Odds and Angles - The Trouble with Working on Old Houses

If you’ve ever owned a house more than fifty years old, then you know two things: it always needs work, and there isn’t a single ninety degree angle in the house. Most people first discover this when they measure a square out (thinking they’ve got every single length correct) and try to reproduce in a panel or piece of wood. Suddenly they find this corner or that one out of line.

This is because they forgot to measure out each angle…and if you have to replace many boards or panels, this could be very time consuming. But for large projects, sometimes there’s no other way. You have to record each side length and angle before cutting.

For smaller projects, it’s easier to use a large piece of paper and mark out a template. If the surface you’re working with is awkward, you might try stapling the paper down as you move along. Then staple the template you made to the piece that you’re cutting.

Another problem with very old houses is the wood thickness. At one time, a 2 X 4 meant two inches by four inches. You can’t just go to the hardware store and buy this wood anymore.
To deal with this, you can either buy something in the next size up (like a 2 X 6) and cut it, or order your lumber cut specially (very expensive). If you trim your own boards, keep the scrap…you’ll eventually use it for shims and space-makers.

If you’re trying to repair walls that are made of plaster, you’ll have a hard time finding a drywall thickness that pairs up with the remaining plaster. You’ll either have to use shims, or put a thick coating of mud over the repair. Sometimes it’s easier to tear that entire side of the wall down and put up a new one with drywall. This is especially true if you have to scrape through painted wallpaper to get to the bare wall.

Finally, the wiring in old houses can cause more headaches than anything. Two wire systems run through the walls and ceilings supported by insulators. You can’t simply pull one wire out and fish a modern twelve-gauge wire through. In order to repair or replace an outlet, you’ll have to run a totally new line through, and cap off the old wires.

Old houses look magnificent and have a comforting atmosphere once they’ve been restored. But restoring them is a lot of work. If the house is in a historic zone, it’s even more difficult because you’ll be working under certain restrictions.

Be prepared for anything, and don’t let the problems discourage you. In the end, the rewards are worth every headache involved.

Ed Williams,
Publisher
http://www.zerobrokerfees.com

Forbes Magazine and Eagle Tribune Publishing Company were used for research for this article.