What’s Home Renovation?
The decision to renovate your home is a big one to make, so what exactly is it? Renovating is restoring areas of your home to a good state of repair compared to remodeling, which is to change a part of your home for design purposes. If a home renovation is what you are looking to do, then just focusing on appearance is not recommended. Renovation and remodel mean two different things to contractors so knowing what you want and how to communicate what you want is an important first step to the process. Continue reading to feel more at ease about your home renovation journey.
When you are considering renovating your home, it is best to find out as much as possible about the home prior to your ownership. This includes figuring out the time period of when your home was built and any structural changes since that time. With this type of information, you can then assess what your necessary next steps may be to renovate safely and protect your home.
If your home was built before the 1980s, your home is susceptible to having been built with unsafe materials which could cause health complications for you and your family, especially if it’s not handled correctly. Here are some of the most common issues that homeowners of older homes run into:
1. Asbestos
During the 1900s to 1980s, it was very common for asbestos to be used in building materials. It’s a naturally occurring silicate material made up of microscopic fibers. Asbestos in the home can be found in flooring, insulation pipes, and ceiling tiles. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in your home can become damaged over time and any type of exposure can cause asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma cancer.
After the 1980s asbestos regulations in the United States were put into place, but the product may still be lingering around today. If you suspect that there may be asbestos in your home, the safest thing to do is to call an abatement professional and have it checked out and planned for removal. Do not try to remove asbestos from your home on your own.
2. Mold
When it comes to mold, you’ll either see it or get a whiff of a musty scent. Mold can enter your home through doors, windows, and heating and air conditioning systems. The most common cause of mold can come from excessive moisture that can be a result of water damage somewhere in your home. The main areas that you should check for mold should be your pipes, roofs, and walls. Mold can also occur where you have wallpaper, ceiling tiles, and wood products. In addition, paints, dust, upholstery, carpet, and drywall may grow mold if moisture occurs.
Mold doesn’t have as frightening of effects as asbestos can but those who have bad allergies or asthma may be susceptible to a stuffy nose, wheezing, and other allergy symptoms. The best way to rid your house of mold is to get rid of the items and replace them. Be cautious and try to keep good maintenance of your home to avoid the possibility of future mold problems in the home.
3. Plumbing
If your home was built before the 1960s, it’s highly likely that your plumbing system is made out of galvanized pipes. Galvanized pipes used to be coated in zinc that contains lead. Analyze your pipes to see if there’s any sign of rusting or corrosion. Rusting and corrosion can cause water leakages and even water blockages throughout the house.
If left uncared for, flu-like symptoms can occur such as fever, chills, and muscle aches. The best course of action is to replace the whole plumbing system. It’s recommended to hire a team of professional plumbers to remove the affected system and to install a new one that’s safer for your health. In addition, it’s best to replace the whole system to reduce the risk of lead release in the pipes. Keep in mind that it’s possible for it to take a couple of days and you may have to make arrangements to evacuate during that time.
4. Electrical Wiring
Old wiring is not a direct indication that you need to update it but it’s important to evaluate the wiring in your home for safety. If you’re able to take a look, the wires should still have their insulation intact, the size of the wires should be larger than 15 to 20 amps to support larger appliances, the exposed splices should be soldered and none of the wires should be surrounded by any building insulation.
If you notice that the wires are not up to standard, then call a professional to have them assessed. In the case that you’re unsure or not comfortable with checking your wiring, call a professional from the start. Wiring can be difficult to assess and receiving professional help can help prevent fires and shock hazards in your home. In the case of renovating your home or not, it’s always a safe idea to keep a fire extinguisher and a working smoke alarm in the home for precautionary measures.
Home renovation can be a hefty assignment, taking into consideration family care, everyday tasks, work and simply living life. We all know life can get in the way of things so make sure to give yourself a loose timeline to make the home improvements and don’t give it the expectation to go exactly as planned.
Renovating your home can take a lot of time, and it can also be quite costly. It’s always the goal to be smart with your money but when it comes to renovating your home, you don’t want to cut corners and buy cheap materials. Make sure to have a budget in place and keep money allocated just in case any curveballs are thrown your way during the process. To ensure a smooth renovation, create a clear plan of what you need, how much time it will take, and don’t underestimate the safety risks or be afraid to bring in professional help. Home renovation can be fun and exciting but also life-threatening if not handled properly.