Life-Changing Upgrades for Your Old Home

There’s no denying that older homes have their own charm and character that makes them attractive to a wide range of buyers. However, they often come with a number of issues that need to be tackled in order to be kept practical, functional, and more importantly, safe. Some problems may pose minor inconveniences or slightly affect the cost of your monthly utilities. On the other hand, serious issues such as aging pipes, leaking roofs, bad repairs, or outdated wiring are just accidents waiting to happen. While tackling both major and minor issues is a must, it’s important to prioritize. Here’s a list of four life-changing upgrades that will make your home look and feel as good as new while also saving you money in the long run.

Updating the old and dated plumbing

The thing about old homes is that they were built using materials that aren’t used nowadays or the pipe system isn’t configured in the most optimal way. Some materials that were used in the past may even cause harm (e.g. lead pipes that were used to carry waste from the house) which calls for modern and safe replacements. Also, to be able to meet modern-day building codes, vents need to be installed near drains, which usually isn’t the case with old homes. To prevent any plumbing disaster from causing damage to your household (and making a dent in your wallet), be sure to update the old, out-of-date plumbing as soon as possible. Rely on experienced, licensed professionals to do the work properly and ensure your plumbing is modernized and brought up to date.

Having your roof repaired

Having a roof over your head is a necessity, but what’s even more important is keeping that roof functional. There is no point in upgrading your interiors if the old, worn-out roof fails and destroys all the items you’ve invested your hard-earned money into. Roofs, like all things, have their lifespan, and it’s important to keep them up-to-date in order to get the most out of them. Extreme weather changes that are more apparent in countries like Australia have many homeowners updating their roofs to ensure durability and resilience, with many turning to experts for roof repairs in Sydney as a way of providing a safe structure for themselves. With the help of these roof specialists, they manage to preserve the existing structure for years to come.

Bringing your insulation up to date

Another important aspect of functional home is proper insulation. Heat loss during colder months translates to higher utility bills, which is why you need to bring insulation of your old home up to date and into the 21st century. Old houses often have unfinished or unconditioned attics, so consider laying insulation batts and combine them with blown-in cellulose insulation for maximum effectiveness. If there is a basement, you can use the same method to insulate the floors above. By applying the same insulating technique on the stud bays of the floor joists, you’ll ensure your floors feel more comfortable throughout the year.

Upgrading old windows and doors with energy-efficient ones

In addition to insulating the attic and the floors, some other areas that may require insulation are doors and windows. Old ones often leak air and the result is cold air sweeping through the house, thus increasing your heating bill. Not only will you have to pay more, but you will also be letting in moisture as well as uninvited guests and critters through these uninsulated spaces. Upgrading your old windows and doors with energy-efficient ones will help save some money during heating and cooling seasons, but you can also try weatherstripping, re-caulking, or applying window film to draught-proof your existing doors and windows.

Charming, quirky period details and attractive, rich architecture – there are many reasons why many people fall in love with pre-war homes and decide to move into one. However, there are a couple of nuisances that come with moving into an old house, but if you manage to resolve these issues effectively, not only will you be able to trim the costs of living in an old home, but you’ll also help bring it up to standards needed for a modern lifestyle while still preserving a piece of history, which is in itself priceless.

 Guest Contributor, Chloe Taylor