Remodeling An Older House

By Robert Robillard on Home Repairs And Remodeling

Remodel One Room At A Time

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

The “one room at a time” approach to remodeling an older house.

Remodeling one room at a time (kitchen, bath or family room) — can have a dramatic effect on your overall comfort, health and budget.

As the current steward to your home often the best thing to do when considering a one room approach is to open up the walls and take the opportunity to check for exterior or plumbing leaks and signs of mold problems.
This is also the time to update the house systems such as  install high density insulation, seal any air leakage, update windows, update  plumbing and electric systems with newer, energy-efficient components.

Getting Started

When remodeling an old house the first step is  to Plan your remodel.
Take the time to research the materials and systems you will be installing.  while planning try to establish what your budget is , once defined you have a better understanding of what you can and can not afford to do.  also try to set aside 10% extra for hidden and unforeseen conditions that tend to bust the budget.

Unforeseen Conditions

Plan for the inedible Morphy’s Law situation of finding at least one hidden condition such as rot, dangerous wiring, plumbing issues or structural defects.

Being prepared for hidden conditions and unforeseen problems before they arise will reduce remodeling anxiety.

This is when that 10% contingency money comes in handy and it is also the prefect time to address these issues – when the walls are open!

Plan the Work Phases:

What is the process you will follow?  By planning your process and sharing with the folks doing the work you will  get a better understanding of the project scope as well as learn a few steps you may not have been aware of.
Here are some suggestions:
  1. Plan
  2. Prepare a budget
  3. Research materials and appliances
  4. Go over project with people involved
  5. Permitting process
  6. Dust containment, floor protection and demo
  7. Framing repairs, windows and / or alternations
  8. Plumbing
  9. Electrical
  10. Insulation
  11. Walls and ceiling installed
  12. Trim
  13. Finished plumbing, electrical and paint.
  14. Hardware and furnishings.
When remodeling an older house take your time and plan and the results will be a more comfortable, reliable, safer and energy efficient home for years to come.

 

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

About the author

Robert Robillard

Carpenter / Remodeler / Editor

Rob Robillard is “The Concord Carpenter” Rob is a builder, general contractor, carpenter, woodworker, and editor of Concord Carpenter and ToolBoxBuzz As a General Contractor and carpenter, Rob owns and operates Concord Carpenter LLC. A full-service remodeling and construction company. Rob is a recognized leader in home building best practices and a source for how-to information for building professionals. On this website, Rob covers all aspects of home construction, building science, home improvement, woodworking, remodeling, and some of the best product and tool reviews. Rob is in charge of our Tool and Product Review series - Concord Carpenter Videos where we post all of our tool reviews and video tutorials. Rob approaches remodeling and building construction with a pragmatic and problem-solving approach. He enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help and educate building professionals as well as DIYers on best practices in the construction and remodeling industry. He's a strong advocate for "raising the bar" in the construction trades and promoting the trades to youth. #BeAMentor #Green2Great Craftsmanship, quality, and pride guide his journey on this channel The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said!" : Read more about Rob

All posts by Robert »

Not what you're looking for?

Search for more articles here. Enter keywords like roof leak, bookcase, deck, etc to find your topic.

© Copyright 2019 A Concord Carpenter · All Rights Reserved