

- #Ask this old house a question upgrade#
- #Ask this old house a question full#
- #Ask this old house a question windows#
#Ask this old house a question full#
Does the house contain its original plaster? Experts usually recommend retaining this, as it adds insulation value to the house- but the phone book is full of many drywallers, few plasterers. But they’ll be looking to you for that, so be ready.

If you love the look of those old original wavy glass beauties, buy LOTS of caulk.
#Ask this old house a question windows#
Consider the cost of installing (possibly custom) new windows if this is a priority for you. Are the windows original? If so, do they have storm windows? When were those added? Old houses, depending on when they were built, can have a few small windows or many large ones, each with its own amazing draft-producing ability. Or just to the house, but keep your eyes open. Roof replacement can be one of the most costly old-house repairs, so you’ll want to add this to the tab before you ante up. It may not be realistic in the case of a century-old charmer which, no matter how many roofers try, continues to leak periodically in a variety of spots.

Keeping rain from entering the home is a popular priority for homeowners.

#Ask this old house a question upgrade#
Avocado green 1970s appliances may not fit into your gourmet vision, so the cost of a kitchen upgrade needs to be taken into account. If you happen to prefer gourmet cooking and are addicted to shows on the Food Network, take this into consideration when shopping for an old house. If you are a person who cannot stand to be hot and there is no central air in the house, figure in the cost of adding room air conditioners to cool the space you’ll need to cool. Old radiators are great for warming mittens in the winter, but an oil heating system can cost a lot to maintain. 5.) How is the house heated and (if at all) air-conditioned? A complete electrical overhaul means a pretty penny, so you’ll need to know this going in. If the power is run on old knob-and-tube wiring and has never been upgraded in terms of wattage, you will need to know this when purchasing a historic home- particularly if you enjoy using washers and dryers microwave ovens, or computers. You will want to know whether you need to replace all the plumbing in the bathrooms and kitchen, as you will have a tendency to want to use these rooms for their intended purposes. Make sure you know whether the toilets and sinks are operating under their original (ie at least 50 years old) cast iron plumbing, or if new PVC plumbing has been added- and if so, when. A home inspector by someone KNOWLEDGEABLE about OLD HOUSES should help you determine if the foundation is solid, or fixable. No sense spending tens of thousands of dollars on a restoration quality paint job if the bricks in the cellar are crumbling or the only thing holding up the walls are the termites holding hands. The information will help you in all future decisions about the house. Whether your research happens via an experienced architectural historian or some old-fashioned sleuthing at the library, try to narrow the house’s construction date down to a certain decade if possible.
