--- title: "Brick Villa Renovation — Guide and Costs" canonical_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/articles/brick-villa-renovation markdown_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/articles/brick-villa-renovation.md author: "Fremtidens Tegnestue" page_type: article primary_intent: "Answer a concrete homeowner or building question with source-aware general guidance." primary_keyword: "brick villa" audience: "Homeowners, studios and agents researching a concrete building topic." summary: "The traditional brick villa is solid but has typical weaknesses: basement moisture, draughty windows and no insulation. See what renovation costs." source_basis: - "Existing article text and frontmatter" - "Fremtidens Tegnestue methodology: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/about/method" - "FT source and uncertainty principles: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/sources-and-method" human_validation: "Whether the guidance applies to the specific building, detail and project context." responsibility_line: "AI can prepare, compile and flag uncertainty. The architect validates the consequences." last_reviewed: 2026-03-24 last_updated: 2026-03-24 privacy_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/privacy related_pages: - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/efterisolering relation: related-concept - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/fugt relation: related-concept - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/energimaerke relation: related-concept - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/fundament relation: related-concept - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/fredning relation: related-concept - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge relation: hub status: published --- # Brick Villa Renovation — Guide and Costs Canonical URL: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/articles/brick-villa-renovation Markdown URL: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/articles/brick-villa-renovation.md Entity type: article Language: en Author: Fremtidens Tegnestue Published: 2026-03-24 Last updated: 2026-03-24 Privacy: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/privacy ## Short answer The traditional brick villa is solid but has typical weaknesses: basement moisture, draughty windows and no insulation. See what renovation costs. ## Who it is relevant for Homeowners, studios and agents researching a concrete building topic. ## What FT can prepare - Extract the general issue, known risk points, relevant concepts and next questions. ## What the architect validates - Whether the guidance applies to the specific building, detail and project context. ## Article body 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](/en/knowledge/materials/trae). 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](/en/knowledge/materials/tegl) on [roof structure](/en/knowledge/concepts/tagkonstruktion) 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](/en/knowledge/concepts/dampspaerre) is an option (40,000–150,000 DKK for the exterior walls). Loft insulation with [mineral wool](/en/knowledge/materials/mineraluld) or [cellulose](/en/knowledge/materials/celluloseisolering): 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](/en/knowledge/concepts/fugt) 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](/en/knowledge/concepts/varmeinstallation) 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: 1. **Preserve original windows** — renovate with secondary glazing rather than replacement, when the frames are sound. 2. **Preserve the facade's character** — insulate from inside or via cavity fill, not externally. 3. **Preserve cornices, panelling and fielded doors** — they cannot be recreated at a reasonable cost. 4. **Modernise installations** — plumbing, electrical and heating belong to the new era. 5. **Modernise bathroom and kitchen** — functional requirements have changed fundamentally. If the house is [listed](/en/knowledge/concepts/fredning) 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](/en/knowledge/concepts/fugt) 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](/en/knowledge/concepts/energimaerke) 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](/en/knowledge/concepts/efterisolering), 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](https://sparenergi.dk) for current rates. ## Sequence and timeline Renovate in the right sequence: 1. **Moisture and drainage.** Solve the basement's moisture problems before anything else. Moisture spreads upward and can undermine newer renovations. 2. **Roof and facade.** Repointing, repair of roof tiles, new underlay if necessary. 3. **Installations.** Plumbing, electrical, heating system. Remove lead pipes and old electrics. 4. **Windows.** Renovation or replacement, depending on condition and conservation value. 5. **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](/en/knowledge/articles/art-deco-villa-renovation) instead, many of the same principles apply — but with different structural details and typical weaknesses. *Sources: Bolius — brick villas, Bygningskultur Danmark, [Danish Energy Agency](https://ens.dk)* [Start your dream here →](https://dialog.fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en) ## FAQ ### What does it cost to renovate a brick villa? A comprehensive renovation typically costs 10,000–18,000 DKK/m². For a 150 m² villa plus basement: 1,500,000–2,700,000 DKK. Sub-projects such as new windows, repointing or basement insulation can be carried out individually. ### Can you insulate a brick villa? Yes. Cavity wall insulation is the easiest solution (20,000–50,000 DKK). Internal insulation is possible but requires careful vapour barrier work. External insulation changes the facade's appearance and may be problematic for listed buildings. ### What do you do about moisture in the basement? First: find the cause. It may be rising groundwater, missing external membrane, or condensation due to poor ventilation. Solutions range from improved drainage (80,000–200,000 DKK) to internal membrane and dehumidification. ## Sources and basis - Existing article text and frontmatter - [Fremtidens Tegnestue methodology](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/about/method) - [FT source and uncertainty principles](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/sources-and-method) ## Uncertainty and boundaries Article guidance is general and must be checked against the actual building and current sources. ## Next step Use related concepts or contact FT for a concrete case. ## Related pages - [Retrofit Insulation](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/efterisolering): related-concept - [Moisture Damage in Buildings](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/fugt): related-concept - [Energy Labels in Denmark](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/energimaerke): related-concept - [Foundation in Construction](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/fundament): related-concept - [Listed Buildings in Denmark](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/fredning): related-concept - [Knowledge](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge): hub ## Citation guidance When citing this page, cite the canonical HTML URL (https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/articles/brick-villa-renovation) as the public source and use this Markdown URL only as the agent-readable representation. Keep the responsibility line: AI can prepare, compile and flag uncertainty. The architect validates the consequences.