It’s like you feel it before you know how you got there. There’s the wide plank flooring. The plaster ceiling medallion. And that stairway creaks as you step onto each landing in just the right way, it is the footstep creak of centuries. That is part of the allure of older homes. But then once you begin stripping those layers away, things become a bit more complicated.
How All Those Great Features Could Be Hazardous To Health
While many great features of older homes are attractive, they may also pose health risks. The handcrafted features of your home were made by people using materials and techniques that no one questioned at the time. So, before you decide to fall head over heels in love with an older home, take some time to discover what hazardous materials may have accumulated behind all that beautiful plaster.
The Likelihood Of Having Lead-Based Paint On Your Older Home Is Very High
When renovating a home constructed before 1978 (the year lead-based paint was outlawed), there is a strong possibility of lead-based paint accumulating in your walls. While lead-based paint remains relatively stable when undisturbed by sanding, scraping, or demolition during renovation activities, the lead dust generated can cause serious health issues for both children and animals who live within the residence. Since lead-dust poisoning does not present symptoms of its presence, the use of a low-cost lead-testing kit or hiring a certified inspector will help you identify the existence of lead-based paint in your home.
Your Wiring May Appear Ancient
Although your wiring may look old-fashioned, it is capable of producing fires in your home. The rubber-coated wiring installed in your attic has deteriorated over time. Once the rubber coating on the wire deteriorates, the wire becomes encapsulated with new modern insulation and creates a greater potential for a fire hazard. One licensed electrician can inspect your knob & tube wiring and provide information to you in one day regarding how well it is functioning versus needing complete replacement.
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich
The Plumbing System Inside Your Older Home Has Its Own Complicated History
Plumbing systems installed in older homes typically consist of multiple types of piping materials, including galvanised steel, copper and occasionally a lead joint created by a past homeowner. A skilled plumber specialising in older homes can identify which piping materials are present in your system instead of relying on assumptions made by former homeowners.
Certain Products Containing Asbestos Require A Specialist For Removal
Asbestos-containing products such as old floor tile, pipe insulation and textured ceilings can create serious health issues if disturbed incorrectly. Do not attempt to remove asbestos-containing products yourself. If you suspect that your home contains asbestos and would like to confirm it, contact a certified asbestos removal contractor to perform the sampling and provide you with a written report. Once you receive confirmation of asbestos contamination, only a licensed asbestos remover should handle the removal of the contaminated materials.
Do not think that none of this will mean walking out of the home with “good bones”. This means do not walk in without your eyes wide open as to what you are buying. Houses that are worth restoring are usually worth waiting a bit (enough time to see what you have) before you begin reversing 100 years of another person’s decisions.
It’s like you feel it before you know how you got there. There’s the wide plank flooring. The plaster ceiling medallion. And that stairway creaks as you step onto each landing in just the right way, it is the footstep creak of centuries. That is part of the allure of older homes. But then once you begin stripping those layers away, things become a bit more complicated.
How All Those Great Features Could Be Hazardous To Health
While many great features of older homes are attractive, they may also pose health risks. The handcrafted features of your home were made by people using materials and techniques that no one questioned at the time. So, before you decide to fall head over heels in love with an older home, take some time to discover what hazardous materials may have accumulated behind all that beautiful plaster.
The Likelihood Of Having Lead-Based Paint On Your Older Home Is Very High
When renovating a home constructed before 1978 (the year lead-based paint was outlawed), there is a strong possibility of lead-based paint accumulating in your walls. While lead-based paint remains relatively stable when undisturbed by sanding, scraping, or demolition during renovation activities, the lead dust generated can cause serious health issues for both children and animals who live within the residence. Since lead-dust poisoning does not present symptoms of its presence, the use of a low-cost lead-testing kit or hiring a certified inspector will help you identify the existence of lead-based paint in your home.
Your Wiring May Appear Ancient
Although your wiring may look old-fashioned, it is capable of producing fires in your home. The rubber-coated wiring installed in your attic has deteriorated over time. Once the rubber coating on the wire deteriorates, the wire becomes encapsulated with new modern insulation and creates a greater potential for a fire hazard. One licensed electrician can inspect your knob & tube wiring and provide information to you in one day regarding how well it is functioning versus needing complete replacement.
The Plumbing System Inside Your Older Home Has Its Own Complicated History
Plumbing systems installed in older homes typically consist of multiple types of piping materials, including galvanised steel, copper and occasionally a lead joint created by a past homeowner. A skilled plumber specialising in older homes can identify which piping materials are present in your system instead of relying on assumptions made by former homeowners.
Certain Products Containing Asbestos Require A Specialist For Removal
Asbestos-containing products such as old floor tile, pipe insulation and textured ceilings can create serious health issues if disturbed incorrectly. Do not attempt to remove asbestos-containing products yourself. If you suspect that your home contains asbestos and would like to confirm it, contact a certified asbestos removal contractor to perform the sampling and provide you with a written report. Once you receive confirmation of asbestos contamination, only a licensed asbestos remover should handle the removal of the contaminated materials.
Do not think that none of this will mean walking out of the home with “good bones”. This means do not walk in without your eyes wide open as to what you are buying. Houses that are worth restoring are usually worth waiting a bit (enough time to see what you have) before you begin reversing 100 years of another person’s decisions.
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