Maintaining HVAC
From the furnace to the ductwork, you’re probably in for an adventure with the HVAC system in your vintage home. Some homes may have been retrofitted over time while others remain far from meeting current building regulations. Efficiency is probably lacking in your aged system too. There are many considerations in deciding on the right heating and cooling system for a home. Talk to some professionals and get some bids. At the very least this will help you with the planning process even if you decide to do it yourself. Consider whether you’ll need to repair gaps in existing ductwork and if you’ll need to connect new ductwork to the old for other areas of the house. Decide whether you need to replace the furnace and if you want to upgrade to a heat pump. You may also want to consider installing ductless systems. Whatever the situation, if you want to DIY, you’ll need some intermediate electrical and construction skills to get it done.
If your home has a garage door, you can expect it to wear out. If the motor doesn’t fail first, you’ll often see wear damage along the bottom of the garage door. Be prepared to swap out the garage door opener, make repairs to the springs or tracks, or replace the entire door. Repairing the Garage Door
Preventing Pest Damage
Waterproofing
Critters come and go in many houses. Older homes, however, are particularly susceptible to carpenter ants, termites, and other wood-loving pests. There may have also been a time in the distant or recent past when the home was invaded by rodents. Scour the home top to bottom looking for evidence of damage, such as sawdust, holes, or chew marks. Seal holes in the framing, especially in the attic where critters like to gain access and make a home. Note that mice can enter any space as small as a pencil eraser so a tight envelope on the home is crucial for keeping them at bay. If there has been past damage, you’ll need to be comfortable replacing beams, siding, wall framing, and other structural components.
Basements are notoriously wet locations. If the space was previously finished, it may have been in use for many decades. If that’s the case, the initial waterproofing may need to be reapplied to walls and flooring. For an unfinished basement, you may have a golden opportunity to convert the underused space into an apartment or other living area. Basements require many special considerations, such as vapor barriers under the flooring, treatments for the walls, and egress windows. Be sure you know the regulations if you want to convert your basement into a bar, gym, or bedroom.
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