Village Houses · Damp · Thick Walls · Quiet Streets
Polop is a small inland village, and a holiday home here is often an older house on a quiet street. These need patient, careful work: walls to dry out, services to replace and character to keep.
Polop attracts people who want somewhere calmer than the coast. A house here may be a century or more old, with thick walls, high ceilings and rooms that have been added to over time. They are comfortable in summer and wonderful to visit, but they have usually lived through several generations of repairs.
What owners find on closer inspection varies: wiring that has been extended over decades, pipework in several materials, floors that have shifted and walls that hold moisture. A survey before anything else shows what is sound and what is not, and it is the best way to avoid costly surprises halfway through the job.
Beyond the village, newer villas stand on the surrounding hills. These are newer and more spread out, with terraces and gardens to look after as well as rooms. We work on both kinds. Wherever the home stands, the survey comes first and the written quotation second.
Older houses
With an older house, we open up carefully. Behind tired plaster there may be old wiring, redundant pipes or patched repairs. We record what we find with photographs and send them to you, so that you can see why a recommendation has been made.
Rewiring and plumbing renewal often make sense once walls are open, because they are far cheaper to do then than after redecorating. We do not push work you do not need, but we tell you where leaving it risks a larger bill later.
Thick walls absorb noise and heat, a pleasure in summer, but they also hold moisture. Fresh paint over damp will blister within a season, so we look for the source, such as ground water, a leaking gutter or a blocked drain.
Quiet streets
In a village, a refurbishment is noticed. Narrow streets and neighbours with doors a metre away mean that we plan deliveries, parking and skips with consideration, and tell the people next door what is happening. Many older houses also have lime plaster, which does not respond well to modern, sealing paints.
Some materials, such as tiles and fittings, are best ordered ahead. We build this into the programme and tell you in advance, so you are not left waiting for one missing item. Doing so keeps the village street free of idle deliveries. Ordering ahead is easier than collecting an urgent part.
Quiet months suit Polop. With fewer visitors, access is easier and trades are more available. If you plan to use the house in summer, an autumn or winter refurbishment gives the best chance of finishing on time. Mortar in old walls is soft, so fixings and anchors must be chosen carefully.
Hill homes
On the hillsides around Polop there are villas with terraces and gardens, often with views down to the sea. Outdoor stairs, retaining walls and terraces need the same close inspection as elsewhere. Simple controls that guests cannot get wrong are better than clever ones.
Winters are cooler up here, so insulation and heating deserve some thought alongside cooling. Air-conditioning units that also heat are common, and good doors and windows help whichever way the temperature goes. Where the house is cool in the morning, underfloor options are also worth a look.
Interiors of these villas are typically dated rather than neglected. A new kitchen, a refitted bathroom, fresh floors and paint bring them up to date without major building work. Because the structure is sound, spending can go into the rooms people actually use.
How it works
We begin by walking the house with you or, if you are abroad, with a friend and a phone. We look at walls, floors, ceilings and services, and give an honest view of what a refurbishment should include. A written quotation follows.
During the work we photograph what we find behind walls and under floors and send it to you. You see why decisions are needed, and we confirm them in writing before proceeding. Our notes mean you can pick the job up again on your next visit without having to remember details.
Questions
Yes. We work on older houses with thick walls, uneven floors and mixed services. A survey identifies what is sound, what needs renewal and what can stay, and the written quotation sets all of this out for your approval.
We find the source first, whether it is rising ground moisture, a leak or poor drainage, and then treat that before redecorating. Paint on its own does not cure damp, and we tell you if the cause is outside the house.
Often. Trades are easier to schedule and the house is usually empty. Very wet weather can delay outdoor work, so we plan interior jobs for the worst of it and tell you what is realistic.
Not always, though some changes might. We say at the survey if your plans look likely to need the town hall's approval, so you can plan before buying any materials. Interior decorating rarely needs it.
Across the area
Villages and towns near Polop each have their own mix of homes. These pages show how our approach adapts, from older streets to newer coastal developments.
Holiday home refurbishment in Benidorm: apartment kitchens, bathrooms, cooling and finishes, planned around lifts, neighbours and your visits. Free quotation.
View Benidorm →Holiday home refurbishment in Altea: old town houses on steps and narrow lanes, plus coastal villas. Careful access and one team in charge. Free quotation.
View Altea →Holiday home refurbishment in La Nucía: villas on inland urbanisations, cooling, kitchens, terraces and pool surrounds for owners away. Free quotation.
View La Nucía →Holiday home refurbishment in Finestrat: hillside villas, apartments near Cala de Finestrat, views to protect and owners often away. Free quotation.
View Finestrat →Holiday home refurbishment in Calpe: seafront flats and hillside villas hit by salt air and strong sun, with durable finishes that last. Free quotation.
View Calpe →Holiday home refurbishment in Alfaz del Pi & Albir: apartments, townhouses and hillside villas refreshed by one team, with updates abroad. Free quotation.
View Alfaz del Pi & Albir →Holiday home refurbishment in Benissa: fincas in the countryside, old town houses and coastal villas, with a long-distance owner in mind. Free quotation.
View Benissa →Holiday home refurbishment in Villajoyosa: seafront flats, old town houses and inland villas in a year-round town. One team, regular updates. Free quotation.
View Villajoyosa →Holiday home refurbishment in Callosa d'en Sarrià, our home town: village houses, stone and rendered homes and fincas. Quick visits. Free quotation.
View Callosa d'en Sarrià →Holiday home refurbishment in Albir: apartments near the promenade, hillside villas below the Sierra Helada and homes used by guests. Free quotation.
View Albir →Get in touch
Tell us how old the house is, what it is like inside and what bothers you most. We will look round with you, or with a friend holding a phone, and write up what we find.
You pay nothing for the quotation and may take as long as you like to think about it. We would rather you understood the house than rushed into work, so ask whatever you need to.
Customer reviews
Genuine Google reviews from Dragon Reforms customers.
Professional Collaboration & Complete House Renovation – Calpe
“We have been collaborating for many years on projects both large and small, with excellent results. Our latest collaboration was the complete renovation of a house in Calpe. Thanks to their professionalism and reliability, they were able to handle all phases of the project. We hope to continue working together for many years to come.”
Complete Apartment Renovation – Benidorm
“I would like to say a huge thank you to Dragonreforms. Nico and his team did an excellent job renovating our 2 bedroom apartment in Benidorm. This included a beautiful new bathroom, kitchen, flooring, interior doors, plumbing and complete electrical works. Truly amazing workmanship. You have made our dreams come true.”
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Everything Dragon Reforms does in Polop, each with its own page.
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