When purchasing a property, a total remodel is a terrific approach to achieve precisely what you want. A task of size, though, can be intimidating. Here are some unexpected challenges that may arise during a gut renovation.
While purchasing a ready-to-move-in house is nice, there are many benefits to purchasing a fixer-upper and remodeling it to suit your tastes and way of life. Although the thought of gutting a house is intimidating, you have the correct mentality to see a project this size through as long as you expect the unexpected in terms of expenses and completion dates.
When you get your custom house constructed just for you, a total renovation will be worthwhile if you have a reasonable budget, are prepared, and have a lot of patience. To avoid encountering too many shocks along the road, here are nine things you should be prepared for.
OUTDATED WIRING
One of your home’s most crucial systems is the power. Faulty wiring not only poses a risk to your safety and to fire, but it may also raise your energy cost and lead to power outages. Many older homes still have outdated asbestos insulation or knob-and-tube wiring. These require expert replacement and might be pricey. Remember that unless you’re a certified expert, you should never try to save money by doing any electrical work yourself.
OUTDATED PLUMBING
When it comes to the most crucial components of your house, electrical and plumbing are right up there. The likelihood is that the plumbing will need to be rebuilt if the house is old enough that you have to rewire it. Plumbing problems are less dangerous than wiring problems, but clogged or leaking pipes will rapidly become a significant, expensive problem. Additionally, outdated pipes pose a safety risk by allowing harmful compounds to seep into your drinking water.
MOLD
When you begin demolition work, it’s a good idea to always wear a mask with a respirator since once you start breaking into the walls, hidden problems like mold will arise. Mold can either be a little annoyance or a significant health risk, depending on its nature and severity.
OLD OR INSUFFICIENT INSULATION
When you perform a gut makeover, what you don’t uncover could surprise you just as much as what you do. Some older houses just weren’t designed with insulation, so you’ll have to insulate them completely. On the other side, you’ll have to pay to have the insulation properly removed if it’s outdated or, in the worst instance, constructed of asbestos. The price may vary depending on the type of insulation you wish to install (spray foam, radiant, blown-in, etc.).
BRINGING THE NEW RESIDENCE UP TO CODE
You must ensure that your renovations comply with the most recent building regulations in your region because they are continuously changing. Spending more than you anticipated on certain of your upgrades may be necessary to ensure that your construction complies with code.
PERMITTING
Before starting any work, you must submit all of your building plans and blueprints to your city or county and apply for permits. This is especially true if you’re doing any structural, plumbing, or electrical changes.
INSPECTIONS
You’ll need to confirm that the job was done correctly and that everything complies with regulations at various stages of your project. To do this, an inspector must come out and assess the current work before approving the start of the subsequent phase. You risk having to take down and start over if you skip this crucial phase, so be sure to follow your city’s or county’s inspection schedule requirements.
WASTE REMOVAL
When you gut a house, you’ll likely have a lot of construction debris. Bulk trash cannot be discarded with regular trash. You could need to rent a dumpster, employ a garbage collection service, or just transport trash to a landfill yourself, depending on the scale of your job. The price will change depending on whatever option you select.
ALTERNATE HOUSING
Living in a construction zone for weeks or months at a time is a huge part of gutting a house. So that you always have a designated living space, you might decide to renovate the property in stages. You may even demolish the entire property and locate a short-term renter until at least one portion is livable. In any case, there will be practical problems, such as obtaining meals when your kitchen is destroyed, coming up with solutions if you work from home, and maybe spending several nights in a hotel if the noise and dust are too much to bear.
