Old homes are beautiful, and full of character and style. But, if they're not well cared for they can present a number of issues to the homeowner. If you’ve decided to renovate an old home in lieu of building a new custom home, there are some important things you want to keep in mind. Doing your home remodeling project right the first time will save you time, money, and headaches in the long run.
Plumbing and Electrical
Depending on how old your home is and the last time that it was remodeled, it is quite possible your plumbing and electrical are out of date. In homes older than 50 years, you’re likely to have half of the amperage that you need, and you may find that your pipes are made of lead which can be dangerous to your family over time. If you’re considering a home remodeling project, the updating of these two services should be at the very top of your list.
Unsafe Materials
In addition to lead pipes, many older homes have lead paint covering the walls, doors, and trim. It may be that the past owners have covered it over with layer after layer of modern paint products, but as soon as you go to scrape those layers of paint off an old door you’re exposing your family to dangerous toxins. Additionally, many old homes also used asbestos in any number of different places. From floor tiles to roof shingles to insulation, asbestos is a fire-retardant building material used in the first half of the 20th century that we now know is very dangerous to breathe.
Bad Patch Jobs
Depending on how old your home is, it may have been remodeled before. Unfortunately, we see tons of old homes that were at one point totally stripped of their character by well-meaning home remodeling teams. Replacing or rebuilding original elements can be very expensive, but is absolutely worth it in the long run. Sometimes the best thing to do is remove all the add-ons, and any damage sustained over the years, so you can bring the home back to its roots and build it back out with a commitment to quality and retaining the home’s character.
Outdated Layout
Our current obsession with open-concept living was not shared with homeowners dating back 100 years. So many old homes may feel chopped up with small rooms, a lot of doorways, and long halls. If you’d like to see your old home more open and welcoming, you may be considering taking down some walls, or opening up some doorways to create a more fluid concept. There is a lot to consider when you go this route, but most importantly is to be sure that you are always bearing in mind the original character of the home.
When you first dig into remodeling your old home, you may be shocked and surprised by the state of the structure. Between outdated products and layouts and decades of neglect, it’s important to hire a company that knows how to handle all these issues. At Empire Custom Builders our team is perfectly qualified to make the most of your project. Contact us today for more information about how we can turn your old house into a home.
Depending on how old your home is and the last time that it was remodeled, it is quite possible your plumbing and electrical are out of date. In homes older than 50 years, you’re likely to have half of the amperage that you need, and you may find that your pipes are made of lead which can be dangerous to your family over time. If you’re considering a home remodeling project, the updating of these two services should be at the very top of your list.
Unsafe Materials
In addition to lead pipes, many older homes have lead paint covering the walls, doors, and trim. It may be that the past owners have covered it over with layer after layer of modern paint products, but as soon as you go to scrape those layers of paint off an old door you’re exposing your family to dangerous toxins. Additionally, many old homes also used asbestos in any number of different places. From floor tiles to roof shingles to insulation, asbestos is a fire-retardant building material used in the first half of the 20th century that we now know is very dangerous to breathe.
Bad Patch Jobs
Depending on how old your home is, it may have been remodeled before. Unfortunately, we see tons of old homes that were at one point totally stripped of their character by well-meaning home remodeling teams. Replacing or rebuilding original elements can be very expensive, but is absolutely worth it in the long run. Sometimes the best thing to do is remove all the add-ons, and any damage sustained over the years, so you can bring the home back to its roots and build it back out with a commitment to quality and retaining the home’s character.
Outdated Layout
Our current obsession with open-concept living was not shared with homeowners dating back 100 years. So many old homes may feel chopped up with small rooms, a lot of doorways, and long halls. If you’d like to see your old home more open and welcoming, you may be considering taking down some walls, or opening up some doorways to create a more fluid concept. There is a lot to consider when you go this route, but most importantly is to be sure that you are always bearing in mind the original character of the home.
When you first dig into remodeling your old home, you may be shocked and surprised by the state of the structure. Between outdated products and layouts and decades of neglect, it’s important to hire a company that knows how to handle all these issues. At Empire Custom Builders our team is perfectly qualified to make the most of your project. Contact us today for more information about how we can turn your old house into a home.
