Renovating an Older Home? 10 Reasons to Start Behind the Walls

If you’re in a new living situation or have finally saved up some money, it can be tempting to tackle those much-needed renovations in your home. And why not? You and your family spend a lot of time in your space, so you might as well enjoy it.

But as Kortney and Kenny from Making It Home know all too well, there’s much more to a good reno than meets the eye. Sometimes, that means tackling what’s behind the walls before getting to the design.

Whether you’re saving for a reno or planning to get going soon, we teamed up with Daikin —to examine all the reasons you should invest in everything behind the walls when renovating your older home.

Watch Making it Home With Kortney & Kenny Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada. Also Available on the Global TV App and STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels, fuboTV, Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream.

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Stay Safe With Updated Electrical

Safety First! Older electrical in homes that isn’t up to code is a serious fire hazard and something that should be addressed immediately. And while it isn’t a sexy way to spend some of that hard-earned money, that certainly makes it important. Have a qualified engineer or electrician do a thorough check on your home before you begin any renovations so you have a clearer picture of what you’re dealing with in terms of budget and overall peace of mind.

Ensuite bathroom with enormous soaker tub

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Avoid Water Damage With New Plumbing

Water is good for us, but it’s not so great for your house. Older pipes in need of an update can cause unseen (and expensive!) water damage, not to mention the fact that they can also be dangerous to your health. That’s because older homes sometimes hide lead pipework or lead solder—scary lead that can enter drinking water through corrosion.

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Save Energy With an Efficient HVAC System

HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) is the number one system your entire home needs to keep your air comfortable year-round. If you have an older home or are running tight on space, consider the new Daikin Fit system. The sustainability-focused company has created a variable speed, inverter technology that minimizes temperature fluctuations in your home, thus saving you up to 30 per cent on your energy bill.

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Stay Healthy by Eliminating Hazardous Materials

If you’ve got an older home or one that the previous owners liked to try their DIY skills out on, you may have an asbestos problem on your hands and not even know it. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once used in home construction and can be found in everything from plumbing fixtures and popcorn ceiling to attic insulation and drywall. It is also toxic to humans, affects the lungs and has been linked to cancer. It’s usually fine if you haven’t touched it, but if you are planning a renovation it’s always important to test for it.

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Save Heat and Keep the House Cool With Proper Insulation

If you want to keep your home at optimal temperatures while cutting down on draughts and saving on your energy bill, ensure you have properly insulated walls and enough insulation in the attic. It’s another one of those glamour-free tasks, but in the end your savings may make up for the cost of installation.

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Avoid Further Damage With a Critter Check

Critters like mice, ants, termites and squirrels can wreak havoc on your home from the inside out. Keep an eye out for weird smells and sounds, take note of dead bugs on window ledges and basements, and act fast if you see any pest droppings. The sooner you can vacate your unwanted houseguests, the less long-term damage they can cause.

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Purify Air Better With a New HVAC System As Well

We often hear about portable air purifiers, but if you already have a central ducted HVAC system in your home, replacing it with Daikin’s revolutionary system filters can deliver clean air (it removes more than 85 per cent of particles) into your home in a surprisingly quiet way, ensuring you and your family have good quality air to breath. The outdoor unit is also compact and space-saving thanks to its side-discharge system, meaning you’ll also have more room to enjoy your backyard.

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Avoid Long-Term Pains by Addressing Foundational Issues Now

Left untouched, structural issues and foundational cracks can lead to big bucks down the road. Zig-zag cracks, sagging floors or ceilings, improper water drainage, doors or frames that are pulling away from a brick wall, and nails popping out of drywall are all signs of potential foundational issues. There are many reasons why fixing a foundation ASAP is important, and they all involve more complicated and expensive fixes down the road.

Bathroom with double vanity and rectangle mirrors

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Stay Healthy by Checking for Rot and Mould

Rot and mould are obvious once you see them, but they can also hide inside your walls, behind your mouldings and underneath your floors. If you begin observing allergy or asthma flare-ups, continued coughs and colds, fungus in your furniture or a damp, rotten smell coming from the floors or walls, it’s time to get your house checked.

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Keep the Inside Functional by Addressing Any Outside Problems

Windows and your roof aren’t technically behind the walls, but they are equally important considerations when you’re renovating an older home. Replace roofs every 15 to 20 years, while windows are typically good for about 15 to 30 years. After that, water can get in and cause damage, plus heat escapes, causing you extra strife and money down the road.