Old homes are quaint and charming. While their age makes them stand apart from more modern homes, they also come with a few unfortunate side effects. Let’s check out the most common problems with older homes and specific hazards to look out for.
Foundation Problems
Foundations settle over time, and this can lead to various problems, including uneven floors, cracks and crumbling, and more. If you notice cracks in the walls or floor, crumbling foundation walls, or water spots around the home, have a professional inspect the foundation.
Deteriorating Plumbing
If an old home still has its original plumbing, there’s a good chance you’ll need to replace it, whether because of deterioration or incompatibility with modern standards and fixtures. Things to look for include galvanized pipes (which provide poor water pressure and quality), polybutylene pipes (which don’t meet modern building codes), deteriorated valves and washers (which can leak), and clogged shower or sink drains.
Hazardous Materials
Back in the day, we used materials we didn’t know much about indiscriminately. Mercury? Eh, that’s fine. Lead? Put it in everything! Of course, now that we know these materials are harmful, we’re a lot more careful with how we use them. That said, traces of materials like asbestos, lead-based paint, VOC, and radon can still be found in older homes.
Bad Mortar
Mortar is a paste that binds bricks and stones together. Mortar is a great material, but it’s also hard to use correctly. Mortars need to be porous and softer than the brick and stone they’re binding; otherwise, issues can quickly crop up. Back when these homes were made, lime mortar was the mortar of choice. But lately, Portland cement, a hard and less breathable mortar, has risen in popularity. This hard cement doesn’t mesh well with old homes. Using it can lead to moisture problems and structural deterioration.
Those are four of the most common problems with older homes. Older homes have good bones that are worth saving, but if you live in or plan to buy an older home, keep these common issues in mind, so you and your family can stay safe.
