wordpress stat

Home Renovation Issues You May Not Have Planned for

Planning a home renovation is never as straightforward as it seems. While it would be nice if it was just as easy as calling a contractor, telling them what you want, and paying for the finished results, there’s always the possibility that something could go wrong. Though it is the contractor’s intent to complete the job without running into any trouble, the deconstruction and reconstruction of a home and its systems are often complex and can be hiding issues that also need to be repaired. Here are a few common issues:

Infestations

When tearing down walls and moving furniture during a renovation often homeowners learn that they’re not the only ones living in their home. Termites eating at wood, mice creating nests in the walls, and even larger animals like squirrels or raccoons in the attic can be exposed during a home renovation. You’ll need to rectify the problem before sealing things back up which would require the services of pest control. Depending on the severity of the problem this could be expensive to fix.

Plumbing Issues

The plumbing in your home is vital, and if you’re considering doing renovations to your kitchen or bathroom, you’ll be dealing with the plumbing quite a bit. Often renovations in these rooms can lead the discovery of a broken plumbing trap (click here for tips on plumbing traps (aka p-traps)), a rusted pipe, or even a leak that was hidden behind a wall. All plumbing issues can become major ones that lead to mold and water damage so getting an expert to repair those before finishing the renovation is essential. In fact, a reputable contractor won’t continue the remodel until it’s repaired.

Electrical Wiring

Electricity in the home is not something you want to play with. As electrical wires run throughout your home, any renovation could expose some issues that need to be repaired. Some of the most common findings are damaged wires or old wiring which isn’t enough power for the home leading to zoning code violations. Leaving electrical problems unresolved can lead to the loss of power and in some cases a house fire.

Water Damage

While water dripping from the ceiling would be an obvious sign of trouble, often times water damage, holes, and leaks aren’t exposed until a home renovation takes place. As contractors tear down walls and review the home’s structure, things such as the presence of mold, dry rot (as counterintuitive as that sounds), and water damage can surface. In order to remedy this problem, you will need to not only replace the wood and building materials that have been damaged, but you’ll need to treat any mold and also find the source of the leak so that it can be repaired. In many cases it’s a leak in the roof or near your plumbing system.

Mold

Mold can extremely dangerous to your health, but can often hide in dark damp places where you don’t often look. During home renovations contractors sometimes discover mold throughout the house. If it is minimal, the contractor may be able to remove the mold themselves. However, if it is black in color or extensive, this can be a huge expense as you’ll have to hire a mold remediation expert to remove it from the house for you.

Put Extra Money to the Side

As you can see, when you tear apart your home to remodel it a lot can be exposed. While you could very easily cover it back up and wait for the problem to get worse, this will only cost you more in the long run. Besides the fact that contractors aren’t going to risk their license or a future lawsuit by just ignoring the problem. It is ideal that when planning a home renovation that you simply put money aside that will allow you to cover the costs should these issues arise.

Though the home renovation is not as simple as 1,2,3 with the right experts working on the job it won’t be as complicated as it sounds. Remember, it is best to get the repairs done at the time of discovery to safeguard your home. While it might dip into your renovation budget there are ways you can cut back in other areas so you can still design a home you love.

 

Comments

  1. Mary Ambrosino says

    I am glad to had put a little money aside as I needed a new roof lately. Just remember you never know.

Google+