Whether you’ve bought your first home to do up or your existing one needs more than a bit of TLC, a renovation project can be a truly satisfying challenge to sink your teeth into. Not to be a downer, as we know you’ll have a blast shaping the home of your dreams, but there are a few potential problems that could be lurking behind the walls.
From where to go for mold remediation services to what to do if you uncover hazardous materials, these are the renovation battles you should be prepared to combat when starting your project.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common hidden home threats, so that you won’t be caught completely unawares.
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How Can Hidden Home Threats Harm Your Renovation?
Living in an active construction site isn’t the most pleasant of experiences. With builders going to and fro, the noise of machinery, and not to mention the layers and layers of dust. You simply have to trust the process and be patient.
However, a hiccup in the timeline can cause delays, meaning that you’ll have to cope with the chaos for longer than first planned. Rather than harm the renovation process, delays as a result of uncovering hidden home threats can cause homeowners stress and affect their mental and physical health.
Then there’s the pressure these threats can place on the renovation budget. What could’ve been an achievable project could leave you with expensive bills to cover if surprise issues pop up.
Of course, if a serious problem is identified, it could mean that the renovation may be stopped in its tracks, and a new approach thought of. If you are not working with serious renovation experts, then the risks could be higher. Structural issues could be patched over, or mold treated improperly, leading to a health and safety nightmare.
What are the Most Common Problems Home Renovators Encounter?
Before you embark on a renovation project, just keep these pesky problems in the back of your mind. So, you can keep calm and carry on.
Mold
Patches of mold can ruin the look of your home renovation job, but worse than that, they can be harmful to health. Don’t try to treat it yourself, as you more than likely don’t know which type of mold you are dealing with. Equally important is that you tackle it, as leaving mold untreated can be costly in the long run, as it spreads.
Water leaks
Another hidden threat is a water leak. When there is a small water leak in your home, you might not even notice it. However, this can escalate and ruin flooring, fittings, and even cause structural damage.
The renovation project can disturb old pipework and reveal the true extent of the damage. Don’t be tempted to do it yourself if you are not experienced in plumbing. Think about all those expensive new interior fittings you will be installing around the pipework. Would you want it all to be damaged by leaky pipes?
Old wiring
Similarly, old wiring is tempting to ignore. If it works, don’t fix it, right? Wrong. Outdated wiring can pose a serious fire risk, so it's best to have a certified electrician inspect it. Modern-day tech demands far more from the home electrical system than it did decades previously. This overuse can blow circuits and cause unseen overheating behind the walls.
Hazardous materials
Asbestos was a commonly used material in building in the early part of the 20th century. It is now mostly avoided due to its links with certain respiratory health conditions. That doesn’t mean that every building with asbestos is a danger, as it is only a threat if disturbed and damaged.
If asbestos is discovered during the renovation process, it should be professionally removed. While this can delay the project, ignoring disturbed hazardous materials is not worth the risk.
Termite damage
It is amazing how the littlest of critters can cause the most damage. Termites eat at the wooden beams and structure of a home, weakening them from the inside out. If a colony is found, it is essential that your home is rid of termites before going any further with the renovation project.
At the first signs of termite infestation, expert exterminators need to be called in. Only after all these pesky pests are removed can an assessment be carried out on the damage. This can be anything from crumbling floorboards to more extensive and expensive issues, such as structural complications.
Permit problems
Although you’re not building a home from scratch, even the smallest of renovations may require permits and planning permission. Going ahead without following the rules and regulations could cost you dearly in the future. Working with professionals means that you’ll not only get expert craftsmanship but also advice on the proper documentation needed.
If you’ve already started and haven’t checked whether or not you have to apply for planning permission, you can arrange this afterwards. However, beware that any parts of your renovation that fail the inspection may face being torn down or undone.
Blowing your budget
Keep tabs on your spending during the renovation, as this can easily get out of hand, even more so if complications arise. When outlining your budget, try not to think of the best-case scenario. Instead, add a little extra, should you need to pay out for unexpected extras. This way, you will stick to your budget, or even come under, whatever the outcome.
That being said, don’t scrimp where it matters. Ignoring pricey problems could result in you paying double or triple the amount at a later date. Saving by employing cheaper and less experienced contractors is also a false economy that many people admittedly regret.
Now you are more aware of the hidden home threats when starting an exciting renovation project, you know what to expect, and can budget for unexpected issues. It’s also a good idea to have a few numbers to hand of professionals you can turn to if your plans go awry. Though we hope you’ll never need to call them.
