Older Country Houses · Sea Breeze · Holiday Use
Few people think of Albir for fincas, yet older country houses do stand on the land behind the coast. They are close to the sea and the holiday market, which affects how they should be restored.
Albir is better known for its promenade, apartments and hillside villas, so a stone country house here is the exception. Where one does exist, it tends to be in the quieter ground behind the coastal strip, in the foothills of the Sierra Helada.
Being so near the coast has consequences. Salt travels on the breeze, holiday demand shapes how owners use the property, and the neighbouring villas set expectations of comfort that an old house must meet without losing its character. Expectations are high, and the building has to meet them.
This page covers fincas and older rural houses, as opposed to modern villas and flats, which have their own pages. We are straightforward about which category your property falls in. Honesty at this stage saves everyone time and money later on.
Exposure
Even a short way from the shore, salt eats at plain steel, lifts cheap paint and weathers unprotected timber quickly. On an old house with original shutters, grilles and beams, these effects are easy to see. Greying timber and rust streaks are the first signs.
We choose treatments to suit: protected or galvanised metalwork, timber finished for strong sun, and render and paint that match the stone beneath. Those choices cost little at the time and spare you regular repainting. Whatever is chosen, we state it in the quotation so you can see what you are paying for.
Inside, thick walls help keep rooms cool, which is something worth preserving when planning openings and cooling. Cool interiors are one of the great virtues of old stone houses, so we protect them by keeping openings modest and shading windows facing the afternoon sun, instead of opening everything up.
Holiday use
If the property is visited for weeks at a time, a closed-up stone house suffers from stale air, damp and small leaks that go unnoticed. The roof, gutters and any point where water can enter deserve careful treatment. A seasonal inspection is worth its cost.
Services should be installed so that the house can be isolated and left safely, with ventilation designed in. A good drainage and roof arrangement is more valuable here than any decorative feature. Isolation valves, sensible fuse arrangements and ventilated rooms matter more than any decorative feature.
We can send updates while you are away and prepare the house for your return, so you arrive to a clean, working home. We can also arrange checks while you are away, so a storm or a burst pipe is found by someone other than you, weeks later.
Honest limits
Many properties described as fincas by agents are really villas with a rustic look. The distinction matters, because the solutions differ: a modern villa suits different materials from an old stone house. Beams, thick walls and deep window openings point to a true finca.
At the visit we tell you which one you have. If it is a modern villa, we recommend our villa renovation service. If it is a genuine old house, we proceed with the stone, lime and timber methods that suit it.
Being clear about this early prevents over-spending on the wrong approach. We would sooner lose a job than sell the wrong one, because the wrong approach shows within a couple of winters, and the owner knows exactly who to blame.
How it works
We begin with a visit to the house and a conversation about how you intend to use it. A quotation comes next, free of charge, covering structure, services and finishes in an order that makes sense for an older property. Photographs of walls, roof and surroundings help us prepare.
The trades are coordinated by our manager, and you receive photographs and calls while you are abroad. Suppliers hear from us in Spanish, you hear in English, and the guarantee on our work is described in the quotation. Everything is agreed in writing, so nothing depends on memory.
Questions
Fewer than in the countryside inland, but older rural houses do exist on the land behind the coast. If you own one, or are thinking of buying, we can tell you what condition it is in and what it needs.
Yes. Salt carried on the breeze wears plain metal, paint and exposed timber, even a distance from the shore. We specify protected ironwork and finishes suited to a coastal setting. The cost of doing it properly is small.
Age and construction are the clues: thick stone walls, timber beams and a rural history point to a finca. We tell you at the visit and recommend the right service. We tell you which, and explain our reasoning plainly.
Yes. We pay particular attention to the roof, gutters, ventilation and the ability to isolate services, and we can arrange for the property to be ready for your arrival. Updates reach you while you are away.
Across the area
Country houses elsewhere on the coast and in the valleys have their own stories. These neighbouring pages explain how our finca work adapts, depending on terrain, climate and use.
Finca renovations around Benidorm for old stone houses, campo homes and older town properties in the hills behind the skyline. Roofs, lime. Free quotation.
View Benidorm →Finca renovations in Villajoyosa for older country houses and stone homes inland of the coast: roofs, walls, wiring, terraces and bathrooms. Free quotation.
View Villajoyosa →Finca renovations in Callosa d'en Sarrià, our home town: farmhouses among the terraces, with roofs, walls, wiring and outbuildings covered. Free quotation.
View Callosa d'en Sarrià →Get in touch
Tell us what the property is, where it stands and what you would like done. Photographs of walls and roof are very helpful. Do say how often you expect to use the house.
We will call round and write up a free quotation, along with a frank opinion on whether it is a finca or something else. You can then decide at your own pace.
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.”
More from Dragon Reforms
Everything Dragon Reforms does in Albir, each with its own page.
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Describe the finca and the work you have in mind, and we will arrange a visit and send a written quotation.
