Home upgrades come in different types. It can be as simple as hiring a furnace company to fix the heating system or working with a contractor to transform your outdated kitchen. Whatever project you’re working on, renovation is one of the most difficult yet rewarding home upgrades.
The problem with renovating an old home is that you might discover major issues left unattended years ago. To know more about them, here are the common problems homeowners face during a home renovation.
Structural defects
Old properties are more vulnerable to the impact of structural defects and poor building practices because of the general building wear and tear. These issues often involve the foundation, which is known for its inability to stand the test of time. One of the common reasons is the type of cement used in the house. Floors and water runoff can also affect the integrity of the foundation by causing the ground to expand.
You can easily detect foundation problems through cracks on the walls, gaps between the edges of rooms, and floor and windows and doors that stick. Most of these issues are detected during renovation work.
When you encounter structural defects during renovation, pay attention to them immediately before they grow into more damaging issues. In the case of foundation cracks, you need a structural engineer to conduct an immediate inspection to determine the extent of the problem. The builder will also require additional materials and tools to fix the damage.
Water damage
Water damage is a common cause of many renovation issues. It takes the form of leakage, blockage, and corrosion. It’s pretty deceptive because you won’t easily notice it until the water starts to leak or the walls are opening up. It often starts with roofing problems that go undetected until the water has leaked through the ceiling.
Leaky or broken pipes are also a source of water damage because of faulty plumbing practices. Whatever the cause, water damage can lead to devastating effects, ranging from termites, mildew and mold growth, pipe rust or breakage, and rotting timber.
Often, wood rot caused by water damage can be too late to repair. This requires a complete replacement of the material to prevent further damage. The builder might even require you to extend the project deadline and devote a larger budget to address the problem.
Poor electrical work
What’s hidden behind your walls can end up being outdated or hazardous. This often applies to outdated electrical wiring in old houses since the system back then can no longer support contemporary appliances and other electrical devices.
Wiring that is faulty, old, and brittle causes short circuits that can turn into a huge fire. That’s why it’s best to have the wiring checked before making any major upgrades around the house.
Lack of miscellaneous budget
Breaking through floors, walls, and roofs often result in unplanned expenses. The situation is even worse when renovating an old house. In most cases, you may break through a wall that hides a plumbing issue or faulty electrical system. Major problems in utility may require an overhaul or complete replacement of connections around the house. Also, you need to allocate a budget for waste removal and proper clean-up to get rid of the piled-up mess from building work. The worse case is if someone gets injured and you need to cover the hospital costs for the treatment.
Budgets are one of the biggest factors in home renovation. Construction work can take a huge toll on your budget, so you have to consider foreseeable expenses while giving yourself a wiggle room for miscellaneous costs and emergency situations.
Most homeowners make the mistake of putting the majority of their budget on fixtures and decorations. You can always allocate a budget for the fixtures once you’re done with the renovation. In the meantime, the bulk of your budget should proceed to major structural changes.
Communication is important to stay on budget. Discuss your budget concerns with the contractor before and during the renovation so that you know what to expect in terms of layouts, fixtures, and expectations. If you’re up-to-date with the materials costs, keeping the project on budget is easy.
The examples above are just some common issues when renovating homes. There are still loads of issues out there depending on the quality of construction of your home and the type of materials used. To avoid these problems altogether, the best solution is to hire a home inspection to conduct an overall assessment of major defects, potential threats, and safety concerns.
