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October 24, 2016There are two possible reasons for undertaking a venture such as this one: either you have finally made the decision to spruce up your old house and give it a new shine or you’ve decided to purchase a fixer upper. Whatever the reason, it seems as you have a great challenge ahead of you. While old houses do hold a certain type of charm to them, they’re also known to be quite demanding when it comes to renovations. Major remodeling projects can consume a fair amount of time and money, but they can also use up all your energy and patience as well. This being said, this simple guideline will take you through some of the biggest challenges and difficulties that might occur and offer you handy solutions on how to tackle them.
Challenge No.1 – Moisture
One of the biggest challenges that people face when undergoing a renovation of an old residence is the moisture build up. Presence of moisture is not only an unpleasant occurrence because of its appearance and scent, but also because it can cause some major issues later on. High humidity levels in the house can greatly damage the electronic appliances, create big structural issues, attract mould and insects and most importantly – damage your health. The best way to fix this problem is to find where it originated and seal the potential leak and control the humidity in the house with proper ventilation or even
installing a control humidifier.
Challenge No.2 – Electricity and Plumbing
Depending on how old the house is, it might be possible that the electrical and plumbing systems which were installed in the time it was built are now outdated. It also might be the case that the wiring and piping have deteriorated over the years and that they aren’t safe to use. This can lead to all kinds of fire and water related disasters. If you wish to avoid possible floods or combustions, it’d be wise to check the circuits, wiring and the pipes, fix any cracks you find or even replace everything with new installations. Replacing everything with new plumbing and electrical systems might be a costly investment, but nevertheless a wise one.
Challenge No.3 – Pests
Another common problem in old homes are various pest infestations. These tedious little creatures are known to find shelter in abandoned houses or homes that were uninhabited for a long period of time. A thorough inspection of the home will give you a clear insight whether the house is populated with rodents or perhaps insects such as ants, termites, cockroaches and other uninvited guests. If the home you’re remodeling has a dark attic, there even might be a possibility of some bats lurking by. And while some of these pests present just an unpleasant sight, don’t underestimate their ability to create a lot of damage around the household. Pest control services should be one of the priorities in big remodeling projects, regardless of how old the house actually is.
Challenge No.4 – Cracks in The Foundation
Keeping in mind the age of your house, it’s good to consider the state of the foundation. If it so happens that a house suffers certain cracks or faults in its foundation, it could cause some major structural issues. In some countries, people are obligated to make a detailed inspection of their home before moving in, so they’d be sure that the residence is safe to live in. That’s exactly why building inspection Sydney is one of the priority steps of all Sydneysiders who decide to purchase a new home or start remodeling their old one.
It’s important to keep in mind that these types of renovation projects almost never go without a decent amount of trouble and it’s best to be prepared for what awaits you. Although they require a lot of work, once you finally finish the project, you’ll be able to indulge in the savoury fruits of your labour. You can surely expect a few bumps in the road, but nothing that can’t be overpassed.