When remodeling an old house, look past the nostalgia of tall baseboards and clanking radiators to the many challenges that lie ahead.
Many homeowners like the character and feel of old houses, but they sometimes overlook the potential home improvement pitfalls. This is particularly true in old houses that have not been properly maintained or were poorly constructed. Little problems can turn into much bigger problems after 30 or 40 years of neglect. They also make bathroom remodeling or other projects more difficult.

Possible Old Home Improvement Problems

• A sinking foundation leading to structural problems that can affect the walls and floors
• Uneven floors make installing ceramic tile a challenge
• Old wiring making kitchen remodeling with new kitchen appliances a challenge
• Lead paint
• Old windows that are not as efficient as replacement windows

While remodeling an older house can be rewarding, there are some issues to think about before taking the plunge:

• House construction--a home inspection or walk-through by a remodeling contractor will give you ideas about how the home was constructed.
• The condition of major mechanical systems--electrical systems, plumbing, and heating and cooling.
• The presence of plaster walls--they have charm, but can be difficult to repair

During a kitchen remodeling, for example, the condition of the wiring will be important. In an older house, the wiring might not be adequate to sustain today?s kitchen appliances and lighting. The solution typically involves having the remodeling contractor reconfigure the fuse box so that each room and sometimes each kitchen appliance is on its own circuit.

Plumbing is another concern. Over time, the pipes may have worn thin or developed other problems. Sometimes all it takes is a few turns of a wrench to disturb a dormant problem in the plumbing. This makes kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling a challenge.

There are also many aesthetic issues to face:

• How to find parts to keep an old octopus style furnace going.
• How to match the original molding in the dining room or the existing kitchen design with new kitchen appliances.
• How to blend replacement windows with the original window style.
• How to find the same ceramic tile to fix cracked tiles.

Knowledge, plus a little extra time and money can go a long way in helping to restore an old house.