YoManila|At one point, everything shows its vulnerability and gets ravaged by the flow of time, so do our homes. This is when we decide to renovate them, so we could preserve their original look and form, or to remodel them into more contemporary houses. No matter what our plan is, old houses are like a minefield for inexperienced renovators, as there are many hidden issues waiting for you to discover them. You can find a few things you should really pay attention to when you start renovating an old house in the following paragraphs.
Dangerous materials like asbestos and lead
If you’re renovating your home from walls to floors, there’s a great chance that you’ll run into some lead in the paint, or asbestos in the flooring, ductwork, and roofing systems. Lead isn’t hazardous as long as the paint isn’t chipping, or sanded into dust. It can cause learning disabilities and behavioral problems in children, while higher levels of exposure can cause lead poisoning, anemia, impaired brain, and nervous system functions. Use a home lead test kit to check if there’s any lead in your home, or send a paint chip sample to a laboratory. Also, when asbestos insulation deteriorates over time, it releases asbestos dust, which may cause mesothelioma and other diseases. If someone gets injured because of asbestos, they can file an asbestos claim and get compensation from the company that failed to warn them about the dangers their products pose to people’s health.
Windows and doors
If you were thinking about replacing your windows- don’t. Some companies will tell you that new windows will function better, but they won’t. Your original wood windows have lasted for many years because they were built of higher-grade wood than today’s windows are. They can be rebuilt and also energy efficient. Just add weatherstripping and keep up storms and you’re good to go. The same applies to your doors. Don’t think about throwing them out and finding a replacement, they can look fresh and new with just a bit of touch up. You can restore any old door by sanding it. If they’re already in a good condition, you can just paint them, or change the accessories- change the hinges, handle, make a frame for the peephole, or add a knocker. You can change the panes if you have a glass door! Just keep the old wood, it’s better than today’s is.
Old woodwork
Woodwork is usually a selling point of a home, it’s a symbol of good taste and wealth, and some of it just wasn’t meant to be replaced, or modified in any way. You maybe don’t want to destroy the thing that makes an old house beautiful. However, painted molding can also look really beautiful and it’s easier to decorate the house to your needs when you paint the wood. It’s completely up to you whether you want to keep the original, authentic look, or go with something new and fresh, more modern and stylish.
Plumbing and electrical
This is one of the biggest problems that people face when renovating an old house. Most of it is outdated, so it calls for replacements, which costs money and is such a tiresome work. The older system is probably different than the one we have today, so you have to work on your lighting plan and let your electrician know in advance. Renewing the pipework usually means completely changing the system with a new one, so work out a plan with your plumber. You may also need to change your boiler or radiator, so take care of that as well while you’re at it.
Re-doing an old home is not an easy feat, but satisfaction with the result is truly worth the effort you have to put into it. Going a step further to keep the original look of the home is such a rewarding experience, so don’t write that off easily.
