Although thousands of new homes in the United States are being built every day, the odds are you will purchase a previously owned house. You could buy a home that’s less than a decade old, but you could also buy a home that’s considerably older.
According to surveyors, the median age of houses in the country is approximately 37 years, but even this age changes in geography. For example, houses in the Northeast tend be older, between 57 to 58 years old whereas houses in southwestern states like Nevada and Texas average between 20 and 25 years.
Living inside an older house takes patience and determination because you will need to constantly maintain it. This will protect it from the ravages of weather and time.
If you want to live contently inside an older house, here are a few methods you must use to keep your home in livable condition.
Moisture is one of the worst enemies an older home can get, especially if it has plenty of structural parts made of wood. You should first focus on the roof since it is the primary method your home protects itself from the elements.
Older houses tend to have roofs in need of repair or replacement so inspect them carefully for leaks that could cause damp spots and mold. Next, inspect the indoor water functions and fixtures, especially in the bathrooms. You may need to employ moisture mitigation techniques to ensure steam and stray droplets don’t infiltrate the structure itself. Protecting your older home from moisture will ensure soft materials like plasterboard, wood posts in crucial areas last a lot longer.
You will need to be vigilant about pests as they can do untold damage to the structural integrity and livability of your house. Rats and mice are among the most destructive pests your home can host, gnawing through walls, damaging wood fixtures and even posing fire hazards as they can chew on electrical wiring.
Other destructive pests you will need to watch out for include termites and even bed bugs as these pests can render an entire house unlivable. Unless you want your home to become overrun with pests, you will want to consult with exterminators and get them to regularly flush your home free of these animals and insects. Some treatments can last for years, but otherwise a pest inspection once a year is ideal.
When you live in an older house, you may genuinely want to make a few additions to the premises whether out of necessity or comfort.
For example, you could want to build a carport to protect your vehicles because the older house doesn’t have one. If you are going to make any addition to your house, you should consider the concept of design harmony.
You don’t want to put up any addition or installation that clashes with the design and architecture of the house. For example, if you live in a ranch house, you may want to flip through different carport designs to find one that matches with the outdoorsy and outback aesthetic of most ranch dwellings.
Keeping design unity helps make your house visually appealing and attractive to potential buyers. If you live in an old house, those nearing the century mark or even older, consult with a local historical society or even a preservation organization before you can make any large changes that could affect the property’s historicity.
Lead used to be extremely prevalent as a building substance, being used prominently as water piping and even infused in house paint. Unfortunately, lead is a toxic substance even in small quantities, causing such things as brain damage and cognitive decrease among children.
In large enough quantities, lead can cause severe mental damage and even death. Older homes can still contain plenty of lead, especially those built before the 1980s.
According to a survey, there could still me between 9 and 12 million miles of lead piping in the United States. You must be exceedingly careful, especially if you are moving into a home with children of your own. To be absolutely sure that your house is free of lead, hire a professional inspector to check your water pipes and paint.
Maintaining and fixing up an old home can be expensive and difficult. However, the rewards of seeing an older home restored to its previous splendor and providing you with a comfortable place to take shelter is worth it.