Older homes are beautiful. They have stood the test of time, have ornate features, appear grand and offer the homeowner a base on which they can create while holding onto the historic uniqueness of the home. Post-war suburban houses were often built out of Weatherboard with a separate laundry or bathroom called an “outhouse” situated in the large backyard.
Typical Australian homes in the ’60s and ’70s were smaller by today's standards, usually with 2 to 3 bedrooms, built out of brick and with a separate lounge room, kitchen and dining room that was joined by a hallway. The toilet and laundry were now included within the layout of the home.
The ‘80s and ‘90s saw the beginning of open plan living and larger homes to meet the requirements of family living, with separate lounge and games rooms where parents and teenagers could live harmoniously under the same roof but have their own space. Extra bathrooms and toilets were added to solve the argument of siblings all needing a shower at the same time. Parents even added ensuites to their bedrooms, just in case they wanted to avoid the kids altogether.
All these styles of homes are bought and sold then resold again to meet the needs of families, couples and singles throughout their lifetime, becoming wonderful, amazing structures built within the suburbs that we choose to live. The Northern Beaches and the Upper North Shore have many of these older homes throughout their pockets and naturally, with the amazing beauty these suburbs have to offer, people continue to congregate in these areas. The only thing is, the style of home that is required for today’s family is not always available in the suburb that we choose to live in. This is when buying an older home to renovate is the ideal solution.
Renovating can seem like a daunting project and with so many problems that may be unavoidable when buying an older home, this can add to the frustration of a renovation. To provide you with a little insight into the problems that may occur, I have created a list that may help.
Before buying your home, have a building inspection carried out, this will alert you of the major areas that require fixing. When renovating or extending an older home it is best to have all the structural damage fixed properly and ethically. This then ensures you are adding to a base that will be long lasting and suits your design taste and requirements.
Moisture Content
A Moisture Meter Detector can indicate whether the moisture throughout the home is too high. Moisture within an older home may be caused by rising damp in walls, old terracotta ventilation, poor water run away that is not escaping away from the house and instead into the soil around the structure, plumbing leaks and roof leaks.
The effects of high moisture can result in cracks in the exterior or interior walls, mould, black marks on a wall or an unpleasant damp smell. If a house is surrounded by a lot of trees or shade from buildings, this can also enhance the dampness problem as the water damage does not have the opportunity to dry out completely.
This sort of damage is advisable to fix before installing any new kitchens, bathrooms, or walls to ensure the mould and dampness does not spread into the renovated area. A builder can remove and replace damp walls, footings, joists, beams as well as organise new guttering, roofing and plumbing. Windows, sliding doors and skylights can be added to allow more natural sun and also install thermal insulation to allow the house to be well insulated. Old terracotta ventilation can be replaced with metal allowing better airflow within the cavities of the home.
Water Leaks
A leaking faucet, toilet or pipe will also cause a lot of mould and dampness to the home. Having a plumber replace all leakages will prevent any further damage but other leaks can be from old-style clay pipes. A plumber can investigate whether to replace the piping with a stronger PVC style piping that is less affected by temperatures and tree roots. If water leakage from the pipes builds up under the house, rotting of footings and dampness may occur.
Cracks
Interior and exterior cracks could also be caused by dampness and water leaks. If the foundation of the home has been compromised, the home could shift causing bricks and plaster to crack. Soil that has moved after being tightly compacted over time can cause unstable builds. As can soil effected by the additional add on or removal of structural beams through extensions that have not been built by an approved builder or approved by an engineer. Erosion caused by intense weather patterns or sea salt on homes close to the ocean can also cause movement and cracks in the walls. Reassessing the cracks throughout the home and finding the cause would enable the required renovations to be built to Australian approved standards.
Electrical Complications
Old wiring in a home needs to be replaced. Copper wiring is what is used today and is a lot more enduring than Aluminium which has been used in the past. Areas that need to be considered are faulty electrical connections, mould around power points, corrosion or fraying of wires, short-circuiting, uncovered junction boxes, light fittings and lack of power points that may reduce the need for power boards that could be overloaded. Most renovations and extensions will require an electrician and Dependabuild has trusted plumbers and electricians who can complete the work before and after your renovation.
Poor Planning
Over the years, homeowners have been known to complete some handyman work as a DIY project. This may save money short-term, but ultimately it can also cost if the work is not completed to standard. Having a professional builder who can rectify potential hazards that may escalate in the future if not fixed is advisable. They can talk with you and help with ensuring your renovation is built to Australian safety standards.
To ensure your renovations and extensions are built for endurance and reliability talk to Dependabuild today.
