 2–5 years — easier on the finances and allows living in the house during the process.
How to move forward
The brick villa deserves a plan that respects the house’s qualities. Start by understanding what the house needs — not what trends dictate. A professional survey of structure, installations and energy status gives you the best basis for prioritising correctly.
Get an overview of the house’s condition and possibilities, so you can prioritise correctly — and preserve what makes your brick villa unique.
If you have an art deco villa from the 1930s instead, many of the same principles apply — but with different structural details and typical weaknesses.
Sources: Bolius — brick villas, Bygningskultur Danmark, Danish Energy Agency