Hello World! Welcome Friends! Giving your home a fresh look is hard enough when you’ve got a limited budget, but if you are trying to fix up an older property, where things might be on the verge of falling apart, it’s important to know some of the most common hurdles your face when you are renovating it.
Dry Rot
Dry rot occurs when timber becomes damp and fungus decays the woods, which is a sign that the wood wasn’t dried before being installed or there is an issue with dampness in the property. Resolving the damp doesn’t stop the dry rot, so it’s important to take steps to remove it. Taking out the wood and reinstalling it can cost some money, but it’s also important to remember that you can protect it with simple things such as a clear wood sealer. However, if you suspect dry rot, it’s important to get professionals to survey the property. Additionally, for areas like Leeds where dampness is prevalent, it’s essential to take preventative measures such as damp proofing in Leeds to prevent dry rot.
Poor Heating
There can be a number of issues relating to draftiness and cold. If there are uninsulated gaps between the floorboards and the foundations, as well as no cavity wall insulation and limited insulation in the loft, these can all cause heating problems. When heat escapes your home, you’re paying more to heat it, but you also need to make sure that you sufficiently install insulation in these areas.
A Leaky Roof
It hardly surprising that old houses have old roofs. Unless the roof had been replaced in the last few decades, you could be facing a roof that isn’t watertight anymore. This is why you need to look at the telltale signs, including cracked tiles and shingles, crumbling cement, sagging gutters, and loose flashing. Inside the property, you should look for any signs of moisture in the loft insulation, as well as water stains on the floor and any rotten timber. Depending on the damage, it can cost a pretty penny to fix. Structural repairs or an entire replacement can be a major cost but replacing tiles or flashing is on the cheaper side. While you may think that you can replace tiles or flashing yourself, if you are really unsure, it’s a good idea to get a roofing specialist to give you some support.
Unsafe Electrics
Old electrics can cause major fire hazards within the home. You need to look for old plug sockets, dated fuse boxes, and faded light switches to give you a rough idea of their age. When it comes to fixing electrical issues, it’s not something you can do yourself. When you need to rewire a property, you need to consult an electrician who will give you a play-by-play of what needs to be done. It doesn’t hurt to look up the general costs of rewiring a home in your area so if an electrician tries to charge you more, you can negotiate a better price.
Drafty Windows
Windows in older properties benefit from repairing rather than replacing. So many older homes have single glazed windows that aren’t very good at keeping your home warm. You can replace certain types of windows, but this could cause more problems than it solves. For example, if you are replacing timber-framed windows with lightweight PVCu frames, they may not be strong enough to support the masonry, which can make the panels difficult to open, or it can crack the glass. This is why you need to look for any signs of rot and apply a fungicide where necessary and replace infections with new resin or timber. When it comes to more specialist type windows, there are always companies that can replace damaged parts
Plumbing Problems
Water leaks will always cause significant damage and older homes in the US can have lead pipework, especially those built before 1986. If the piping was lead or copper pipe fittings were joined by lead solder, it will need to be replaced with copper or plastic. It’s also a good idea to see if there are any rusted connections that were poorly repaired, especially if the plumbing hasn’t been looked at in more than 50 years. There are other things that you need to have a look at, including if any pipework has been damaged by tree roots. While small jobs like replacing the faucets are easily done, when it comes to new pipework you’ve got to call in the professionals.
Hazardous Materials
Asbestos is a prime example of home hazardous materials. It was only banned in the late 1980s so you may find it in a property, and if it is not in the installation, you could find it in other parts of the property, including the roofs, floor tiles, and the gutters. If we leave it alone, there’s little risk, but if disturbed during the renovation process, it can cause problems. There is also lead paint to consider. Any home built prior to 1978 with original coats of the paint intact could have lead-based paint beneath the surface. The best solution is to seal it with modern paint, or if it’s in a poor condition, it needs to be removed.
Mold and Damp
A very common problem in older properties, dampness, mold, or mildew can be caused by a number of things, from lead pipes to cracked render. If you suspect any issues with poor ventilation or excess moisture arising from damp, you’ve got to determine the source and examine the outside of the property from the top-down. Within the property, typical signs of damp coming in include peeling wallpaper and crumbling plaster. Having a damp-proof course can cost a significant amount of money, but as far as your health is concerned it can make a massive difference.
There are other things that we all need to consider, such as old chimneys and foundational issues, and ensuring that we are aware of some of the major problems gives us a better opportunity to tackle them. It’s not easy, but if you really are after an old house you need to be aware of some of these major problems.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
The Perfect Dinner Party in Your Own Backyard
Keep Your Roof In Good Condition
Top Cute Animals That You Can Raise on Your Small Property
Choose the Right Paddle Board in 6 Easy Steps
How to Know It’s Time to Reroof an Old Roof
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Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
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