Remodel, Replace: Common Repairs to Check for When You are Building an Addition

Expect the unexpected

If you get hit by an unexpected remodeling expense it could bust the lid on your budget, which is why it often pays to anticipate any potential issues in advance.

The idea of making your kitchen more attractive and workable by taking down a wall or maybe adding a useful island in the middle, is great in the planning stage, but a few issues like the need to upgrade your wiring or move some pipes, can really add some uncomfortable numbers to your original budget.

The wall might just be the start of it

Your plans to open up a space and combine two areas into one large family area, sounds attractive, and tearing down that wall is often just the start of it.

Tearing down a wall can create a whole list of other tasks, which are often only revealed once it is too late and you are committed to the project.

What you need to anticipate and allow for in your budget plans, is the fact that you may well need to reroute some electrical wires or possible create a new chase in order to hide any HVAC ducts that were hidden behind the walls.

Other issues that might not be immediately obvious, include how you match up the strip of carpet or wooden flooring that is now missing because you have removed the wall.

Don’t forget that you might also need to cap and reroute plumbing pipes or possibly replace any electrical wiring which doesn’t meet current codes.

If you are unfortunate enough to encounter termites or other pests that are revealed behind the wall and have to be subsequently exterminated, you will soon be agreeing that knocking down the wall might just be the start of it.

One of the biggest budget-busters

If you are living in a home that was built before 1975, brace yourself for the prospect of what is often one of the biggest budget-busters, asbestos.

Any home that is older than 40 years has an increased chance of containing deadly asbestos fibers.

Asbestos was commonly used in a variety of building products and materials. If you have some old vinyl or linoleum, sidings, or popcorn ceilings that have been there for as long as you can remember, you will need to get these material tested by a qualified inspector.

If you are fortunate the cost of the inspection will be all you have to find, but if asbestos is found to be present, the bill for safely removing it from your home could be as much as your remodeling costs combined.

If you think that asbestos might be a problem in your property, it would be wise to get it checked early on, so you know where you stand with your remodeling costs.

Committed to the project

You might be surprised to discover just how many homeowners change their mind about what they want halfway through a project.

It can sometimes be difficult to actually visualize what something is going to look like until it takes shapes, be you need to be aware that changing your mind is likely to get expensive.

Adding extra items or making unscheduled changes to your original plans will definitely add some numbers to your budget, so try to anticipate exactly what you want beforehand, or be prepared to pay more to get the job finished.

Updated building codes

There have been a lot of new and updated codes introduced and while the purpose of these codes is protect public health and safety, it can be frustrating that you don’t meet something like new energy efficiency and sustainability regulations.

Even if your house was well built at the time, there is still a chance that something might not up to code when you come to make some changes, so do remember this potential added expense.

It is great to make some exciting new plans for your home, but do take the time to consider what unexpected costs you might potentially face, if you don’t want a nasty financial shock.

Kiera Wilkinson runs her own business from home and has recently moved into a new house and extended her property to make an office for herself away from the noise of family life. She enjoys writing business articles as well as articles which focus on other areas of her life.

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