{"id":1139,"date":"2021-05-14T12:21:50","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T12:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/?p=1139"},"modified":"2023-04-14T09:37:59","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T09:37:59","slug":"do-old-houses-have-stud-walls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/do-old-houses-have-stud-walls\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Old Houses Have Stud Walls?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Old houses are built quite differently compared to modern homes. Our way of life and the developments of technology has led to more opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most old houses do have stud walls. Back then, stud walls were made out of wood which has been a widespread resource up to this day. The abundance of wood and the limitations of transportation and workers who have worked with metal lead to stud walls being a prominent feature in most houses and low buildings.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more as we\u2019ll be going into why houses are built in this way and other characteristics that old houses commonly have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before anything else, let\u2019s just tackle a short topic on how buildings get built and why they\u2019re built that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think we can all agree that every client wants the best house built for the lowest price possible. Bigger, well-built, and sound design; are the main priorities that an owner would wish to alongside affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main factor that plays into affordability is the costs of labor, materials, and transportation. Let\u2019s go into that a bit to see why stud walls were such a common thing back then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we mentioned earlier, wood is a very abundant material in most locations. The easier it is to obtain and the more supply, the cheaper the prices will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wood is an accessible material to work with, meaning workers can easily change its shape and sizes. Most construction workers know how to work with wood because it\u2019s pretty simple if you think about it; you don\u2019t need special tools, and all you need are a bunch of nails to keep them in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These two factors play the role of making the labor for construction relatively cheap compared to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This plays a vital role during the construction phase of any building. Wood from the factory should already be treated and cut into standardized shapes and measurements. There are no special requirements needed to transport wood, unlike wet cement, which needs to reach the site as soon as possible to prevent it from setting, and bricks, which are much heavier than wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The convenience, affordability, and ease of construction with wood led to its popularity as a material, making stud walls a common thing to have in most homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Standards were different back then. Science and research were not as evolved as it is now, and there are many aspects and parts of old homes that you will never find in more modern houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are the main differences between old houses and modern houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main culprits here would be asbestos and lead. These two were a standard part of older homes due to manufacturing back then. Most paints had lead in them, while insulation and fireproofing were made out of asbestos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pipes also contained trace amounts of lead. Another thing to consider is that plumbing was not as mechanically assisted compared to today. The materials used could quickly deteriorate, which was mostly galvanized and cast iron back then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s safe to say that back then, we did not use electricity as much as we do now. Electrical systems of older houses will not have any GFCI but will have a grounding mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The means of temperature were very different back then compared to how we do it now. Boilers and radiators were much more ineffective then, and you\u2019ll need to upgrade these if you find that your current HVAC still uses older systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Insulation became a requirement in the US in 1965. Back then, most forms of home insulation were very bare and lacking<\/p>\n\n\n\n Building codes are constantly updated throughout the decades. What was approved and compliant back in the 20th century will most likely be non-compliant under our current regulations. Something as simple as ceilings measurements, bathroom measurements, and stairs would be very different in older homes compared to newer ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What were once staples in everyday life is now obsolete. Things such as boot cleaners, laundry holes, food elevators, and etc. can be found in older homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roofs back then were quite challenging to build. It\u2019s common to find that the roofs of old houses are oddly shaped and aren\u2019t exactly sealed. You should check out the roof of your old home and check for any leakage or wet spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are the main differences between older houses and newer houses. Depending on how many times your home has been renovated, you may need to consider doing some repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you plan to make changes in an old home, the primary game plan here is to have everything documented and inspected by a building official to check the house\u2019s current condition. The biggest concern for older homes is their foundation since any problems will lead to costly projects. We\u2019re mentioning foundations because your studs will rely on the foundation\u2019s stability to do its job, holding up the house properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow buildings get built<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nWhat else makes old houses different?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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