Family

Our Old House

May 2, 2014

When my family first decided to repair our old house, I knew it was going to be a big adventure. The house, with its creaky floors and drafty windows, was full of charm but definitely needed some love and care to bring it back to life.

First up was tackling the windows. They were so old that you could feel the wind blowing through them even when they were closed! Replacing the windows was a huge task. We learned a lot about different types of glass and frames, and after a lot of measuring and a bit of guessing, we managed to install new ones that looked just like the old but kept the cold air out and the warm air in.

Next, we focused on the floors. They squeaked almost everywhere you stepped. It turned out that some of the floorboards were loose, and a few were even rotten. Fixing them meant pulling up the old boards, finding new ones that matched, and getting everything nailed down tight. It was like putting together a giant puzzle, trying to make sure each piece fit perfectly without ruining the look of the whole floor.

The walls were another story. The old wallpaper was peeling, and there were cracks in the plaster that needed fixing. We decided to strip the wallpaper, patch the cracks, and give everything a fresh coat of paint. Choosing the colors was my favorite part. We went with light blues and greens to keep the rooms feeling airy and bright.

The HVACs were also so old and outdated that they had to be replaced or repaired. We had air conditioning service experts like these HVAC services in Fontana, CA that do AC replacement in Gaithersburg, MD and air conditioning repair in Orange, CA come in to check the state of the units per room. Some needed to be repaired or just needed air conditioning maintenance, but the others had to be replaced completely.

One of the biggest challenges was the plumbing and sump pump repair & replacement. The pipes were so old that we had a few leaks. Fixing them meant crawling under the house, which was a little scary and a lot dirty! We had to replace some pipes, do a water heater installation & replacement, and tighten up others. It was tricky work, but it felt great to fix the problem and not have to worry about leaks anymore.

Lastly, there were some water marks in the ceiling. So, we had the roof inspected and some of it were patched up. The roofing contractors like this roofer in Phoenixville, PA that do residential and commercial roof replacement in South Jersey were kind enough to do the roof installation & replacement quickly since we wanted to move in ASAP.

Through all these repairs, I learned so much about how houses are put together and how to fix things. It was really satisfying to see each room transform bit by bit. What I loved most, though, was seeing our old house slowly turn into a cozy home where everything worked like it was supposed to.

Repairing an old house is definitely a lot of work, but it’s also very rewarding. Every creaky floorboard fixed and every leaky pipe patched made our house a better place to live. It’s amazing to look around and see all the changes and know that we did it all ourselves. It feels like we’ve given our old house a new lease on life, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved!