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You are here: Home / Old Home Specialists

Old Home Specialists

1855 or 1955 “there is no house too old for us”

These older homes are possibly the best buildings in our area. They still stand proud and ready for another new lease on life. They were built with quality materials by true craftsmen and have withstood the trial of time. Real lumber where it counts, not OSB floor joists, roof decking, flooring and exterior siding and trim that is the norm in today’s home.

You need a professional eye to determine what is sturdy or in trouble. The way supports under the house were often installed, would not come close to today’s requirement, but may be perfectly adequate. The roof is possibly slate or wood shake rather than  today’s fiberglass shingles, installed differently with different issues that are not obvious. Box gutters, standing seam roofs and “old style ways of building” that many of today’s Home Inspectors are not “really” familiar with.
Foundations cannot be neglected, often made of field stones or soft clay bricks set into a shallow trench that is not a real foundation by today’s standard. They are prone to settling which stresses the load bearing beams that “rest” on top of the foundation which are very often moisture damaged

We know all these old systems, the difference between water and steam heat is 15 Lbs pressure, not much, but enough to explode. Fuses are often looked at as relics, but if installed and maintained properly outperform breakers, cutting off the power in 1/5 of the time. In those old homes from the 60’s, Touch Plate and other light switch systems that use 12 volt relays are often incorrectly viewed as needing replacement.

There is a huge difference between today’s houses and those of 100 years ago. Balloon framing, un-glazed brick, unlined chimneys, stone foundations, knob and tube wiring, cast iron, galvanized and lead plumbing, not to mention a gravity furnace or old steam boiler systems with radiators. Attic gravity tanks and cisterns, these differences between older and newer homes make a big difference when Inspecting.
None of these systems are found in today’s homes.

Many of these may be old and inoperative, but not a real problem, don’t be lead down the wrong path with incorrect information. Then there is good and the bad attic insulation, boiler heat exchanger coating, floor tile and siding, that can all be detrimental to your health. Lead paint which has many forms not just the white trim.

If you love older homes, you will want us performing your Inspection, we know how to Inspect these systems and guide you with information about what is OK and what needs to be addressed, as well as information on getting them repaired.

We are the old home specialists !

Inspectors’ Recent Posts


Gas Line Dirt Legs

March 28, 2025 By David Roche

Gas and particularly natural gas piping may have traces of sediment or particulates in it, especially if work has been done to the underground piping under the street. To trap any contaminates before they flow into the appliance, blocking the burner and creating problems for the home owner a series of dirt legs are installed. […]Read More about Gas Line Dirt Legs

Thermostat Placement Is Crucial

March 13, 2025 By David Roche

A badly placed thermostat plays havoc with the heating and cooling of a house. In this case the wall light creates a warm zone beside the thermostat causing it to register hotter than the rest of the house. This means that it reaches what it registers as the set temperature shutting the furnace down before […]Read More about Thermostat Placement Is Crucial

Bath Overflow Loose

January 25, 2025 By David Roche

All too often the overflow on the bathtub is loose or worse yet loose and the gasket damaged. If the bath is filled up to the overflow and it is loose the water will go down behind the tub which if it’s on the second floor could damage the ceiling. The water can also create […]Read More about Bath Overflow Loose

Bonding Gas Piping

January 8, 2025 By David Roche

A bonding wire is often mistaken for a ground wire, it does not go to ground but back to the electric panel. When it is connected to black iron *(steel)* piping the paint under the clamp must be removed with a rasp or sandpaper to make a good contact, paint reduces the contact rendering the […]Read More about Bonding Gas Piping

High Efficiency Furnaces In Attic

December 31, 2024 By David Roche

High efficiency furnaces recognisable by the white PVC flue pipe, installed in an unheated attic is not your best choice of location, it may be the only place to put it which does not change the fact that it is not ideal. Yes, many builders and furnace installers are installing them in the attic without […]Read More about High Efficiency Furnaces In Attic

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