Old houses reflect the architecture and charm of times gone by, but showing off an old home’s great features requires quite a bit of work. When renovating an old house, there are certain tasks that you should prioritize over others for both stability and safety’s sake. Here are tips that will help you decide what needs to be fixed immediately and what can wait.
The roof and the foundation should be immediate priorities. A leaky roof can lead to significant water damage inside the house. Holes or other openings can also allow small animals like birds or squirrels to enter the home, building nests and carrying pests and parasites. If the foundation needs work at all, it’s best to have that done before you start working on the interior. The process of jacking up the home, along with the home resettling, could lead to cracks on interior walls and ceilings that will need to be patched; there is no reason to paint or start repairing walls until the outside work is finished. Only when the roof and structure are stable can you get started on the inside.
One of the first things you should do when fixing up an older home is to investigate the electrical system. Some old types of wiring, such as knob-and-tube, are quite dangerous; these wiring systems are often ungrounded, and the insulation on the wires is prone to becoming brittle with age, which can cause fires if the wires are exposed. Have a professional electrician inspect the home’s wiring and rewire the home if needed.
Just as important as the electricity, the plumbing in the home should be of primary concern. Many old houses contain pipe made of cast iron, which can rust, crack and cause other issues. This can cause significant issues if the home has two stories, and the upstairs bathroom has ancient plumbing. Other issues you might encounter include unvented drains, collapsed clay-tile sewer lines, leaking fixtures and water-hogging toilets. Have a professional plumber perform any work that needs to be done before you move in to avoid having to shuffle your belongings around; a surprising number of rooms can be affected by plumbing work in a bathroom, especially if the bath is on the second floor.
Once you have the structural, electrical, and plumbing issues worked out, you could move into the house, depending on its overall condition and how comfortable you are living with the chaos of remodeling. If floors will need to be sanded and refinished or you have messy old wallpaper to remove, it’s probably best to do these tasks without the hassles of moving furniture from room-to-room. Painting, changing hardware, caulking and other minor tasks can wait until after you’ve moved in, especially if only one room is out of commission at any given time.
Remodeling an old house is a tough job, and it’s one that requires careful planning to ensure the structure is safe and stable. All of your hard work will pay off, though, when your rehabbed house has regained its beauty and character.
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