Preparing for unexpected home improvement problems as a homeowner requires a smart approach. Ideally, home remodeling companies will brief you on the project’s steps, timeline, and budget. However, visual inspection usually doesn’t reveal everything you need to do to restore the home to good shape. Some details remain hidden until the work begins, increasing the completion cost and project duration. Luckily, here is a heads-up on some problems that could be unexpected in a home renovation project.
Hidden Mold
It’s common to find hidden mold in a home during renovation because each home has unique features and a history of wear and tear. Mold-related problems can also occur if the previous owner failed to take action after flooding or leakages. Unfortunately, homeowners can do a quick and cheap renovation to make the home appealing for sale. Afterward, you experience the unexpected in your attempt to customize the home.
Conversely, mold-related problems don’t always occur due to previous owner faults. Your roof may have been leaking for an extended duration without noticing. Especially when little water seeps through the roofing to the ceiling, it can go for seasons without noticing. You will be surprised by the contractor’s news that your roof is leaking and mold has formed around the ceiling.
Another cause of the hidden mold in a home is the leaking plumbing lines. Plumbing lines are plastered on the walls during installations, becoming difficult to notice once they leak. Unlike the most used spaces like living rooms, kitchens, or bathrooms, plumbing line leaks around the storerooms and the basement can go unnoticed for extended periods. Leakages cause excessive mold growth in hidden areas, which can be discovered during renovation.
Sometimes, moisture seeps through the cracked walls without a trace during winter. Mold grows in the wall cracks after moisture is trapped inside for longer. Unfortunately, it becomes the source of household respiratory problems without being noticed. All these instances of hidden mold discovery increase the project budget due to damage repairs and mold remediation charges. According to Xactimate, removing mold costs $2.50 per square foot.
Rotting Wood
Wood is a unique material for building, especially on roofing, windows, window seals, doors, door frames, and patios. However, wood is more prone to moisture and water than other materials like metals. Wood rot around the roof can go unnoticed for a long time due to the ceiling covering, causing one of the problems unexpected in home renovation projects.
But how does wood get damaged, you ask? Wood rot is caused by mold that thrives in dump areas. For instance, water will seep through the attic to the wooden trusses if your roof leaks. After a longer duration of exposure to moisture, mold grows, and the wood starts to rot. In some cases, the roof weakens and cannot withstand strong winds.
Wooden windows may also rot due to water leakage from plumbing lines or rain falling vertically due to strong winds. Wind carries debris like soil, which can hit and settle around the window frames. The soil can later trap the moisture, causing the window frames to rot. All cases of wood rot can go unnoticed until the contractor begins the work.
Wood is expensive in the United States. According to Statista, the lumber price in 2021 was $1,500 per 1,000 board feet. Unplanned window and roof repairs can significantly increase the renovation budget and extend the project duration. The costs can increase if the roofing is damaged beyond repair because you’ll need new roofing with added labor costs.
Pest Infestations
Pest infestation is a common problem that is unexpected in renovation project planning. However, some homeowners don’t budget for pest damage repairs and extermination. If you love throwing leftover foods around the garden, you might encourage pests to visit your home. Pests like rats and birds love areas with food leftovers, and after feeding, they make a shelter nearby. One of the possible areas for the pests to find a home is the attic and store rooms.
The second cause of pest infestation is uncleared bushes around a home. Bushes become a hiding place for these pests that frequently visit the house searching for food. Water, moisture, and humidity also encourage pests around a home. Unfortunately, pests don’t feed and stay peacefully at home; they damage various items like the electrical wiring and the gypsum. While companies may inspect the home before the project begins, it’s hard to notice pests because they hide in less frequented areas of a home. Additional damage repairs and hiring exterminators will increase your renovation budget.
Water Damage
Respiratory health issues are one of the shortcomings of flooding water due to mold growth. Apart from mold, extended water leakages or pooling leads to excessive moisture, damaging the wooden furniture and building frames. It’s not easy to notice furniture damage after draining the flooding water because moisture slowly affects the parts in contact with the floor.
Water also damages the wooden ceiling, windows, and metallic parts by causing rust. However, the storerooms are the most common areas where water causes the most damage around the walls and flooring. While water damage isn’t easily noticed and, therefore, unexpected in home renovations, it’s good to carry out a regular professional inspection to avoid higher repair costs.
According to Forbes, water damage removal and repairs can cost between $1,300 and $5,600. However, the costs can increase depending on the damage level. For instance, according to Forbes, restoring a roof can cost between $400 and $1,700, while a new roof can cost between $6,700 and $80,000, depending on the house size.
Clogged Chimney
A chimney is an important feature of a home. A crackling fireplace is perfect for the winter when the family wants to stay warm. It also makes an ideal place for the family to bond, especially during evenings when children are out of school and parents are from work. However, having a clogged chimney is always unexpected in home renovation, although it’s common.
A blocked chimney is dangerous because of fire and breathing hazards. Although homeowners ignore the chimney, regular inspections and cleaning can help prevent any clogging, leading to unplanned renovation budgets. But what causes the chimneys to clog?
Wild animals and pests such as squirrels and birds are the biggest culprits of chimney clogs. You might wonder how they withstand the hot air and smoke escaping through the chimneys. During summer, you may use your fireplace sparingly. Homeowners typically use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or propane for cooking and wood or coal for warming during winter.
When the chimney is unused, the animals find a perfect place around the lining (flue liner) to build their nests. Once the chimney is used, they flee due to hot gases and smoke, leaving debris around the lining. Debris later combines with soot and slowly starts to clog the chimney. The other cause of the clogs is the large trees around a home that release debris like twigs, seeds, small branches, and leaves inside the chimney.
Creosote also contributes to chimney clogs when they accumulate along with the flue liner. Creosote is a highly flammable wood byproduct that rises when burnt. Renovation companies have chimney cleaner services, but if the service isn’t included in the quote at the start of the project, the charges may increase.
Asbestos Contamination
Do you have asbestos in your home? Asbestos is a Greek word meaning inextinguishable. Asbestos is a highly effective and inexpensive fire-retardant material and thermal insulator. The material was commonly used in building houses from the early 1940s through the 1970s. That means if you live in a traditional home, it’s likely to have been built using asbestos.
Asbestos exposure is always unexpected in home improvement. Unfortunately, it’s hazardous. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to lung and colon disease. Tiny abrasive asbestos fibers are easily inhaled once exposed, damaging the lung tissue.
Asbestos is commonly found in areas like blown-in attic insulation, vinyl floor tiles, window caulking, shingles, HVAC duct insulation, siding material, plaster, and certain paints. Asbestos repairs or replacements aren’t cheap because you can do it yourself. You must hire an asbestos company to either repair or remove and replace it.
The removal process is complicated because you must ask for a disposal manifest and pay the final bill to verify material disposal in a landfill licensed to receive asbestos. Additionally, you should check with the air pollution control board. Upon completion, the industrial hygiene specialist must visit to take air samples and determine whether there are asbestos fibers.
Lead Paint
Lead was added to the paint to accelerate drying, increase durability, resist moisture, and maintain a fresh appearance. Despite these benefits, Lead is one of the primary health and environmental hazards. When absorbed into the body, it can damage the brain, kidneys, nerves, and blood. As such, it was phased out of use due to its toxic nature. However, some traditional houses may be painted with risky lead paint.
Lead discovery is always unexpected in home improvement projects and pushes the contractors to add the removal and repainting costs. As a homeowner, speak to the contractors during inspection to detect lead paint in your house. Experts check the paint sub-layers on a surface or using a lead paint test kit. Otherwise, you can check your home history because lead was banned around 1978.
Since lead paints were banned around 1978, health insurance may deny your claims for lead poisoning treatment. Companies responsible for the manufacturing may be responsible for the poisoning. However, the company may not cover the losses because lead paints have been banned for several decades.
According to Forbes, repainting a home can cost from as low as $300 to as high as $28,000. Contractors may include repainting the affected areas during the quote, but in cases of lead, the whole home may need a fresh coating, which can be expensive.
Plumbing Problems
Plumbing products have longer lifespans and warranties; many homeowners forget to replace or maintain them. For example, brass, cast iron, and galvanized steel pipes can last 80 to 100 years, while copper lasts 70 to 80 years. On the other hand, PVC pipes last for 24 to 50 years. While the warranties cover between one and five years after installation, these products rarely develop issues during the first few years.
Plumbing problems are unexpected in home renovations, and many homeowners get into shock after discovering the damage worn-out pipes have caused to their homes. According to Forbes, plumbing repairs or replacement can be expensive because each fixture has a unique cost. For instance, replacing a water heater costs about $1,200, while replacing sewer lines costs $1,250 to $25,000. Before budgeting for the renovation project, hire professionals to inspect your plumbing lines thoroughly. Rather than hiring an independent plumbing contractor, a home renovation company can include the plumbing costs as a package, which can be inexpensive.
HVAC Malfunctions
According to Forbes, HVAC units last 15 to 20 years. These units require a little maintenance, such as lubricating the moving parts, calibrating the thermostat, tightening electrical connections, and cleaning the blower and coils. However, due to busy modern life, you may forget to maintain your HVAC. With time, weather damages it, reducing its lifespan.
As that’s the case, HVAC failure or wear is normally unexpected in home renovation until the reality hits the homeowners. It is even worse if the warranty has expired because you’ll get into your pocket to purchase a new unit. According to Forbes, an HVAC unit can cost around $10,000. On the other hand, the American Society of Home Inspectors reported that HVAC installation can cost $500 to $3,000.
Cooperate with the contractor during home inspection and have the HVAC checked. In case of malfunction, include the repairs in the budget to avoid frustrations later. Nevertheless, hiring an HVAC company later can be more expensive than having the home contractors and other services as a package.
Warped Flooring
Wooden or tile floors are usually damaged by water. Warping is a condition where the floor shape is distorted. Hardwood flooring normally gets damaged by water and moisture when the fluid is left to soak. The wood absorbs the water and changes shape and size, making the floor uneven.
When the damages aren’t visible, especially at the early stages of damage, you may not budget for the flooring. Unfortunately, you’ll be surprised later when the contractor requests that you add the budget. According to Home Advisor, flooring contractors can charge between $478 and $3,000 for the hardwood floor repair.
In many home improvement projects, costs normally exceed the homeowner’s budget. Issues arise as the project runs, requiring additional repairs. Inspect your home thoroughly before hiring a home improvement contractor to note areas needing attention. Also, have an extra budget because facing the reality of the unexpected in such projects is common.
